Saturday, February 14, 2015

Local Band Review: Jambox - A Second Helping (Saturday, January 17th - Drifty's Sports Pub)


Photo credit: 2015 Geno Images
Ya know, I think some 80’s looks are coming back…I’ve heard rumor at least and I’m seeing more gals sporting the bigger hair…and well, as far as threads go, anything is game in the wardrobe arena these days…you like it, you can find it, you can wear it!  Jambox is the hot new band on the Indy scene that’s doing their share of keeping the 80’s r ‘n r in the spotlight.  This is my second time to catch them play, and it was just as good as the first, if not better!  This is also my second time to blog on them, because I’d like to share a bit more information for their fans, as they are quickly developing a loyal following.  Saturday night (January 17, 2015) found them rocking the South side of Indy at Drifty’s Sport Pub on East Stop 11 Road.  You know it’s going to be a fun night when the place is packed early!  Time to parrrrr…..teeee….!

You can’t get much more 80’s style than with Journey tunes, and this is a given for these guys! Lead vocalist Eric Rozens belts out these melodies like he’s related to the original Journey lead man Steve Perry.  Opening with ‘Any Way You Want It’, it didn’t take too long in the evening to start packing the dance floor.  80’s music was great for getting your groove on!  Jambox is fast filling their club dates, so you will have plenty of opportunity to follow them around the local Indy scene, as no town in Indiana seems to be off limits.  These guys just got together late last Spring, as ’just friends’, since they were all playing in other bands at that time. They have certainly made their mark and are leaving a great lasting impression all the way around.  These guys got it!

If some of them seem familiar to you, it’s probably because they are.  Eric was vocalist in a band called ‘Backlash’ back in the ‘Schoolboy Crush’ (SBC) days.  Jeff and Rusty also hail from SBC.  Ritchie has jammed with numerous artists and was in Simon Bar Sinister (with Donnie St. Thomas, after he was in SBC), playing with Roxie (Ralph from Q95) in a band called ‘Password Reset’.  Dave and Rusty played with ‘Rainmaker’ back in the day, and both were with the band ‘The Big Time’ when they started jamming with the Jambox boys. You can’t get much better experience than that!

Changing up the playlist to keep it fresh, the night’s songs included: ‘All Of My Love’ – Led Zeppelin; ‘Owner of A Lonely Heart’ – Yes; ‘Everybody Wants You’ – Billy Squier’; ‘Runaway’ – Bon Jovi (which featured keyboardist Dave’s talent); ‘Hold The Line’ – Toto; ‘Jump’ – Van Halen; ‘Never Been Any Reason’ – Head East; ‘Hot Legs’ – Rod Stewart and many more during two rockin’ sets.  Twenty-first century technology and social media is a great resource for local bands these days in helping to get the most current news out.  These guys have some great merchandise you can order from their website (http://www.jamboxindy.com) such as t-shirts, ball caps, stocking hats and keychains, all sporting that great Jambox logo.  Also stop by and ‘like’ their FaceBook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jambox/636044193176640
 
Photo credit: 2015 Geno Images
 
Jambox is:

Eric Rozens – lead vocals
Ritchie Wilkison – guitar
Jeff Ellison – bass
Dave Lucid – keyboards
Rusty Scutt – drums

Sound – Mike Champlin
Lights – Robert Horner

So, what about original music? Well, it’s in the ‘talking stage’…according to front man Eric, “(we) may do (it) at some point, but (it is) nothing we are actively pursuing at this time.”  If you have not yet had opportunity to see these guys, mark them on your ‘must see’ list! Get to know them….say ‘hey’.  They’re friendly, fun, down to earth and extremely musically talented. You will not be disappointed.  Tune in the Jambox and turn it up…like a boomerang you’ll need a repeat!

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