Memphis based Jack Oblivian (aka Jack Yarber) was a founding member of the garage-bands The Compulsive Gamblers and The Oblivans but he has contributed to a dizzying array of projects over the years, including Andre Williams, Jack Oblivian & the Tennessee Tearjerkers, The Cool Jerks, '68 Comeback, King Louie & His Loose Diamonds, Greg Oblivian & the Tip Tops, Jack Oblivian & The Cigarillos, The Natural Kicks and Tav Falco's Panther Burns.
Jack Yarber grew up in Mississippi and after moving to Memphis, he met Greg Cartwright and they formed the Compulsive Gamblers. The Oblivians formed in 1993 as a side project to the Compulsive Gamblers - the members of the Oblivians shared songwriting and each member supplied vocals, guitar work, and percussion on albums, switching instruments during live shows. The Oblivians lasted from 1993 until 1998, at which time Yarber and Cartwright left the band to reform the Compulsive Gamblers. The second incarnation of the Gamblers lasted from 1998 to 2003.
Post-Oblivians, Yarber formed the Tennessee Tearjerkers and recorded critically praised releases for Goner and Big Legal Mess/Fat Possum. In 2004, the legendary Fortune Records soul singer Nathaniel Mayer covered his song "Satisfied Fool" on his I Just Want to Be Held on Fat Possum.
Jack Oblivian channels the spirit of proto punk as well as blues, country and junkyard rock; his songs embody haunting, echo-y swamp boogie.His collaborations with the cream of the Memphis music crop guarantee that the players on Rat City fit like the proverbial glove.Look for a US tour to be announced soon.


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Rat City
When you come to the Jack Oblivian party, you are going to expect some pawn shops, bad intentions and low-down sleaze and on his new album Rat City (in stores September 13th), he delivers. From the feral existentialism of songs like "Rat City" and "Mass Confusion" to the unhinged love songs with underlying sweetness like "Girl on the Beach" to vignette-heavy songs like "Girl with the Bruises", Jack disembowels American roots music and the resulting deconstructed songs are tied together with an undeniable groove that only a drummer could muster. He plays much of the album's instruments himself with a little help from some of his friends and his storytelling skills have never been better. Jack will celebrate the album's release with a performance at Goner Fest's kickoff Thursday, September 22nd.