I chatted with Jackie from The Vindy’s about her musical upbringing and what it’s like being on tour with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo.
How cool is it being able to travel the country on this tour?
Ya know what? I like it. I’m getting a kick out of it. My happiness is food on the road. I wanna see who has the best barbeque in Austin, Texas or best seafood place in New Orleans. Obviously my happy place is on stage with the band but the different food on each tour is a very close second.
When did you know you wanted to be a singer?
I always was singing around the house. I remember watching “I Will Always Love You” on VH1 and that was it for me. “And IIIIII…” I was hooked.
You were sold on the “And III…” I love it.
Your song “Bugs” is featured on the soundtrack for “Last Night at Terrace Lanes.” How cool is it to be apart of pop culture?
We’ve had really cool asks of us to have several songs in different movies. It’s cool how they incorporate them throughout each one. Our proudest moment was when the video for “Bugs” was only one of eight to be screened at the Tribeca Film Festival. Lizzo’s video was there; we got to meet The Black Keys’ producer. It was wild.
How did the band form?
After High School, I wanted to go for music. I didn’t want to go for voice but I wanted to know how to write songs. Youngstown State University has the Dana School of Music, which is were most of the band came out of. I tried my hand there, but it just wasn’t for me. I actually found this school down south who was willing to get me a scholarship for music production. That was way more up my alley. I got to figure out the process of producing and live sound.
When I came back, I met up with the band that is now The Vindy’s. It was 2012, 2013, 2014. At that time, it was a very tribute heavy scene. Not many original music bands, if any. We paid our dues and did the cover band thing a few nights a week and that gets old REALLY quickly. In 2014, we put out an EP and the response was great. There’s a lot of history in Northeast Ohio. Obviously, the Rock Hall is in Cleveland. The Pretenders are out of Akron. I feel like when we decided to become an original band, it was our time to put a stamp on the Youngstown scene. We named ourselves after our local newspaper, The Vindicator. We’re so close as a touring band to any major city. New York City in six and a half hours, Chicago in seven. We love being from Youngstown.
I love your song “Electric” and the video. The water shot at the beginning is just mesmerizing. What was it like filming that?
This is my third music video with the Director, Peter John Campbell. We got together and talked about sequences and what it could look like. Even that day, we really didn’t know until we got to set. We had ideas on the spot. The water idea came about the night before. “Can we get a tub? Can we figure this out?” ::laughs:: Peter is very willing and ready to entertain my idea. He ended up painting a red tub for me. They had to wheel it in. It was one of those cast iron tubs..five hundred pounds or whatever.
What has it been like being on tour with Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo?
We are just honored. It’s a dream come true. We got the opportunity to open for them in 2022 in Cleveland. We sort have become the famous “local regional act” for Northeast Ohio. We’ve opened up for Beth Hart; ZZ Top in the fall. We jumped on the chance to open for Pat and Neil in Cleveland. I guess Pat had heard me on stage and liked my voice. She gifted me a bottle of champagne and asked for my contact information. And here we are in 2025 on our second tour with Pat and Neil. It’s wild to have a comradery where we feel comfortable asking questions and say ‘Hello.’ I so much look up to her. She’s a powerhouse vocalist. I always ask her “Hey Pat, how’s the voice today?” If we’re in dry Texas, “Yeah, it’s a little scratchy; I’m going to put a dehumidifier in my room.”
I also read a quote where she praises you by saying “That girl can sing her ass off.”
Yeah…I..want to put it on a t-shirt. I want to put it on a billboard. Anytime I’m having a bad day, I remember she said that and everything is immediately fine. It gets me through.
Are you excited about opening for Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo in Baltimore?
I’m SO excited because I’ve never been to Baltimore. Traveling to cities I’ve never been to is my FAVORITE. I can’t wait to try some of the local eats. I’m a Browns fan, but I’ve always loved the Ravens and your quarterbacks as well.
The Vindy’s open for Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo this Wednesday!