Jeffrey Caissie – July/August 2003
by Rod Christie
Who: Jeffrey Caissie
What: Acoustic Punk Singer/Songwriter
Where: Green Bay, WI
To Contact: Jeffrey Caissie,
Originally from Calgary, AB, Jeffrey Caissie made his start in a number of punk bands, an element that is still apparent in the acoustic style of his solo debut album, I’m Just Trying Not To Lose My Head (Meter Records). With a catch in his voice and a disaffected lyric, Caissie manages to force the old “one man and a guitar” standard into a compelling listen. Backed by sometimes band members, The Beatrats, Tim Schweiger on electric guitar and Justin Perkins on organ and harmonica, the songs all feature hooks galore, practically begging for the full band treatment.
With the direct and sincere approach of punk, Caissie weaves his stories with no added padding. Relocating to Green Bay, WI after marrying his girlfriend, … Lose My Head is the result of a long and anxious wait for a US work visa. According to Caissie, sitting around and waiting for the paperwork to process led him to a local music store where he rented a cheap acoustic and started strumming to relieve the boredom. Playing a couple of live sets after some local hardcore bands gave him enough confidence to pursue his solo inclinations. The lead man in a number of Calgary punk bands, Caissie is now the main operative behind Meter Records and also fronts The Fragments in Green Bay. Standout songs include the first track, “Limo Roulette”, which is available for download off his Web site, and “Do The Math”, rife with sharp observations and pointed imagery. A bonus track on the CD is a song called “Here Comes A Regular”, a cover originally written by punk grandfathers the Replacements.