REVIEWS FOR “WELCOME TO THE FAMILY”
Michael Doherty's Music Log - August 6, 2026
"The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio's last release, 2024's Rocket Fuel Logic, found the group performing new renditions of material that Mike Jacoby had previously included on his solo albums. The trio's new album, Welcome To The Family, contains all new material, songs that speak to, and of, our current reality, with its uncertainty, met with both apprehension and hope, both anger and humor. The trio is made up of Mike Jacoby on vocals, guitar, piano and organ; Don Read on bass and backing vocals; and Mike Levin on drums, percussion and backing vocals. Special guest Art Bailey joins the trio on piano on a few tracks. The album was produced by Mike Jacoby.
The album opens with its title track, and so the song and the album begin with a welcoming: "Welcoming to the family/Welcome now." But even in that first moment, because of the tone, we question that welcoming's sincerity. "Don't let 'em scare you away/All the good people can stay." Soon the song offers reason for caution: "You've come a long way from a distant place/Look over your shoulder, keeps your eyes cast down/Never assume that there's no one around." And then it's clear that new folks are not welcome here. This country has turned dark, has turned against everything it was supposed to stand for. This was possibly never a great country, but it had ideals, it had potential. Now it doesn't even have those things. Yet this song is still hopeful, even empowering, as Mike sings, "Stand up for what you know is true/Create a world how you want it to be/Including you and including me." The line "All the good people can stay" might get you thinking, pondering, because of the subjectivity of the line. Who gets to define what constitutes good? If it were up to many of us, all the immigrants would be welcome, and all the Republicans would be detained for indefinite periods and then sent away. All of this country's problems would be gone in an instant if every last Trump voter were removed from this place. There is a great energy to this song, along the lines of what Willie Nile does. An excellent start to the album.
"The 75/24 Split" comes on with a strong, cool force, the lyrics sung with a snarl, with attitude, from the perspective of a trucker. It is a song about a highway interchange in Tennessee, a spot known for its heavy traffic. It's a lot of fun, and features some good drumming. "Man, I hate this" he sings, and immediately the guitar takes over. This track also contains some great stuff on bass. Interestingly, the song moves from traffic to a more personal thing, a split in a marriage. "Fifteen years of marriage now going down the drain/The kids have left, we barely speak/We stay in our own lane" (the word "lane" obviously further drawing the comparison to traffic). These lines make us question the song's narrator, whether he might be to blame after all. Apparently, a lot of folks blame truckers for the congestion at that spot on the highway. Then "Red, White & Blues" begins with the lines, "My country, 'tis of thee/Sweet land of liberty/Of thee I sing," the vocals supported by some simple work on piano. Then the song kicks in, and describes a situation, a world we know all too well. "Billionaire baby BS tech-bro/Brag about his money and his powerful friends/He's getting away with everything and sure paying dividends/Poor folks have to follow every rule/Rich folks get to choose." The truth of those lines strikes us. The system has always been corrupt, always been rotten. It's just more obvious these days how certain people are taking advantage of it. This track contains some great stuff on guitar. "I'm singing 'My Country, 'Tis Of Thee'/While last rites are given to democracy."
Art Bailey joins the group on piano for "Tell Them," a fun number with a bouncy rhythm and a delicious energy. "I get two hundred bucks just for passing Go/You can tell them I said so, tell 'em I said so." That's a nice nod to the game Monopoly, which was originally designed to show how harmful monopolies are, yet one more thing this country has lost sight of. "I'm spending my time being hugged and kissed/Tell them I don't care if they don't approve/Tell them that the rhythm section is bound to groove." Oh, yes. And then there are these lines: "I'll let you know how it all turns out/A little love is what it's all about." There is a more intimate feel to "You And Me Both," a song of a relationship, of trouble, of heartbreak. Check out these lines: "You and me both/Count the bruises on our arms/You and me both/Try not to care." And these: "Life keeps on happening each moment, every day/Whether we can deal with it or not." Those lines are striking, particularly these days when more and more we find ourselves unable to deal with it. The song might be about a couple, but it feels like it also addresses a larger landscape. "Are we just scared to death of living in the now/Maybe now's the time for getting clean."
"Together" has a lighter vibe as it begins, and there is something adorable about that opening section. "You know me, and I know you/Together we get along/You are here, and I am here/Together we belong." Then after a breath, the song takes on a greater force. It remains in the same realm, but with more energy, more vigor. And this line grabs me: "Wherever I have to go, I'd rather go with you." Everything is manageable with that special someone, isn't it? There is some wonderful guitar work in the second half of this track. That's followed by "Love On Love," Art Bailey joining the group again on piano, delivering some wonderful work. It's not long before this one kicks in. This one also has a brighter energy. "I'm not one for standing still/If you want me there, of course I will/I'm driving up and down the hill/I've set my sights on you." There is some delicious harmonica work in the second half. Then "You Poor Thing" is one I love right from its opening, when a very cool vibe is established. There is a certain attitude in the vocal delivery. Here are the opening lines: "You should leave before the anger gets to you/Before you do something you might regret/Who knows what goes on inside that head of yours/You poor thing, you never will forget." And check out that delicious bass line. This is one of my personal favorites. "You poor thing, I only wish you well," he repeats at the end.
Then "85%" begins with a series of advertising slogans. How sick are we that we can pick out the products related to each of these old slogans? It's so sad that our brains retain that useless information; meanwhile I can't remember the names of people I met the other day. "Bombarded by the advertising/Click bait before realizing." This song has a great, solid rock energy. It is followed by "Fine American Craftsmanship," with lines like "Mammals mating/Carbon dating/What's with these kids today?" I love the dark humor that Mike Jacoby employs on this album. "Tarot readings/Daily feedings/Of mother's chicken soup." The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio wraps up the album with "And It's Gone," another of the disc's highlights. "Sometimes you get what you're never looking for/She said that, and I believed." This track features some excellent drumming, even before that great rhythm section near the end. "You can suck, but you know you're not allowed to bite." There is an interesting final section, the line "Gone and it's gone" repeated in a loud sort of whisper."
https://michaelsmusiclog.blogspot.com/2026/08/the-mike-jacoby-electric-trio-welcome.html#google_vignette
Radio Guitar One - August 1, 2026 by Luke Wolk
"Welcome To The Family is another set of exactly what brings fans of this outfit's music back for more. Catchy hooks, jangly guitars, pocketed drums and recordings that sound real. This "old school" approach is refreshing in the times of flawless, pristine recordings that are clearly driven by the AI and pitch correction. I say flawless, but that in itself is the flaw of modern recording techniques isn't it? This 11 song set turns its middle finger up at a recording process that in this writer's opinion has gone too far.
The album opens with the title cut, Welcome To The Family. It has a Smithereens vibe in all the best ways. This feels like a song that was worked out in a garage with half empty paint cans and old golf clubs in the corner. There is a blues collar approach to this music that is sorely missed in the modern music scene. It is music that belongs in a dive bar on a Sunday afternoon as mature folks are sipping beer on the deck. That's not to say the details are ignored, quite the contrary. The details that are shining through are grit and vibe, and this band has both to spare.
75/24 Split is a cool little ditty that is somewhere between surf rock and punk. It starts with a very bouncy and memorable guitar riff that serves as the interlude between verses. It's such a cool riff that it would've stood on its own instrumentally. The band drives about as hard as any punk band, but with far more maturity and taste. This is one that you can't help to bounce your head and tap your foot to.
A standout track and the final cut, And It's Gone embodies everything that a really cool rock and roll band brings to the table. It has Tom Petty leanings, but a bit more attitude. The intro features a funky drumbeat reminiscent of Walk This Way by Aerosmith and a Zeppelin-like guitar line that teases the listener. It takes a turn at the verse that fits perfectly and pulls the song away from the mentioned influences, moving it into its own space. The completely unexpected outro in itself is worth a spin. It is a must listen for fans of late 70's garage rock. This may be my favorite song of the few records that I have heard from this fun band
This record, like the earlier releases, just feels great. It is the authenticity and simplicity of the delivery of the songs that is so memorable. It has all the raw vibe of The Kinks at their best. Just a great rock and roll band throwing it down like it owes them something. This is a band that isn't afraid to flirt with the many sides of rock and roll. They would've been right at home in CBGB's in the late 70's as well as a beach bar today! When I was a younger man there was a place in New Jersey called The Dirt Club, which looked just like the name suggested. If there were a movie made about that joint this band would have to be the soundtrack to its story! "
https://www.radioguitarone.com/post/the-mike-jacoby-electric-trio-album-review-2
“Americana Highways” - July 28, 2026 by John Apica
"I’m not a big fan of self-produced albums. An artist usually needs a separate set of ears to cut the fat away from a project. Things can become too top-heavy, too “hot” in its production, or have too many of one type of song & not enough of others – balance. Pacing. However, Mike Jacoby (vocals/guitars/piano/organ) has done an admirable job with his well-produced, sonically sharp album.
Opening numbers “Welcome To the Family” & the energetic “The 75/24 Split” are pure modern rock with melody, guitar flash & torrential drums. Who gets the 1% that’s left over after the split?
There are 11-cuts on their 3rd LP, Welcome To The Family (Drops July 31/Independent). Recorded in Long Beach, CA, the collection is comprised of Americana rock with doses of country & folk mixed with ‘90s indie-rock spirit. The themes are love, loss, humor, resilience, & America as it is today. The songs themselves unfold with empathy, a reflection of personal & social fractures & heartbreak. Each with a generous scoop of classic rock traditions.
The clever “Red, White & Blues” has lots of musical color (no pun intended) in its arrangement. The varied guitar textures & wall-of-sound vocals are presented impressively. It’s old-fashioned rock but never sounds old. It does have, with its shockingly good full sound from a trio of musicians, the spirit of the garage rock masters that few remember today. The Electric Prunes (“I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night”), Strawberry Alarm Clock (“Me & the Township”), The Easybeats (“Friday On My Mind”), The Outsiders (“Time Won’t Let Me”) & the Count Five (“Psychotic Reaction”). Music that puts a smile on your face.
They have a wonderfully developed diversified feel. “Tell Them” has Alex Chilton & The Box Tops (“I Must Be The Devil”) pop rawness & Memphis-pop rock enamel. A bit slower, they add a tint of dark words to “You & Me Both” — swaddled in a Tom Waits, Lee Hazelwood-type vocalization. Emblematic of their narrative styles.
There are some missteps, but average listeners won’t notice. So, let’s not focus on those. Every bag of apples has one or two worms, or a bruise. These result in my concerns about self-produced projects. Yet the production is good & at times, while some songs are over-developed, I’ll take over-developed instead of a thin, spare sound anyway. Mike Jacoby delivers assured vocals throughout. The band strikes the anvil with each swing of their tight & confident playing.
Highlights – “Welcome To the Family,” “The 75/24 Split,” “Red, White & Blues,” “Tell Them,” “You & Me Both,” “85%,” “Fine American Craftsmanship,” & “And It’s Gone.”
Musicians – Don Read (bass/bgv), Mike Levin (drums/percussion/bgv) with Art Bailey (piano on 3 cuts)."
https://americanahighways.org/2026/07/28/review-the-mike-jacoby-electric-trio-welcome-to-the-family/
“Rootsville”
“The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio returns on July 31 with *Welcome To The Family*, a collection of eleven tracks featuring sharp Americana-rock that blends country, folk, and the melodic grit of 90s indie rock into something both timeless and contemporary.
Recorded in Long Beach and produced by Jacoby himself, the album explores love, loss, humor, and the fractures shaping modern American life, with songwriting that feels lived-in rather than theatrical. Backed by longtime collaborators Don Read and Mike Levin, the trio delivers dynamic, instinctive performances that keep the songs grounded, even as the record shifts between the energy of heartland rock, layered alt-country, and more experimental moments.
Following the critically acclaimed *Rocket Fuel Logic*, Jacoby takes things a step further here, featuring tighter songwriting and production alongside a greater focus on emotional contrasts. Tracks like "Welcome To The Family" and "Red, White & Blues" confront empathy and division head-on, while songs such as "85%" and "Fine American Craftsmanship" inject humor and a touch of whimsy. Mastered by Grammy Award-winning engineer Gavin Lurssen, *Welcome To The Family* feels authentic rather than forced—an album built on strong melodies, human observations, and the chemistry of a band that knows exactly how to serve the song.”
https://www.rootsville.eu/2026/albums/the%20mike%20jacob%20electgric%20trio.html
Twangville by Shawn Underwood - July 22, 2026
"In this day and age of social media, where influencers constantly woo sponsors and opinions are carefully crafted to enrage, it seems the willingness to not take oneself too seriously is becoming a lost art form. Southern California’s Mike Jacoby is a light in that darkness. From an album cover shamelessly imitating Elvis and The Clash to a song about getting clothes hangers as a Christmas gift, Jacoby has a history of musical satire. He and his band have a new album out soon, called Welcome to the Family, and it carries on that tradition in a mostly classic rock style soundtrack.
The title track sets the tone with the band showing off their mastery of good old three-cord rock and roll. It’s an invite, not to his literal family, but rather the family of people who will “stand up for what you know is true.” Red, White & Blues is diatribe against corruption and social divide, where “the country [is] now strapped to a homemade bomb, and the ignorant light the fuse.” Fine American Craftsmanship is a commentary on our values in a hard rock anthem with some nonsensical verses Michael Stipe would have been proud to pen.
Jacoby skewers relationships on a few numbers. Love On Love is an alt-country take on a past affair, and in a turn of phrase only a musician (or a poet) would think of he knows lessons have been learned, but while “history does not repeat, let’s hope it doesn’t rhyme.” You Poor Thing is an old-school reggae tune about someone who desperately needs a friend but can’t be counted on to do anything except push people away. High on the lighthearted chart is 85%, a cut loaded with ad slogans from late 20th century TV spots. Also leveraging levity is The 75/24 Split. It’s a 180 bpm zinger about an infamous highway interchange between Atlanta and Nashville, but could maybe also be a subtle dig at a past breakup where you “just have to barrel through.”
Everywhere you turn these days some commentator is explaining why a record from someone or another is “important.” They may or may not get around to adding color on the music itself. Although I’ve never talked to him, I feel pretty certain Mike Jacoby doesn’t give a damn if anyone ever does that to one of his albums or not. His records are meant to be enjoyed. So if that sounds good to you, Welcome to the Family."
https://twangville.com/2026/07/22/the-mike-jacoby-electric-trio-welcome-to-the-family/
Liverpool Sound and Vision by Ian D. Hall - July 22, 2026
"Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 9/10
Upbeat and dramatic, without losing itself to grandeur or flippancy; that is the sense of urgent cool delivered by The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio as they blend a sharp view of modern Americana with edgy Country melody and the fierce boundary smashing grit of 90s realism in the exultant clash that is Welcome To The Family.
The album’s title draws you in, the sense of unity and the small grind of the undertone working away at the impressions on the mind, on one hand a carefully constructed moment of joy where you become part of something larger, brought into a circle of people who rejoice at your inclusion, on the other, four words that suggest something hidden, secrets that you will swear fidelity to and which can bring an explosion of chaos to your door should you fail in your devotion.
It is to this eruption of the fantastic and the flood of pleasure received as the panache of Mike Jacoby, Don Read, and Mike Levin unleash their timeless sound that makes Welcome To The Family so inviting, and leaving the heart a little anxious of what it might uncover, that an unknown deep-seated love might appear and take the listener by surprise, leave them fully aware of the involvement and time that will now be placed in their hands as they reconcile what they believed they knew with a truth of human endurance and spectacle they hadn’t catered for.
To bring together love, loss, and humour in one dynamic assertion of great songwriting is to be seen as a triumph, and when gelled with the abundant energy on show, it is easy to see why the group instinctive insight infects their audience with certainty and gratitude.
Across tracks such as The 75-24 Split, Red, White & Blues, You And Me Both, the excellent You Poor Things, Fine American Craftsmanship, and the album title track of Welcome To The Family, Mike Jacoby and his two long term collaborators, as well as Grammy Award-winning Gavin Lurssen on mastering duties, what the album insists upon is that the listener gets musically high whilst keeping their feet firmly on the ground, that to be fully entertained is a pleasure and one that justifies the keenness of open deliberation and acceptance of positivity, even when the subject itself questions the deliberation.
A tremendous album, versatile, passionate, deliberate, full of nobility and yet humble in its depth; The Mike Jacoby Electirc Trio score with precision and accountability in this resonating release."
https://www.liverpoolsoundandvision.co.uk/2026/07/23/the-mike-jacoby-trio-welcome-to-the-family-album-review/
Buscadero Magazine (Italy) by Rosario Pantaleo - July 22, 2026
"It is not every day that one hears an Americana record so deeply rooted in New York, yet created by a musician with roots in Puglia. And yet, that is exactly what this is.
*Welcome to the Family* is their fourth album as a group, and the step up in quality is palpable. Born of a classic American sound, the songs boast high-quality lyrics and keen descriptions of both inner and outer realities. The eleven tracks are played with grit and verve, showcasing the musical roots the band carries with it.
The title track is a spirited, luminous rock song rich in nuance, featuring a guitar riff that sits somewhere between the Byrds and R.E.M. "The 75-24 Split" opens with drums pounding as if driving a punk song; a vigorous sound and sweaty rhythm help create a warm, powerful atmosphere. It is a song built for the stage—perfect for warming up a crowd. "Red, White & Blues" greets the listener with the intro to "God Bless America" before shifting into a syncopated groove, driven by bluesy guitar work and a pounding rhythm section.
"Tell Them" is a cheerful blend of rock and pop, carrying the "flavor" of a small-town brass band. The music drives forward, and Jacoby adopts a storytelling mode. "You and Me Both" is a classic singer-songwriter track for guitar and vocals, with slide guitar and piano weaving subtle textures in the background. "Together" features the resonance of arpeggiated acoustic guitars, establishing an intimate sound that later transforms into a solemn folk-rock progression. "Love on Love" is a high-energy track—fast-paced, vocal-driven, and rocking—that once again evokes the spirit of R.E.M. ...and various Americana-style bands, all tied together here by a background piano.
"You Poor Thing" boasts a dry sound, with the electric guitar filling the track’s somber progression with notes. "85%" features Jacoby’s filtered vocals and guitars dueling amidst a swampy, rhythmic, and assertive soundscape. It is a fine rock lesson, albeit one with so many musical forebears that listing them all would be impossible. The album builds to a crescendo with the robust "Fine American Craftsmanship," where Jacoby’s vocals race to keep pace with the electric guitar—the driving thread of the sonic fabric.
The closing track, "And It’s Gone," relies on a strong groove, "open" guitar chords, and syncopated drums (with the hi-hat working with breathless intensity); in essence, it serves as a summary of the various musical styles showcased. Mike Jacoby’s electric guitar work is outstanding, acting as the backbone of the entire album. Nothing more needs to be said: *Welcome to the Family* demands repeated listens, allowing you to appreciate how it improves with every spin."
Americana UK - by Jonathan Aird on June 29, 2026 - regarding the release of the single “Welcome to the Family”
"It’s been a while, and then some, since we’ve had anything new from The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio, but rare as it might be, we’ve always liked what they have to say. Today, we have a special sneak preview of the title track of their new album. The single is out tomorrow, and the album will arrive July 31st. The song was recorded in Long Beach, which can be regarded as the cool part of sprawling greater Los Angeles, and self-produced. Welcome To The Family aims to continue to showcase the Trio’s ability to pair thoughtful storytelling with electrifying americana rock. And just who are The Mike Jacoby Electric Trio? Well, Mike Jacoby (natch’) alongside longtime collaborators Don Read and Mike Levin.
Mike Jacoby says of the song, “Welcome to the Family is a song that examines what life might be like for an immigrant in this country. It’s a timely, compassionate song that asks listeners to look beyond politics and remember our shared humanity.” Shared Humanity – yeah, we recall that, good to know that we’re not alone."
https://americana-uk.com/track-premiere-the-mike-jacoby-electric-trio-welcome-to-the-family