The Blackjacks are a Washington, D.C. based band that combines the blues of the grittier British invasion bands and blues punk of the late seventies with heavy danceable grooves. The band quickly gained notoriety around the entire metropolitan area for their high-energy live shows that showcase their song craft and musicianship. Most notably are the dual guitar of Anthony Fiacco and Buddy Speir. Inspired by everything from The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Led Zeppelin to Queens of the Stonage, White Stripes, and Wolfmother; Fiacco became widely known in Washington DC for his songwriting. Sharing musical inspiration and a passion for serious rock n’ roll make Fiacco and guitarist/songwriter/arranger Speir a natural team. Speir is undoubtedly acknowledged as THE rock n’ roll guitarist in the Washington, D.C. area. “He’s completely absorbed Jimmy Page and created his own unique style with it,” adds Fiacco. In 2007, the two set out to make a record worthy of their idols, fresh for the new Millennium. They achieved this with their debut album "Midnight On the Floor" released in 2009. Fiacco and Speir were determined to make and album with as close to a live feel as possible. "Midnight On The Floor" is organic rock, live takes, limited edits, many of the solos and vocals are first takes capturing the "moment" of the music. It is an album with classic rock roots and raw energy married to pop sensibility. About his hopes for how the album is received, Fiacco says, "I just want people to get in their car and turn this thing up...these are fun, sexy songs that should be enjoyed at very high volume." The Blackjacks have recently established a buzz surrounding their live shows. Bringing together powerful vocals from Fiacco, exceptional guitar coverage from Speir, and Nate Ihara (bass) and Mike Smirnoff (drums) establishing a power house groove, The Blackjacks are not only a band with a fantastic debut album but also a must see live show. The Blackjacks have shared the stage with Billy Idol, Foreigner, Seether, Finger 11, Live, Stained, Chevelle, and have appeared with Def Leppard and Styx.


"With two guitarists (Fiacco and Buddy Speir, formerly of the Echoes), the Blackjacks build a big sound: This is an album that begs to be played at full volume in a car with the windows rolled down. The Blackjacks sound like a band that's enjoying itself, from the swooping crescendos on the howling "Karma Lover" to the squealing guitars on "Ticket," whose introduction flirts with the riff from Van Halen's "Hot for Teacher." It's an energy that can't stand still; not only are these well-crafted songs insanely catchy, they're also just plain fun." -- Catherine P. Lewis, The Washington Post

“This disc mysteriously showed up on my desk, and boy am I glad it did. It has renewed my faith in in-your-face take-no-prisoners rock. One definitely can hear influences from the likes of Van Halen, AC/DC, and Guns and Roses from this local outfit (Buddy Speir, Anthony Fiacco, Mike Smirnoff and Nate Ihara). Pick up the album and don't miss the Jan. 30 show.” — Robert Fulton, On Tap Magazine

“The Blackjacks are a four-piece band whose sound falls comfortably within the garage-rock revival scene. In this way, the group plays straightforward rock that is driven by crunchy, fuzzy guitars, tribal drumming, and passionate vocals. This energetic sound translated easily to the stage where the band seemed comfortable and confident. Perhaps, the most interesting aspect of this group’s sound is the manner in which they rely heavily on their pop sensibilities to create catchy choruses, which usually consist of three part harmonies that provide a necessary break from their wall of sound. It will be interesting to see how The Blackjacks are received in the final competition of Last Band Standing. If the group plays with the same intensity that they played with on Sunday, it is entirely possible that The Blackjacks will win the entire competition.” – DC Local Tunes