Jump, Little Children, the North Carolina indie rock band that expanded on the typical guitar, bass and drums lineup with a cello and accordion… now that’s a name I’ve not heard in a long time.
I was a big fan of the band’s first four releases, including a collection of demos from 1995. Their major-label debut, 1998’s Magazine, was the one that really caught my attention, with its interesting blend of instruments and lead singer Jay Clifford’s unique voice.
Jump, Little Children is one of those odd little bands that has a following of about a hundred people but just about every one of those hundred thinks it’s the best band ever.
I like them a lot, but I don’t feel the religious zeal of their most ardent fans. In fact, some of their songs I find downright annoying. In the way The Beatles used to let Ringo write and sing something every once in awhile, Jump, Little Children lets accordion player Matthew Bivins take center stage twice per album to do some sort of rap/modern jazz hybrid that really grates on me.
Yes, they have an accordion player.
Meet Me In Montauk 