Last Saturday, The Jungle got the bright lights and big city as DeKalb band JP And The Cats shot a video as part of a promotion package.

Originally scheduled to be shot at either Chicago’s Traffic Jam or maybe the Baja Beach Club, Jim Tulk, the lead singer of JP And The Cats, chose the DeKalb bar on Hillcrest because it offered much better angles for shooting. Another reason: Sax player Rick Reynolds said that “we always have good crowds at The Jungle.”

Tulk, a graduate of NIU, plans to use the footage from The Jungle as part of a promotional package to be sent to colleges across the country. “We’re also going to be in contact with MTV and VH-1,” he said. The taping was done in conjunction with Clausen Productions.

The entire performance was taped, but there were certain segments where crowd participation was encouraged. “We want people to get loose, to get crazy,” Tulk said. One song in particular was emphasized and filmed as part of the video. A song about the human anatomy, The Hoogie Bind is an expression about love making.

Unlike some live videos that have the performers going through the motions on stage and lip syncing the song, JP And The Cats never made any dry runs. As drummer Terry Rodgers put it, “We want to capture the essence of live music.”

And the essence of live music is the crowd itself. Though not all of those in attendance knew there was a video being shot, many came to see JP And The Cats.

Though confined to a wheel chair, John Brady said, “The only reason I came out was to see this band. I try and get out to see this band as much as possible.”

Another patron, Debbie, said she would not miss the band for the world. Others who were quite excited about the band were somewhat apprehensive about being in the video. “I don’t want to look 10 pounds heavier,” said one girl.

When asked about the type of crowd, Jungle bartender Michael Clements said, “It’s the same crowd—a JP crowd. I think people came to see the band—the video is just an added bonus.” JP toasted The Jungle staff when the band played, “Hey Bartender.”

During the performance, JP invited some girls on stage to dance and be in part of the video. JP fan Tammy Litke was responsible for prodding one of her friends to go on stage. Cheryl Wornkieczy said that she was dared and a little apprehensive at first, but once on stage she danced the jitters right out.

At the break, Tulk said he was satisfied with the first half performance and was now ready to “play both what people like and some of our own stuff.”

Having the video released on MTV wouldn’t be the ultimate goal for JP And The Cats; it is merely another step up in publicity. And just think, DeKalb and NIU broadcast all over the nation for having fun.