Depending on whom you ask, Jack “Oblivian” Yarber is either a rock
legend or an absolute unknown.

This dichotomy is well-understood by Memphis musicians, as
underground “fame,” for all its rewards, has, with a few exceptions,
been the ceiling for local acts for decades. And no one knows this
dichotomy better than Yarber, who may be Memphis’ most influential
active rock musician.

The list of noteworthy bands Yarber has been a member of over the
years is massive and includes Johnny Vomit & the Dry Heaves (a high
school punk project that also featured future Squirrel Nut Zipper Jimbo
Mathus), new-wavers the End, ’68 Comeback, Knaughty Knights, and Tav
Falco’s Panther Burns. Two of Yarber’s former bands — the
Compulsive Gamblers and the Oblivians — have seen their
reputation and following swell in the decade since their demise,
especially the Oblivians, whose international fan base borders on
rabid. Due largely to his stint in these bands, both partnerships with
Greg Cartwright, now of the Reigning Sound, Yarber has been an
acknowledged influence on artists such as the White Stripes, the Hives,
and Jay Reatard.

“I just do the best I can,” Yarber says. “Those Oblivians records
may not be on mainstream commercial radio, but they will always find
new fans who are looking for something outside the bland formulas that
are pushed on them by the people who think they know what rock-and-roll
is all about.”

In the years since, Yarber has toured and released a string of
successful solo albums under the Jack O & the Tennessee Tearjerkers
moniker. Originally conceived in 2000 as a partnership with former
Impala and current Bo-Keys bassist Scott Bomar, the band quickly
morphed into Yarber’s solo incarnation after Bomar became too occupied
with film scoring and production work. The band has had a revolving
door for side players ever since, at different times including current
River City Tanlines John Bonds and Terrence Bishop, Neighborhood
Texture Jam guitarist John Whittemore, the Reigning Sound’s Greg
Roberson, Bluff City Backslider Adam Woodard, and a host of other
recognizable local musicians.

The current lineup that’s (largely) behind Yarber’s latest release,
The Disco Outlaw, includes lead guitarist John Paul Keith (whose
own band, the One Four Fives, released their debut album last month),
enigmatic songwriter/performer Harlan T. Bobo on bass, and journeyman
drummer Paul Buchignani, who has backed everyone from Amy LaVere to the
Afghan Whigs.

“I like different things about all the lineups,” Yarber says.
“Harlan and Paul are a great rhythm section because of their dynamics.
They’ve been playing together in Harlan’s band for a long time and have
good chemistry. John Paul has sonic attack, but he also knows when to
pull back and let the song come through. It’s great to have him and
Harlan, because they’re both band leaders on their own and know from
top to bottom what goes where.”

The Disco Outlaw, released nationally on May 5th by local
imprint Goner Records, continues in the more “mature” direction
established by previous Tearjerkers releases, as Yarber’s strong (and
underrated) sense of melody and skill with pop hooks are allowed to
take the spotlight. Which is not to say that the record doesn’t rock,
because it flat-out does — and hard. But The Disco Outlaw
is also Yarber’s most polished effort to date, which serves the album’s
strong collection of songs well.

The release of The Disco Outlaw comes directly on the heels
of Jack O & the Tennessee Tearjerkers’ inclusion in director Craig
Brewer’s new series for MTV, $5 Cover, which chronicles the
lives of several local musicians in semifictional settings.

For Yarber, the opportunity to be part of a project with such
far-reaching potential was a welcome one.

“If I were 19 or 20 years old, I would be tapping on Craig Brewer’s
bathroom window saying put me in your movie,” Yarber says. “I’m not a
fan of reality TV shows, which all seem to be scripted anyway. But
$5 Cover is really music-focused, unlike these other shows. If
any of the actors or musicians can get some work because of the
recognition, it would be a good thing.”

In addition to tour dates promoting The Disco Outlaw with the
Tearjerkers, Yarber also has much-anticipated reunions with both the
Oblivians and the Compulsive Gamblers on tap for the summer. The
Oblivians will reunite in June for a string of gigs in Europe as well
as Memphis and Detroit with fellow underground legends the Gories,
while the Compulsive Gamblers will reform for the local Antenna Club
Reunion Festival in August.

“I love playing a lot and touring as long as it’s booked well and
the band doesn’t come home in the negative,” Yarber says. “At some of
the last Jack O/Harlan tours in Europe, there were cameras and
interviews like we were Dylan in England for the first time. In
reality, we were an unknown American rock band who paid off the border
guards 300 euros to get in the country.”

Jack O & the Tennessee Tearjerkers

The Disco Outlaw record release show, with John Paul
Keith & the One Four Fives

Hi-Tone Café

Saturday, May 9th

9 p.m.; $5