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Tables, which were scattered around the designated dance floor, sat nervous while high heeled groupies chugged Red Bulls. As empty cans began to pile and faces blushed, chants echoed throughout the cafe of the Ocean House in Carlsbad, “move the tables, move the tables, move the tables.” Within seconds, tables slid across the floor like boozed pucks on a freshly groomed shuffleboard. With a bar popping, a dance floor cleared and a room full of reminiscing friends, temporarily reunited Sand Jacket took the stage.
The cafe filled fast as security attentively counted the crowd. The room soon hit capacity and the front doors slammed shut leaving a long line out in the fairly warm winter night. The posters read Sand Jacket, but the hype was definitely all about Carlsbad’s newest bred celebrity. Lead guitarist and singer Josh Steely, and recently appointed guitarist in the freakishly famous band Daughtry, greeted the crowd with with humble hints of stardom. He reminisced about open mic at the Cantina and Blue House jam sessions fueled by whiskey and drawn blinds. He compared these early memories to world tours and swollen arenas. Smiles were contagious as long time fans and friends sporadically high fived Josh in between songs and stories.
Between sets of old classics and random covers of Nirvana and Iron Maiden, the 
band mingled with their friends. Josh’s mother, whom he dedicated the show to, sat at two reserved tables at the back of the room. Cameras sat poised and waited for the next clear shot at Josh. Upon returning to the stage, he joked how he “… gave five hugs in the boy’s bathroom.”
While Josh remained on stage and the target of every camera, the rest of the band rocked like it was just another gig. Steve Blake and Don traded songs on bass while Ric and Dustin split the night on drums. Sand Jacket once jammed open mic and spontaneous house parties of the village, but now play when schedules allow. Josh wanders the globe with his Grammy nominated band Daughtry while the loyal fans and friends wait for the next Sand Jacket reunion.
Do you have a Sand Jacket memory? Lets here it…
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yeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SAND JACKET FING RULES
I LUV YOU GUYS
KEEP ROCKIN MY LIFE
YOUR FAN
-STEVE
Love u guys! lol That’s my girl Ezzie in the pink getting her swerve on in the Youtube vid! She loves to dance and obviously gets caught up in the moment…
I remember running into Josh at the local bars in CBAD . He did not have a steady gig at the time , I did , I would buy a shot of JACK we would sit and b.s. about chicks, surf and music he always was a cool dude ! I am for his sucess!!!!!!!!!!
OH!!! HECK YAAA!!!!!!
It sure is good to no some things never change!!! I sure do remember
the good ole Neiman Days and dancn’ my tale off!!!!!
Quess I will settle for an internet Sandjacket fix since itz 3000 miles
away from va beach, va…..
Keep Rocckn’ On you guya!!!!!
T
Carlsbad ’94/’95 backyard parties, the Zep medley..fuck yah!
Always loved you guy’s stuff!Good on ya.I ran into Josh at SB a couple days ago/last week?He said he would like me to use Sand Jacket for surf clips on my website after I asked him.Some had been previously used in my movies already.I can’t find the cd I used to have of the old school stuff.I think it got stolen in Tahiti earlier this year?If anyone has a copy or is able to contact Josh or the boys for me please do!Contact me at octisurf@aol.com! Thank you.
I got it back.It’s on the website starring the original’s.Still love the music.
Chris
editor/filmer/director of:
surfalotproductions.com
I remember playing shows with sand jacket. I was the guitar player for sour grass. We would jam and get drunk. Kik ass times
I put up another part with Sand Jacket music this week.It’s a few Carlsbad local’s shot this week surfing sb.I really enjoy this song”Surf surf”
New stuff with your song’s up now from this morning.Happy Memorial Day weekend!