If there’s a sound synonymous with Carbondale in the mid-1980s to early ‘90s, Jungle Dogs are part of it.
The nine members of the band (almost all Southern Illinois University graduates) came together in 1987 with a unique rock and reggae vibe influenced by ska, calypso, and Latin music. Using guitars, trumpets, trombones, saxophones, keyboards, and percussion coupled with upbeat, danceable tunes, Jungles Dogs quickly assumed the mantle of the ultimate party band. Their energy on stage was infectious. Their sound captured a vibrant and lively era of Carbondale and SIU perfectly.
To this day, Eddie Chapa ’95, a founding member of the group on bass and vocals, hears the kind of accolades from alumni that humble him.
“I’ve had so many people come up to me and say, ‘You guys were such a big part of my college experience.’ They may not remember a lot of things about their college days, but they remember us, and I’m thankful,” Chapa said.
After nearly 40 years, countless shows, and six albums, Jungle Dogs will play their final concert on October 11 where it all started – downtown Carbondale. They’re headlining the SIU Homecoming edition of Carbondale Main Street’s “Off The Rails” concert series. The City of Carbondale, SIU Alumni Association, and River Radio have joined the effort with something special – closing a portion of South Illinois Avenue (The Strip) to plant the stage right on the street.
It’s the final farewell. Probably, Chapa added.
Jungle Dogs officially retired in 2003 but have spent nearly two decades since playing reunion shows, delighting old fans and picking up new ones among younger generations. Chapa says the band is something akin to a fraternity. They’re brothers with an ongoing passion for the music, but age, health, and the time it takes to gather nine guys scattered across the Midwest make planning trickier.
“We’ve been asking ourselves if this is just another one of our farewell shows,” he said. “I mean, you never say never, but it’s not the plan to keep going after this.”
Discography:
- Jungle Dogs (Self-Titled), 1992
- Throw 'Em A Bone, 1993
- Halloween Dogleg (Live), 1995
- Every Dog Has His Day, 1997
- Jungle Jym (Book & CD), 2002
- GreatestsHIT! (Compilation), 2010
Members
- Klaus Bank - Sax
- Eddie Chapa - Bass
- Larry Daly - Trombone
- Keith Huffman - Trumpet & Keys
- John Hunter - Drums
- Matt Linsin - Percussion
- Jim Owens - Trombone & Keys
- Dan Schingel - Guitar
- D. Ward - Trumpet
Jump Up for Cold Beer
Maybe you don’t know Jungle Dogs by name, but there’s a chance you’ve heard one song in particular, an anthem that embodies both the band and what some would call the true SIU experience in the 1980s and 1990s.
Dan Schingel ’88, guitars and vocals for the group, wrote “Cold Beer” after he and Chapa heard a track called “Fine Wine.” The song used a musical style called Soca (short for “Soul of Calypso”), which fused African, Caribbean, and South Asian rhythms. The sound was new and exciting, he said.
One night at a party they discussed creating a Soca-influenced song to serenade their favorite libation. Chapa admits he went home and forgot about the conversation. Schingel got to work on writing “Cold Beer” in a way befitting the title.
“I worked for a beer company driving a delivery truck,” Schingel recalls. “I was on my route coming back from Ava (Illinois) and started thinking about the lyrics. We had some table tents in the truck that were blank on the back, so I ripped open one and started jotting down the words. When I got home I worked out the rest of it on an acoustic guitar, then recorded it playing into a cheap tape deck.”
The next day he took it to the rest of the band and…
“They all laughed and hated it!” Schingel pressed them: “I told them to give it a shot, put it to a calypso beat. I think we’ve got something!”
He wasn’t wrong.
“Cold Beer” is a rambunctious tune, driven by blaring horns, bouncing drum beats, and lyrics that include a call to action urging listeners to their feet. It’s Mardi Gras in a melody. It became a favorite of the fans, got radio play in the region, and became the defining song for the group.
“I may have brought it up a time or two that I was right,” Schingel says.
Fans of The Dogs are no less excited about the rest of the group’s discography. While “Cold Beer,” by far, gets the most plays on Spotify today, other popular tracks include “Betty’s No Ho,” “Satisfied,” and “When the Bomb Falls Down.”
"I've had so many people come up to me and say, 'You guys were such a big part of my college experience."
Eddie Chapa, Bass and Vocals
Where It All Started
Chapa arrived in Carbondale from Chicago in the early 1980s. Almost immediately he knew he was home.
“Carbondale, and by extension, SIU, always makes an impression. It gets in your bloodstream and soul,” he said. “I consider myself a permanent resident. Even though I’m getting close to retirement, I have no plans to move.”
Jungle Dogs wasn’t Chapa’s first band in Carbondale. He, along with Schingel and a third founding member, D. Ward, were originally known as Love Rhino. It was a short-lived experience, lasting from 1985 to 1986, but it laid the groundwork for Jungle Dogs and cemented their ties to the community.
Jungle Dogs played their first show at Hangar 9, where they became regulars. Many of their memories and stories come from those sets, including a surprise appearance by actor Woody Harrelson (known then for his role on the sitcom Cheers), who joined them on stage to sing along with some Elvis tunes.
Given the band is almost certain this will be their last performance, Schingel said they’re pumped it’s taking place in downtown Carbondale, complete with a plan to shut down The Strip and invite everyone out.
“I want to thank (the SIU Alumni Association) and Carbondale and SIU for coming together and making this a really fantastic swan song,” Schingel said.
“Putting us down on The Strip means everything to us. We started there; we’re going to end up there. Thank you profusely for making this an epic situation.”
