"Weed" is almost impossible to label; it is reggae rock similar to that produced by Trinidad bands such as Orange Sky and Jaundis I. Snarling, irreverent, and deliciously loose, it is a potent commentary on the vagaries of the drug war.

I've Got That Weed, Son

Originally inspired by Springsteen's "Johnny 99", ":Heartbreak Machine" channels rockabilly, the blues, and rock n' roll to produce a raw, fiery, and sexy little number that sounds like early Billy Idol on steroids. 

Heartbreak Machine

Hard melodic funk/blues rock in the vein of 'Suck My Kiss' by the Red Hot Chili Peppers or 'Where are We Running" by Lenny Kravitz. 'Billy' is the story of a man in the midst of a  mental breakdown. 

Yo, Billy Got A Knife!

This apocalyptic stomper is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin numbers such as 'Black Dog' and 'When The Levee Breaks'. Listen carefully though, and you will hear strains of reggae legend Barrington Levy's "Here I Come" in Malo's rapid fire acapella vocals. The lush harmonies also recall the choral vocal arrangements made famous by Queen, Styx, and Pink Floyd.

Ol' Red Eyes

"This is how we do it out in the Southwest". "Eliot Ness" is the sound of The Jonestown Band leaving its blues roots behind. This reggae inflected funk number somehow manages to reference both "Lord of the Rings" and "Star Wars" and still sound cool. "Eliot Ness" is also a love letter of sorts to Tucson, from where the band hails.

Eliot Ness (MTV Killed The Video)

Picture a brown-skinned, dreadlocked desperado in a post-apocalyptic world, bass guitar slung across his back, belting out songs of love, loss and despair as he roams the badlands in search of the last remaining honky-tonk. This is what The Jonestown Band - a Tucson-based, contemporary blues-rock outfit with a raw, pulsating rhythm - sounds like. Frontman (and bassist) Malo Jones, who hails from Trinidad & Tobago, brings forth a bruised baritone to combine with the vigorous riff-rock of Connecticut native Bill Sacks (guitar) and Arizona born and raised Maggie Rickard (drums). 
 
The band rapidly graduated from the Tucson bar scene to open and headline several Arizona festivals, including Glow, Mocktoberfest, and Second Saturdays Dowtown, and have played at such esteemed venues as The Rialto. They have been semi-finalists in the blues category at the International Songwriting Competition, and twice semi-finalists at the Tucson Blues Challenge.

On their upcoming EP, Bad Mind, The Jonestown Band offers a minimalist brand of hard-rock mixed with blues, funk, and even reggae. Malo’s character driven songs are driven by the loud, aggressive, and almost punk like ethos of Rickard and Sacks. There are definite echoes of Led Zeppelin, the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Billy Idol, and even Sublime in the new EP.

There is also no easy way to describe the music. The Jonestown Band has the potential to become a truly original force in the modern blues-rock arena; to become apostles for our age, even.  Go ahead: drink the Flavor-Aid.


The Jonestown Band

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