By Joshua Lyford

Central Mass band JCDC has made quite a name for itself since its inception in 2008 as a cover band unlike anything else you’ve likely heard. Putting its unique twist on a fantastic array of songs, the band has no problem turning even the most jaded of heads at its live shows. Between regular gigs at the Gardner Ale House and an upcoming show with jam band heroes Furthur on July 16, clearly the band has bright future.

“Back in the spring of 2008, I started to host an open mic at the Boulder in Fitchburg, along with Mat Babineau [guitarist of New Pond Fondle, Cormier’s first band],” recalled Daniel Cormier, guitarist and vocalist of JCDC.

“It was really the first time I ever sang live, playing guitar. So, Wednesday became the night that a whole group of us would jam on anything we wanted to, and Jimmy [Clapham, drummer of JCDC] became the beat. So, we had a good six months or so just playing at these open mics, and week after week, we would try anything, and I mean everything. So JCDC became what it was as a result.”

From this humble beginning, the two-piece band has since moved up and out into the world. It started a monthly gig at the Gardner Ale House. “It really became our venue,” Cormier said. “We would only play there, so it became an event. Every month, practically, we would never a repeat song and pull random antics. We played on their parade float back in 2010 in downtown Gardner, and that was quite a moment! We love it there, and it’s home base.”

JCDC plays a vast selection of cover songs, and one of the most important components of its shows is spontaneity and keeping things fresh and new. While you are likely to hear awesome songs from great bands like The Beatles, Grateful Dead, Paul Simon, Marvin Gaye, Bob Dylan, Phish, Rush and many more performed in JCDC’s signature style, you are unlikely to see the same performance twice.

“Through the music we play, we try to heal, communicate, initiate and rock,” Cormier explained. “I always like to capture the feeling I got playing in my basement as a teenager ~ and still get in my basement. Total freedom and having fun.”

In fact, fun is probably the only guarantee at a JCDC show, which is fantastic, since the band has a pretty epic show coming up July 16, with jam-band stalwarts Furthur at Meadowbrook in Gilford, N.H. Furthur is made up of Grateful Dead members, Phil Lesh and Bob Weir, pushing the envelope even further (pun intended) into experimental territory while playing some Grateful Dead favorites.

“It actually feels perfect.” Cormier said of the event. “We have such an amazing group of fans that are taking the trip with us; it is surely to be quite the high. Me and Jimmy are Deadheads, to say the least. Jimmy started seeing the Grateful Dead in the late ’80s up until the end. I, on the other hand, was 13 when Garcia passed … just started getting into them that summer [1995]. We have both seen Furthur a ton and are glad that Bob Weir is on the mend, healing and relaxing until July at the start of the summer tour.”

Do  yourself a favor and check out JCDC at its upcoming show with Furthur at Meadowbrook in Gilford, N.H., or at its monthly gig at the Gardner Ale House. Tickets for the Meadowbrook show are available through the band or online at Meadowbrook.net. You can check out JCDC for yourself at Facebook.com/JCDCBand.