Jackyl – Southern Hard Rock in the City of Sin!

Jackyl played Count’s Vamp’d on Friday, April 4, 2025.

Vamp’d continues to deliver when it comes to rock and roll in Las Vegas! Danny and Korie Koker continue to welcome the best in local, national, and international talent when it comes to rock and metal music, and more! Hard rocking southerners Jackyl made their way to the venue last week, to a packed house!

Any good rock show deserves a good opening act, and Jackyl got that in the form of the John Zito Band! Zito has been a staple of the Vegas music scene and beyond for years, both in his own band and Vamp’d owner Danny “The Count” Koker’s band, Count’s 77 (formerly Zito 77). Zito’s trio was rounded out by drummer Lagarto Marley and bassist Barry Barnes (Barnes being the only shared member between Zito’s band, Count’s 77, and the Stoney Curtis Band). For their opening set, they shared with this audience their signature brand of blues rock – Mr. Zito has been making the blues rock for countless years out here, and any time he and his collection of guitars take the stage, it’s always a feast for the eyes and ears alike. Zito’s set even featured a guest appearance from his Count’s 77 bandmate Stoney Curtis, who never fails to please when it comes to wielding his instrument. The set closed in epic form with one of Zito’s finest original tunes, “Lonely, Broke, and Wasted.” A damn fine way to kick off the evening!

There’s no other band in this world quite like Jackyl. Vamp’d had removed the tables in the showroom of the venue apparently anticipating a large crowd, and that was most definitely the case, as rock fans packed Vegas’ favorite house of rock in droves! Fronted by eccentric frontman Jesse James Dupree, who may very well be the only rock frontman in history to utilize a chainsaw as a musical instrument, these hard rocking Southerners make an impact on any stage they’re on. From the band’s classic first album lineup we had Dupree, as well as Jeff and Chris Worley on guitar and drums, respectively. On bass with Jackyl since 2002 is Roman Glick, also known for his role in the band Brother Cane.

Following the John Zito Band set, a bizarre collection of disco tunes began playing over the Vamp’d speakers (it’s not quite clear if this was of Jackyl’s choosing), and a massive drum riser platform was revealed. Many artists who play in the Count’s house of rock opt for the house drum kit, but the Jackyl boys weren’t content to settle. It wasn’t long before the foursome took the stage. And from the moment they arrived, they were loaded for bear and out for blood.

It was a packed house, and there was a single person there that wasn’t rocking out and having a great time. Jackyl has more albums than most people realize, but we got plenty of the classics from the band’s 1992 debut, including “Down on Me,” “I Stand Alone,” “Dirty Little Mind,” “When Will it Rain,” and “The Lumberjack.” The set also included tunes from later albums, including the title cuts from PUSH COMES TO SHOVE and CUT THE CRAP, as well as the more recent releases. The band even found time to cover tunes like “A Country Boy Can Survive” and “Suspicious Minds,” the latter of which of course being a massive hit for Elvis Presley back in the day. It was a killer setlist, though sadly devoid of the classic anthem “She Loves My Cock,” a song that was of course omitted from edited-for-content versions of the album back in the day. It seems odd to omit this song, especially considering the band’s merch table had patches for sale with the title!

The setlist was great, but how about the actual band? These guys have a great chemistry, with Jeff’s riffage felt on every track, and Chris giving off one of the most powerful drum sounds I’ve heard rocking the walls of Vamp’d in quite some time. One of the true surprises of the evening was bassist Roman Glick, a man who brings a high-energy performance to whatever group he may be playing with at the time.

And there’s the frontman.

Let me start by saying, you’ve never seen a rock frontman like Jesse James Dupree before. The best way I can describe the guy is to try and imagine Larry the Cable Guy singing hard rock – I mean this in a good way of course. The guy’s banter between songs is legendary and had the crowd in stitches. Balancing rock and laughter can be a challenge; some artist go too far in one direction or the other when attempting, but Mr. Dupree seems to have the routine down pat. The comedic moments enhanced the rock and roll rather than detracting from it. Dupree also played guitar on several cuts, but of course, brought out his signature chainsaw twice during the night. The victim of Dupree’s implement of destruction on this evening, of course, was an unfortunate wooden stool, of which many of the pieces ended up in the crowd following the gig.

I don’t remember the last time a show made me rock as hard as it made me laugh, but Jackyl is the real deal. Jesse James Dupree is a living legend in all the best ways, and while this was certainly my first Jackyl show, it definitely won’t be the last. This is a band that takes no prisoners and thoroughly entertains its audience. John Zito gave a superb opening set; the guy’s always a damn good player. If Jackyl hits up your city and you’re a fan, you won’t be disappointed; 30 plus years on they rock as hard as ever. And if you’re not a fan yet, their performance will likely make one of you.

PHOTO CREDIT: Live photos by Dave Childers for ZRockR Magazine – (c) 2025 – All Rights Reserved.