ACOUSTIC PAIN

The amount of noise Jackson Pain creates without the aid of distortion, forming a solid wall of sound, doesn't seem like it could be coming from an acoustic set. Senior Mike Chapman's vigorous guitar and vocals, along with the combination of senior Rob Stogsdill and Kyle Gobel's horn section, create soaring melodies backed up by Jeff Lawson's crash-filled drums and Andrew Caito's bass. All of these elements come together to form a sonic anomaly where it's hard to believe there is barely any electric influence on stage.\nJackson Pain is setting its sights on Bloomington, with its local debut tonight at Vertigo, playing with 83 Feet, and Bloomington regulars Stranger Lazy and Mohlmin. Doors open at 9 p.m., with the show starting at 10 p.m.\nJackson Pain has been together for just over a year, yet they have already earned lots of support from the Indianapolis music scene, playing regular gigs around the city and winning a spot in the semi-finals of Benchmark Records' battle of the bands this past summer.\nTheir sound can be best described as loud, melodic rock with influences from artists such as Ben Folds, Coldplay and the Flaming Lips, primarily created through use of only acoustic instruments.\n"It's in-your-fucking-face acoustic," Chapman says. "I feel like I can be just as intense playing acoustic as anyone playing electric. A lot of people think that if you want to be loud and rockin,' that means electric guitars. And I think we kind of fight that."\nTheir years of training and the multitude of influences, including backgrounds in classical music and jazz, help the guys gel onstage\n"I think a lot of that also stems from the fact that we all really know each other... not just musically, but personally," Chapman says.\nLawson agrees.\n"We've always seemed to play pretty tight, which isn't too common, but we've known each other for about eight years," he says.\nThe band has earned a strong reputation in Indianapolis, gaining new fans with every show. Despite the fact that the band is young, one look at the turnout of their latest shows would prove otherwise.\nLawson has handled most of the band's promotions and speaks highly of the support of its fans. \n"When we started, our audience was our friends and our parents," he says. "Now, our friends are our best fans, but with a lot of bands, your friends will support you for a while, but they'll start missing a show here and there, until they don't come at all. We've been lucky enough that our friends keep coming to as many shows as they can."\nTonight's show is huge for the guys of Jackson Pain, not only because it is their first exposure to a Bloomington audience, but also because representatives from ATO Records (Dave Matthews' record label, whose artists include Ben Kweller, My Morning Jacket and David Gray) will be attending the event to see them perform in front of a college crowd. ATO attended their last show in Indianapolis as well.\n"It's weird looking out while playing and then seeing someone that you know is judging you, and that this person can makes things happen for you. It makes you excited," Chapman says. "The best thing that we can do is play with energy, because that is what will come across the most."\nLawson says he understands the incredible odds Jackson Pain is up against.\n"Out of all the bands in the world, there are only so many bands that 'make it,' so the best we can do is play the best we can," he says.\nThe band doesn't seem to be too affected by the fact that they could be on the cusp of possibly getting a record deal, but they are thinking about the realities of where opportunity could take them.\n"The thing about getting signed is that it will mean that we will have more going on," Chapman says. "Some of us will have to make priority decisions, but I'm pretty confident in the band if that were to be an outcome. I think everyone is pretty die-hard about this thing we've created."\nThere are countless bands out there that have played for years and have never even come close to the opportunity that Jackson Pain has, yet the band remains modest in the wake of success.\n"I wouldn't say we've paid any dues," Chapman says. "Every time we play, I have a great time and it's something that I never thought would happen when I was sixteen. So that in itself makes me keep perspective. We haven't lived it rough."\nEven if things don't work out with ATO, at least Jackson Pain can say they've gained some Bloomington fans. \n"They're a really great band," says senior Mike Sebeckis. "I've seen them two or three times up in Indy and they've always delivered an amazing show."\nSenior Cameron Oehler says he is happy to see them taking gigs in town.\n"I'm glad they're starting to play in Bloomington," he says. "It's surprising that they would get the attention of a record label so fast, but they deserve it. Their music is just awesome."\nRegardless of what happens tonight, Jackson Pain will still play with the same intensity tomorrow. Their priorities remain in the band itself and nowhere else, but their hopes still look toward the future - and tonight may be their night. They are ready to give anything up to take a chance to make Jackson Pain even bigger.\n"That's why we do it right. For that one shot," Chapman says.