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Jacob Vanko has been a furious presence on the Hampton Roads music scene and on his debut album “10 Years” he shows he’s just as adept in the studio as he is on stage. The album has soulful, Americana tunes that just jump out of the radio.

His top notch backing band includes three great lead guitarists sharing duties on the 12 tracks, giving each a unique, varied arrangement. Pulling it all together is his producer, keyboardist and drummer Rich Mossman, known for his past work with many artists in the area, who brings class and style to overall sound.

Vanko’s big voice embodies songs with social observations, recognizing his own inner struggles and the searching and questioning that he uses as a muse for his writing. One song was written for a piano teacher he had as a child and how he wishes he had five minutes to spend with her today to talk about music and life.

Vanko says growing up during the grunge-rock era in the nineties has given his songs a dark edge and sets his acoustic oriented compositions apart. He’s found the sweet spot between gritty energy and heartfelt passion on “10 Years” that should keep him going for at least another decade or two.