When I lived in DC, I played keys for about a year in a band called The Jones. It marked a sort of musical re-awakening for me. (A musical re-awakening which has since gone back to sleep, I might add.) I had been into music all through college and had played in a band called "Fifth Beat." We mostly played jazz standards, mixed in with a few pop odds and ends, like Morphine's "Good." I also had a semi-regular gig back then where I played an antique upright at a bistro called Harb's. I loved the way that piano sounded, even though it was jarringly out of tune and some of the keys in the lower register didn't actually hammer notes at all. Harb's paid me with dinner. And the Harb's patrons sometimes put tips into my glass. I felt like the Billy Joel of the Blue Ridge.

I didn't really keep up with my playing post-graduation. Then, when C and I moved to DC in 2003, I met Mike at The Childe Harold and he invited me to play with them, and I did, and things kind of clicked. I bonded with him and the bassist Jeff over the fact that we all really loved The Black Keys. And so we'd jam in Mike's basement figuring out how to work a piano or Hammond into the songs. We got some gigs and played a few of the local DC clubs ... Staccato, DC9, Velvet Lounge. Oh, the drinking! Oh, the drugs! Oh, the women and all-night orgies. Yes, the band temporarily saved me from all these things. Then there was some band drama that went down. Drummer issues, conflicting schedules, lack of rehearsal space. A general malaise swept over the group. When VH1 calls Mike one day to do a "Behind the Music" special on The Jones, they will refer to this time as a "dark valley" in the group's history. And they will likely refer to my beard and curly mop of hair as "tragic."

I wound up sort of falling out of The Jones. I didn't really quit, nor did they ask me to leave. I just found life pressures were getting in the way (see note above: drinking, drugs, all-night orgies) and so I went on a permanent leave-of-absence. But I have fond memories of the time I spent in the band.

The Jones' sound has changed a lot in the last couple of years. Evolved. In a good way. I'm impressed. George is now the drummer. He had started right around the time I was phasing out and I could tell he would bring good things to the overall sound. There is also a new bass player, Rich. (Well, he's new to me ... I actually think he's been playing with Mike and George for a while now.) Based on the recent recordings I've heard on their MySpace page, it sounds like he's a great addition.

Anyway, let me get to the point: all of this is a very long-winded (and, yes, self-indulgent) way of me saying that if you're in DC or NYC you can (and should) catch The Jones at one of these two shows:

DC: Rock and Roll Hotel, Friday August 8th, 9:30 pm

New York: Kenny's Castaways, Saturday August 9th, 10:30pm

I'm planning on going to the New York show. Maybe I'll see you there.

Along with the several pics I've just posted of me and the band during the time I was in it, here's a demo recording we did. I kind of like this track, even though now I'm not so sure I like the droning piano riff I am playing in it. The solo with the organ sound around the 2:05 mark is kinda minimalist cool, though. In addition to Mike on vocals and Jeff on bass, Mat is playing drums in this one. The song is called "Gun Jump." It is written by Mike, as is most of The Jones' material. Enjoy!



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