Self-described as “sonic brutality,” The UK’s Jim Jones Revue is a powerhouse of vintage 50s punk and soul. Whipping crowds into a frenzy with their stripped down, piano-heavy, Jerry Lee Lewis flare, JJR is gaining momentum with early praise from the British music press – and nods from notable rockers like Jack White and Chris Robinson. Now they confirm those praises with their sophomore release, Burning Your House Down.
Jim Jones himself recently gave Glide a look into life with JJR.
Describe the first days of The Jim Jones Revue? How did you come to officially form the band? What do you remember about your first gig?
Seems like it was a case of lucky timing. I was looking for a new project, Black Moses [previous band] had run it’s course and it was feeling like time to move on. I had been working a lot with Rupert Orton, well known for booking punk rock blues shows on the London music scene. Rupert booked Black Moses a few times and we often spoke about our mutual interest in 50s Rock n Roll…mainly the piano driven sound of artists such as Little Richard and Jerry lee Lewis. When Black Moses finally bit the dust, it seemed obvious that this should be the first thing to try. After a short time of trying to find musicians, Rupert suggested Nick Jones for drums, and after meeting at some Jazz soirée we went ahead and booked a rehearsal room.
Ray Hanson of Thee Hypnotics had introduced me to Elliot Mortimer about a month or two before that, and we had chatted on the phone a lot about the RnR groove, so when the question of piano came up, he was the first choice. Gavin Jay, we head-hunted from another band.
When we first got together in a rehearsal room the results were instant. It felt like climbing aboard a runaway train! I made a recording of it and when a friend heard it, he insisted we play at his club night despite not having a set. We pulled together a few cover songs and the gig was amazing, really good fun. The place was packed and one of the first great revelations was that girls were dancing, not just jumping up and down, but actually dancing. After the show we were approached about playing at five other clubs…it’s been like that ever since.
You’ve just finished your maiden U.S. tour – what are your initial thoughts of playing in the states and what has the reaction been?
America’s been great. We were there to kick the doors open and so far it’s been going good. The response to us from a new crowd is pretty much the same anywhere we go, after a few moments of puzzlement or shock, everyone seems to let go and get into it.
When we played in Portland, we hung out with Lemmy Kilmister & Slim Jim [from the Stray Cats] after the show…and survived!
Your second album has just recently been released. The Jim Jones Revue is a blistering live act, so was it challenging to transfer that energy and live luster into the studio?
The only way to record the band is live. It’s just a matter of the right environment. We worked in a good studio for the second LP that was recommended by the producer Jim Sclavounos. The first LP was recorded in a room that was barely big enough for us to fit in.
What songs on the new album do you feel best reflect how far the band has progressed? Do you have any particular favorites and why?
I like ‘Killin’ Spree’ and ‘Foghorn,’ I think in terms of moving forwards there are new elements and approaches there.
You’ve been most often compared from The Stooges to Little Richard and MC5 – do you feel these descriptions are limiting, and how would you best describe the band?
I don’t mind what references people use, those ones sound pretty cool to me. The main thing is to understand it as uplifting Rock n Roll!
Do you see yourself more as a fifties piano rock band or a modern punk band?
Definitely both
Lyrically, what inspires you to write and is there a certain theme or direction you try to go with?
I try and stay with today as much as possible, my head is always full of questions and not too many answers, but I try and fill the songs with a bit of both.
Can you talk about the rest of your band and what each member delivers to the stage… for sure your piano player is an MVP of sorts…
There are no passengers in the band, everyone knows what they have to do and works really hard on it. Also there’s a matter of chemistry, I’m not sure the band would work if we lost any one member.
Can you describe your wildest gig to date and what should people be ready for when they see the Jim Jones Revue live?
The ‘wildest’ show was probably when we played a festival in the Basque country and a torrential storm hit the stage sideways…knocked over all the amps, blew the drums off the riser, filled up the PA system with rain, knocked over a lighting rig with someone in it The emergency services rushed him to hospital and the whole festival stopped there, no more music. All this in the space of about five minutes! Be prepared for anything … sometimes Mother Nature gets involved!
What’s next in 2011 for The Jim Jones Revue?
Play, play, play! Taking the music to the people…
We’ve just finished our tour in the US. and our last show was the closing party for Ponderosa Stomp Festival in New Orleans which was an amazing experience. Now we’re back on tour in the UK. and just played on “Later With Jools Holland” TV show. The rest of the year we’re playing all over Europe, short break in December, then it’s off to Australia for The Big Day Out which takes us into February. Beyond that there’s more of the same, stay tuned for details!
