January 21, 2007
Jared Bartman Shows Promise
at Black Koffee.
by Tyler Sutherland

Walking South on Sheridan, just off the campus of Loyola University, it’s easy to miss Black Koffee.  It shares residence at 6560 N Sheridan with a pizza place and a bar.  Its glass door entrance is tucked away at the South edge of the building and you might only realize you’ve gone too far when you notice the boxes on the sidewalk full of paperbacks marked “Free Books.”  On Friday night I was lucky enough to hear
the music pouring from the second floor.  It told me to follow the trail
of flyers advertising Black Koffee’s free WiFi and various services up the stairs to the coffee shop slash used bookstore.

A young, skinny, up and coming solo artist named Jared Bartman
stood in front of a projector screen belting out one of his own tunes called “I Refuse Technology.”  He played fairly simple chords on acoustic guitar over repetitive beats from the keyboard standing behind him. His clever lyrics immediately got my attention and I thought his sound had a striking resemblance to Howie Day or even Rufus Wainwright.  I took a seat on a leather couch and noticed a
cute, dark haired college girl in red beads giving me a death glare
like I’d just crashed her own personal concert.  Obviously, she was
with the band.

It seemed like friends occupied several of the tables surrounding Jared’s set-up, many were from his hometown of Princeton.  He
spoke openly with the crowd in between songs and had a very laid
back attitude toward the entire performance.  Maybe it was because
it was his first show leading up to his debut EP, entitled the “Kathy Clark EP.” 

Or perhaps he was just going with the vibe you get from Black Koffee, it’s a very chilled out, welcoming place.  Most of the beverages are
self serve, flat five-dollar rate for unlimited coffee and you don’t pay for anything until you’re walking out the door.  How do they know
what you’ve consumed?  The honor system…I’m serious.  That’s just the type of place Black Koffee is; a rare brew, you feel at ease walking around, checking out the various books, old comics, memorabilia and knick-knacks they have everywhere.

Jared Bartman fit right in.  He looked unassuming…dark greasy hair, grey T-shirt, jeans and Converse All-Stars.  He tuned his guitar for a song off the upcoming EP called “Looking Glass House.” Jared leaned toward the mic on the keyboard and let out what can only be described as an “mmp-ta Ka-ta!” and then it looped in perfect rhythm…mmp-ta Ka-ta, mmp-ta Ka-ta, mmp-ta Ka-ta and as he began plucking the strings it suddenly occurred to me where his beats were coming from.  It’s a small touch, but you don’t usually see that sort of creativity or depth from an eighteen-year-old singer/songwriter.  And that was just the tip of the iceberg.

He wasn’t afraid to put the guitar away and play a song or two on keyboard.  At one point, he busted out a mandolin and did a cover of “The Crane Wife 3” by The Decemberists.  Still not impressed?  Then maybe you’re the reason he pulled out a ukulele and had everyone sing along to Johnny Cash’s “The Ring of Fire.”  Versatility seems to be Jared Bartman’s middle name, and not only that; the kid has got serious talent.  His lyrics are thought provoking, but not overly complicated or so obscure you can’t relate to them.  He’s got a good voice that seems tailor-made for that Matt Costa type of sound.  But Jared would tell you his influences are John Vanderslice, Radiohead, Death Cab for Cutie, and of course, The Beatles.

The truth is, Jared Bartman has the sort of talent that he could seriously blow up like any of the great artists mentioned above.  If you’re the sort of person that likes to dig a little for your music, if you want to be the first cool kid on the block that mentioned his name, y’know “before it was cool to like Jared Bartman” then I suggest you head on over to his MySpace (www.myspace.com/jaredbartman) and get yourself a sample.  You can even catch a couple videos of his performance at Black Koffee.  Believe me, I was there, you won’t regret it.