Jackyl | January 10, 2026 | OCC Road House – Clearwater, FL
Jackyl’s first show of 2026 was their annual visit to OCC Road House in Clearwater, FL. Jackyl’s sound has never been complicated. Gritty hair metal mixed with Southern rock swagger, a side of chainsaw solos and anthemic sing along choruses delivered with a grin, a toast and zero apologies. I knew going into the show that once the band hit the stage it would be full throttle, nonstop rock until the last notes were played. This band is always so fun to see live and frontman Jesse James Dupree proves every time I have seen Jackyl perform why he is such an entertaining showman on stage.
This was my seventh time seeing Jackyl live and I have been a fan of this band since I discovered their self-titled debut album in the early 90s. I grew up with their music in my listening rotation. Their songs are a trip down memory lane for me. Just about anything from the first album instantly takes me back to memories of my younger party days with Jackyl solidly in the party music mix. Those riffs and choruses land exactly the way they did the first time, only now they carry a lifetime of memories with them.
I arrived at the venue and already I saw familiar faces and made new friends before the opening act began. It is well known in the area that OCC always draws strong opening bands and there was a solid crowd on hand early as Saints of Saturn hit the stage and played a fantastic set of powerhouse originals with a few covers mixed in. This is a very high energy quartet, and the band can count me as a new fan of theirs with eyes on their next local show.
Soon it was time for the Jackyl family reunion to begin and the standing area up near the stage started to fill in. Just as expected, the band hit the stage and immediately got down to business with ‘Blast Off’. Jesse effortlessly commands the stage with a smile and whisky bottle in hand, cracking jokes, greeting the crowd and firing up the chainsaw like it is still the early nineties. It never feels forced. It feels like Jesse being Jesse, and that authenticity is a big reason fans keep coming back and once again packed the venue this evening. It really stands out how much fun the guys in the band are having on stage and interacting with the crowd. They play like a group that still loves loud amps and rowdy crowds. Newer material from their latest release a decade ago fits right into their live performances, proving they’re not just living off past glories.
With the same lineup since 2002, the band has that tight cohesiveness that comes from playing together for years. Bassist Jimmy Stokley lays down solid driving grooves as he and drummer Chris Worley are the engine behind the band, keeping the tempo and foundation for Chris’ brother Jeff to blend bluesy Southern straight-up tasty hard rock riffs that define Jackyl’s sound. The band played an incredibly spirited ninety minute set packed with many of my favorite Jackyl songs. It is impossible not to sing along to ‘My Moonshine Kicks Your Cocaine’s Ass’ and when ‘Dirty Little Mind’ kicked in, that one is a full-on, hands-in-the-air sing along every time. Their songs turn the room into a group sing along, the kind where strangers throw arms around each other and sing every word. Those moments remind you why live music matters in the first place.
Preceding a cover of Hank Williams Jr.’s ‘A Country Boy Can Survive’, Jesse joked that audiences in the northern states do not know the words to sing along to that song. Many of the band’s songs lean heavily into tongue-in-cheek sexual innuendo, and Jesse made sure everyone got the joke. He joked that if any ladies found their dates falling a little short of expectations later after the show, he is staying in room 329 at the local Holiday Inn and welcomed any and all female visitors. Jesse said it was a scary thought having to please so many women, but he was willing to die trying. That line always gets a big reaction from the crowd and perfectly segued into ‘Just Because I’m Drunk’. Another favorite part of the show for me was singing along while they cover Mark James’ flop ‘Suspicious Minds’, which Elvis turned into a monster hit.
As always, to conclude the evening the chainsaw and a sacrificial barstool are brought out on stage. Jesse playing the chainsaw as a solo on ‘Lumberjack’ is not a gimmick layered on top of the music. It fits the band’s rough-edged, hold my beer anything-goes approach, reinforcing the idea that Jackyl is about raw energy, not polish. Tonight’s show was no different, the band sounded great, loud and tight. Props to the venue’s sound team as I thought the audio was spot on. It was a fantastic show and a fun night seeing many familiar faces. That is always the case at OCC, it is a fantastic venue and that is why so many people frequent shows there. Jackyl never disappoints live, if they come anywhere near your city in the future and you are on the fence whether to go…take my advice, go enjoy a fun rock and roll show. See Jackyl’s future tour dates here.
See Saints of Saturn photos here.
See Jackyl photos here.
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