11 Oct 2016 // A review by Paul Goddard
The thing that strikes me when listening to the tracks on Before We're All Dead is that Jake Stokes is seriously talented. The opening track Classifieds starts as a kind of indie anthem and you can tell Jake has bought some of his influences over from the UK. Then, about half way through it morphs into a bit of a monster full of punky angst.

Jake reminds me a little of Frank Turner and that isn't a bad thing. Next track Liza Jane blasts along with a kind of speed country/blues vibe. The guitar work is great and I am sure this one will be a live favourite. Then we have a change of pace with Three Sugars, a love lost song which really shows Jakes talent as a song-writer.

So Long picks up the pace again and this is a collection of songs that really grows on you each listen. These songs will sound great live. They have everything, great lyrics, great musicianship and if Jake keeps this up he really could make a name for himself.

Final track is a cover of These Boots Are Made For Walkin' and whilst the track shows off Jake's guitar work and he trys to make it his own I think his original material is much better. It will be a track that goes down well live but probably best left there.

Jake Stokes could become one of the best singer-songwriters we have. He is young and talented so give this a go. Play it over again and again, you won't be disappointed.

British born Kiwi, Jake Stokes is a Wellington-based musician/producer who is currently performing with his guitar-driven blues-rock 3 piece, Jake Stokes & The Smoking Barrels. Having released his debut album Midnight at age 18, Jake went on to discover and grow a passion for music production and recording. As a songwriter, Jake uses his talents as a producer and engineer to bring in pop inflections and modern techniques not usually associated with blues-rock, his latest EP Before We’re All Dead being a great example of this. Self-recorded and produced, the songs from Before We’re All Dead are the main focus of the band’s national tour this September.

Praised as New Zealand’s answer to Joe Bonamassa (muzic.net.nz), Jake is an up and coming force on the New Zealand blues-rock scene. Jake blends old-school music sensibilities, youthful energy, and jaw-dropping chops to deliver a truly unique live experience to his audience.

“Now, that’s what I call talent” – Uli Jon Roth (Scorpions, Sky Academy)

Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for Jake Stokes

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