By MEREDITH HUMPHREY, Special to Bootleg Essential Culture
Jeremy Scruggs
When Jeremy Scruggs did his Smashing Pumpkins impression it changed his career.
It was Seth When Jeremy Scruggs did his Smashing Pumpkins impression it changed his career.
It was Seth Bolt, of Seneca’s Needtobreathe, that recognized the potential in Scrugg’s voice after hearing him sing as Billy Corgan.
“He seemed to know more about my voice than I did. He said, ‘You’re holding back on me and not giving me enough,’” said Scruggs. “I don’t know if I knew it was in there along.”
With this discovery, Scruggs changed his writing style and experimented with different keys. For now he is putting his songs on MP3 format for online fans—including the two tracks he co-wrote with Bolt.
His track ‘Messing Around’ begins with the clanking and jingling of coins, but the Pink Floyd influence ends here. Jolting vocals demand “You’re like a stiff drink, bittersweet, drink it up and give me some more;” and all ‘Heavy Breathing’ is missing from Poison’s ‘Nothin’ but a Good Time’ are the bandanas and eyeliner.
For now, Scruggs is working with other local artists such as Kenny Floyd and Jeff and Chris Worley of Jackyl. Until those songs are released, Scruggs is trying to keep his acoustic shows fresh and steady.
“I really build around what my voice wants to do in that particular song. That’s what this whole business is about—if they don’t believe you then it’s really no good.” n
