Up With The Joneses

Artist Information

Biography

Very rarely these days does one come across a band with a long history. Rock and Roll, itself has a long list of legendary bands that have battled through adversity and misfortune, only to prove their sustaining presence as a group, or musical force. In more recent times, bands come and go; groups split up after just a couple of years. It seems that the ideal of 'sticking to your guns' is in short supply. Groups write songs about the world around them, rather than relying on actual life experience; songs, and bands alike, lack substance and conviction. This band is an exception to the modern trend of mediocrity, a testament to the true nature and raw energy of Rock & Roll.

Up With The Joneses has been around in one form or fashion since 1999, when friends T.J. Greever (vox, guitar) and Matt Bohannon (guitar) decided to start a band, based around the pair's common musical influences (Black Sabbath, Jane's Addiction, The Beatles, Faith No More) and their respect and adoration of Southern Rock. The group has toured extensively throughout the Southeastern region of the United States, and released 4 albums to date, turning heads and gaining attention of their peers and critics, alike. They rely heavily on an undeniably energetic, captivating live show, and innovative, yet nostalgic way of writing. The group has constantly evolved since inception, enduring through hardship, some of which is foreign to most up and coming bands. In the past, the band has been put on hold for a few personel changes (original bassist and drummer quit in 2002), but has also taken long breaks for some more serious issues, including the near-fatal crash of Greever, in 2004, and the death of bandmate, bassist Joe Grubbs in late 2005. Through 9 years of ups and downs, they have found a way to take all the experience that life offers, and convert it into positive musical energy that any audience can relate and/or dance to. The energy that the musicians exude in a live setting is the direct result of their perserverance and dedication to their music.

The music Up With The Joneses create is an eclectic mix of Southern music. This is a rock and roll band that listens to a lot of 90's/Alternative music, and isn't afraid to admit that they like country music, too. No inspiration is questioned, nothing is held back in a live setting. These audiophiles see their music as a culminating cauldron of popular music in the postmodern world. Make no mistake, they are trying to melt your face off.

The group is now eager to get outside of its familiar Southeastern stomping-grounds and spread its influence on all regions of the country, and anyone else interested. Coupled with the experiences and versatility of an almost legendary band history, and the unbridled excitement and raw power of its' newfound love for live music, Up With The Joneses are now more focused and energized than ever before and ready to rock.

The band's current 2007 release, "Melt Your Face Off (Live!)" is on iTunes and CD Baby for digital distribution. UWTJ has played over 100 shows in 2008 with constant touring of the southeast and eastcoast. Their long awaited second studio album will drop in late March early April of 2009. UWTJ looks forward to keeping the rock alive in 2009 somewhere near you!

Tour History includes playing as support for a wide range of bands, including: Drive By Truckers, Blind Melon, Cracker, Southern Culture on the Skids, Violent Femmes, Dickey Betts, Jason Isbell, Will Hoge, The Features, David Grey, Molly Hatchet, The Whigs, Mastodon, and King’s X.

Past venues include: Between the Bridges Festival ['06 & '07], (Chattanooga), Riverbend Festival ['01, '03, '05, '07] (Chattanooga), Nightfall Concert Series 08 (Chattanooga), Rhythm & Brews(Chattanooga), World Grotto (Knoxville), Barley's Tap Room (Knoxville), Mercy Lounge (Nashville), Exit/In (Nashville), Ten High Club (Atlanta), Smith’s Olde Bar (Atlanta), Tasty World (Athens), 40 Watt Club (Athens), Milestone Club (Charlotte), Snug Harbor (Charlotte), Stella Blue ( Asheville), The Hideaway ( Johnson City), DC9 (Washington, D.C.), Grape Street Music Hall (Philadelphia), The Bitter End (New York City).

Instrumentation

T.J. Greever - Voice, Guitar
Matt Bohannon - Guitar, Voice
Dan Pinson - Bass
Adam Brown - Drums, Voice

Discography

Over The Sound - LP (2009)
Total Time (55:26)

1. Filters (4:39)
2. As He Goes (3:13)
3. Loss Of Control (3:59)
4. My Mind Tonight (4:01)
5. Things To Believe In (5:26)
6. Anatomical Gift (2:38)
7. Down This Road (4:03)
8. Over The Sound (3:44)
9. Bricks (3:24)
10. Out Of Tune (4:08)
11. What Could Be Worse? (3:42)
12. Play On Words (2:10)
13. Anything You Say (4:00)
14. Switchyard (6:30)

Melt Your Face Off (Live!) - EP (2007)
Total Time (39:38)

1. Take It Back (4:16)
2. Down This Road (4:01)
3. Backwoods (6:36)
4. Perfect Picture (4:37)
5. Things To Believe In (5:42)
6. Defenestration (4:26)
7. Catch Fire (5:04)
8. Brain Stem (4:56)

[recorded April 12, 2007 @ The Rutledge (Nashville).
produced and mixed by Adam Brown.]



Live '03 - '05 - LP (2005)
Total Time (60:50)

1. Brain Stem (4:01)
2. Microwaveable Europe (3:19)
3. Out Of Tune (4:25)
4. Loss Of Control (4:27)
5. Safely (4:03)
6. Tower (3:10)
7. Down This Road (4:01)
8. Defenestration (3:45)
9. As He Goes (3:14)
10. Rock A / Funky G *
11. The Connection (3:08)
12. Take It Back (3:30)
13. Written Constraints (6:42)

* - featuring Mark "Pork Chop" Holder on Harmonica.

[recorded at various live venues 2003 - 05, including: Exit/In (Nashville, TN); Rhythm & Brews (Chattanooga, TN); Ten High Club (Atlanta, GA); Wall Street (Murfreesboro, TN); 2003 Riverbend Festival (Chattanooga, TN). Compiled by Adam Brown.]



EP - EP (2003)
Total Time (23:26)

1. Microwaveable Europe (3:33)
2. Out Of Tune (4:20)
3. Tower (3:09)
4. Brain Stem (4:08)
5. A - Song (4:11)
6. Catch Fire (4:15)

[recorded at Rhythm & Brews (Chattanooga).
produced by Doug Brown and Up With The Joneses.]



Numbers & Vultures - LP (2001)
Total Time (61:39)

1. Catch Fire (4:18)
2. Turn (4:35)
3. A - Song (4:03)
4. Backwoods (3:59)
5. Weight (4:08)
6. Song For... (5:15)
7. Problems (4:34)
8. Defenestration (3:24)
9. Eyesight (4:34)
10. Written Constraints (6:34)
11. Attic (4:59)
12. Rock A / Funky G (3:45)
13. Circus Dirt (7:31)

[recorded @ Ultrasound Studios, Rossvile, GA,
produced by Michael Johnson and Up With The Joneses.]

Links

• MySpace Page

Audio

• Filters
  Listen  
• As He Goes
  Listen  
• My Mind Tonight
  Listen  
• Anatomical Gift
  Listen  
• Over The Sound
  Listen  
• Bricks
  Listen  
• Play On Words
  Listen  
• Anything You Say
  Listen  
• Switchyard
  Listen  

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• Up With The Joneses Rock Out [+ Show ]
  

  Up With The Joneses Rock Out by Jay Mouton posted June 15, 2007 Up With The Joneses is anoth...Up With The Joneses Rock Out
  by Jay Mouton
  posted June 15, 2007
  
  
  Up With The Joneses is another band that I’ve seen mentioned in a number of Chattanooga club venue marquees, but have never caught one of their shows; I caught one last night at Riverbend.
  
  Anybody that hears Up With The Joneses knows that it’s an understatement for me to say that they are infused with energy. As irony would have it, I found it pretty much impossible to label the style or genre of Rock they play, suffice to say that it does not sit still for anybody, for any length, at any time. This band moves, and delivers a constant barrage of musical bullets like an M-60 Machine Gun.
  
  While the driving force of this band’s repertoire seems said Rock with a hard edge (I heard a cross between, and don’t be shocked – it’s there, Ted Nugent and Pink Floyd), and even some melodic, almost pop flavored undercurrents. Note, I said “undercurrents,” you have to listen – it’s there. In fact, one of their current songs, an ear friendly tune called “Knockwood,” is available on their brand new CD, which I believe shares the title.
  
  I thought their best song of the evening was a Stevie Wonder cover, “Higher Ground.” I thought they really jammed on this tune, and I liked the tempo and drive the band added just to add more spice to the song.
  
  The band is throwing a CD release party at Rhythm & Brews, and I believe they announced it is Friday night, June 16.
  
  After the ‘bend, if you like your Rock with lots of energy, drop in on these guys and give them your support.
  
  Jay Mouton
  jaymouton@gmail.com
  
  
  Available on the web:
  http://www.chattanoogan.com/articles/article_108886.asp
  

• What's Up With The Joneses? [+ Show ]
  

  What's Up with the Joneses? Even a car crash can't stop one of Chattanooga's most irrepressible liv...What's Up with the Joneses?
  Even a car crash can't stop one of Chattanooga's most irrepressible live acts
  By Leticia Wolf
  
  January 26, 2005
  
  At one time there was a place in Chattanooga where hippies could dance, frat-boys could shoot Jaeger, scenesters could be seen, local musicians could mingle and people of all ages could get all kinds of funky under one roof. That place was any venue hosting an Up With the Joneses show.
  
  All of this fun came to a screeching halt when frontman T.J. Greever was in a near-death car crash in the fall of 2004. The band has been silent since then, the hipsters and fraternity houses a little quieter for it.
  
  Until now.
  
  Up With the Joneses is back, hosting a “Welcome Home” bash for Greever this Friday, January 28 at Rhythm and Brews. Now Chattanooga looks to the band with wondering eyes. Can it be like it used to be? Can you pack the house with hundreds of music-lovers and rock like it’s 2000?
  
  Preparing to answer these questions, they gather on a recent weeknight at the Nautilus building and move their practice equipment to a new rehearsal room. The room just happens to be the very same place where Greever, Matt Bohannon, Joe Grubbs and Adam Brown played together for the first time in the summer of 2002. Now it belongs to them.
  
  As they spread out in their new space, they share a feeling of optimism about summer 2005. Bohannon plugs the show: “We are really excited about the show on the 28th. Lucky Guns will be opening for us. They are Nashville-based riff-rock. They are one of the best up and coming bands out there.” T.J. mentions Riverbend and then straps on his Parker Fly. Then Up With the Joneses fill their new space with a roar from the amps that plasters a Pulse reporter and a Pulse photographer against a warehouse wall.
  
  Greever is the first member of the band to catch the eye. He has a puffy red fur blazer, a quick sense of humor and, oh yeah, a blond afro. His original partner in crime, Matt Bohannon (often seen on stage in a variety of random headwear), has been called one of the best guitarists in Chattanooga. Brown and Grubbs joined the band in the summer of 2002. They round out the Joneses sound with airtight rhythm. Brown thinks they also balance the image of the band by leaning towards the "t-shirt and jeans" look. With that combination set, Up With the Joneses are an all-around kick-ass, rock-out, take-me-to-Funkytown, rock-me-Amadeus, cool group of guys that are just happy to be here to tell their story.
  
  Although Greever’s accident was a harrowing experience, they have pulled through it together, and prefer not to focus the conversation on that dark period of the band's history. Besides, it isn’t the first trial they have faced. Though the band first formed in 1999, they were forced to reform and relearn all their material when their original drummer T.R. Hill and bass player Walter Alvarez left the band in 2002. Obstacles like these would cause most local bands to throw in the towel, but for the songwriters of the band, Greever and Bohannon, quitting has never been a viable option.
  
  Joneses manager Marty Bohannon, Matt’s brother, says the band’s journey has been convoluted. “Six years is a long time, but it goes by so fast,” he explains. “A lot of people have a preconceived idea that a band should evolve rapidly… rising action, climax, falling action. That’s a horrible idea of sonic art. The Joneses are slowly evolving and finding their place in the local and regional market. They are working. You are either working or you’re not.”
  
  These guys are definitely working. They have released several studio and live EPs, and one full-length album, gathering a following of devoted fans and friends across the southeast.
  
  But in order to rebuild once again, Up With the Joneses will need to impress their closest fans quickly. Their crowds have always been drawn in by the band’s memorable originals and their eclectic choice of covers. From Ween to Rage Against the Machine, the Joneses always challenge the audience. However, they do not consider themselves to be a cover band. The cover songs are a special treat for the Chattanooga audience during longer sets. When they go out of town, they play shorter, often all-original sets. The local audience doesn’t seem to mind the interpretations, and the guys have promised some new cover songs along with the new originals that they will rock in the coming months.
  
  Covers aside, the originals from the Joneses have been all across the board stylistically. In their most recent originals there was a return to a harder, rockier sound. Matt Bohannon shrugs off the idea that the band is moving toward a heavier sound. “Our sound got a little edgier when we added Adam and Joe, but we will always continue to write different styles of music.”
  
  Though the next recording is intended to have new songs, some older pieces may be revisited. The Joneses have always been known as a great live act and they hope to capture more of that live experience on future recordings. Marty Bohannon feels like the band has become knowledgeable enough about their tones that they should record themselves with the help of a producer instead of at the mercy of a producer. The band has recorded two songs engineered by their former drummer T.R. Hill, who works at Blackbird Studios in Nashville. They say they are still shopping around for studios and working on new material. Marty Bohannon is pushing for a new release by late summer.
  
  With local rock venues closing down left and right, many local bands have moved on to the greener pastures of Nashville and Atlanta, leaving behind a somewhat stagnant and struggling nightlife in the Scenic City. Up With the Joneses have been a constant force of rock in Chattanooga since 2000, bringing a fusion of hard rock, funk, and pop to Rhythm and Brews, The Attic, Jacob’s Ladder, The Bay, The Vineyard, The Local, the Chattanooga State campus and local radio. Today more than half of those outlets are closed.
  
  Greever feels the loss of these venues. “It affects the age range of people we get to play for. There is no middle ground for the 18-21 crowd. It’s hard for them to see our show.”
  
  Perhaps Up with the Joneses faces a new question: now that they’re back, will they stay?
  
  Let’s hope so.
  
  Available online at:
  http://www.chattanoogapulse.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2005/01/26/41f6bf5b44aed?in_archive=1

• Melting Your Face Off [+ Show ]
  

  Melting Your Face Off Up With The Joneses kicks off their East Coast tour at J.J.’s by Bill Colrus...Melting Your Face Off
  Up With The Joneses kicks off their East Coast tour at J.J.’s
  by Bill Colrus
  
  July 18, 2007
  
  While the new millennium saw local rockers Up With The Joneses make a serious case for “best band in town” honors, their mere existence has been threatened in recent years by front man T.J. Greever’s near-fatal car accident in the fall of 2004, and the tragic accidental death of bassist Joe Grubbs in the summer of 2005. After a period of mourning and contemplation, Greever, along with co-founder and lead guitarist Matt Bohannon, drummer Adam Brown, and new bassist Dan Pinson resumed, as their motto instructs, “keeping the rock alive” in December of last year.
  Since then, the Joneses have played a string of super-tight, high-energy shows—including two at this year’s Riverbend Festival. A live album of their April 12 show at The Rutledge in Nashville, titled Melt Your Face Off, was recently released, and the band plans to melt more faces off here and elsewhere. After playing J.J.’s Bohemia Friday, the band embarks on a mini tour of the East Coast, playing Wilmington, Charlotte, D.C., Philadelphia, and New York City. Up With The Joneses then return to Chattanooga to play K-Fest on July 28 with The Whigs and The Drive-by Truckers, among others.
  Afro-blessed lead singer Greever talked with The Pulse about the band’s new live album, new bass player, and reaping the harvest of their rock.
  
  For awhile after Joe died, it kind of felt like the band wouldn’t ever come back. Did you guys ever get close to calling it quits for good?
  For me, personally, and for Matt and Adam, as well, I think it took a while to come to terms with what actually happened. Needless to say, we were all very devastated and confused. Joseph meant a lot to this band and a lot to this community and we just had to take some time to let ourselves heal and find a good place in our hearts and minds. Joe’s family was big part in keeping us going. They were so supportive and made us feel like it was OK to carry on the music for Joe and for ourselves.
  
  How did Dan Pinson wind up joining the band?
  Dan was a long-time friend of Adam’s and acquaintance of the band. Adam and Dan had played in bands since high school together like Riverboat John so their connection musically was already tight. We were very touchy and nervous about someone stepping into the bass position. After the first practice with Dan we knew he was the only guy for the job. His ability, personality, and heart are unlike anything we could have expected. Dan is the thread of this band in a lot of ways. Adam and Dan have played music for ten years together. Matt and I have played music for 12 years together. So when we all get together it’s like we’ve played music for 22 years together.
  
  How did the new live CD come about?
  The sound engineer Frank Sass at this club in Nashville called The Rutledge told us after we did a sound check that he was able to record the show on his 24-track recorder for a little cash. We had worked with Frank several times over the years at other Nashville clubs like the Exit/In and Blue Sky Court, so we knew he was one of the best live sound engineers around, if not the best we have worked with. We told him to record it and we were absolutely blown away with the raw quality of it. The quality is extremely good and we played well. Adam Brown, our drummer and resident genius, mixed and mastered the whole album and he even did the CD and cover art. We are very happy about the quality and ability to be self-sufficient with our music.
  
  Are you going to shop it to any labels or festivals?
  Sure. We have a couple of labels in mind. We just played this showcase sponsored by BMI at The Mercy Lounge in Nashville last month, and got a buzz going about us, so we’ll see what happens with that. We are happy doing what we’re doing right now on our own. We never really want more than to be able to have fun and make real music—music that means something to us. Perhaps one day we will be able to make a living doing music, but, by all means, if the time is right and the people are right, then everything’s alright.
  
  What are your goals for this tour?
  The goals are, first and foremost, to have fun, to plant our seed of rock deep inside the bellies of these cities, let it grow into a giant beastly, sweaty, whiskey-swilling plant of rock that we come back to and reap the harvest. So, basically, just break some barriers, make some new friends, and turn some people on to what we’re doing. We’ve got some attention from some booking agents, record label agents, and a journalist in New York, so hopefully we will make some new connections and open some new doors.
  Everyone in the band is in a position to try and break Up With The Joneses outside of the South for the first time in our nine-year history, and we are still as hungry for rock n’ roll now as we were when we first started playing. Our band motto has always been “Keep the Rock Alive!” so we figured what better way to do that than by taking our music to new places.
  
  

Setlist

A typical headlining set will run anywhere between 1 1/2 to 2 hours. It will feature about a 80/20 mix of original material/covers.
Sets performed as support acts are typically 45 to 60 minutes, and are about 90% original material.

Below is an actual example of a typical headlining set:

10/13/2007 @ Rhythm & Brews (Chattanooga)

In The Flesh? (*)
Circus Dirt
A Song
Perfect Picture
Song For...
Sweet Leaf (^)
Backwoods
Rock A / Funky G
Things To Believe In
Catch Fire
Burning Down The House (#)
Brain Stem
Out Of Tune
Naked In Front Of The Computer (+)
Turn
Play On Words
Switchyard
Tower
Take It Back
Stop! ($$)


(*) - Pink Floyd cover
(^) - Black Sabbath cover
(#) - Talking Heads cover
(+) - Faith No More cover
($$) - Jane's Addiction cover


Additional documented covers:

A Girl Named Sandoz (Smashing Pumpkins' Version) - The Animals
Dig A Pony - The Beatles
Helter Skelter - The Beatles
Higher Ground (Red Hot Chili Pepper's Version) - Stevie Wonder
It's Gonna Be A Long Night - Ween
Lake Of Fire (Nirvana Version) - Meat Puppets
Quiet - Smashing Pumpkins
Rock & Roll - Led Zeppelin
Running Down A Dream - Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers
Stone Cold Crazy - Queen
Suck My Kiss - Red Hot Chili Peppers
Symptom Of The Universe - Black Sabbath
We've Been Had - Uncle Tupelo
War Pigs - Black Sabbath


Highlights:
- Halloween 2007: The band dressed up and performed as Blind Melon, and played their 1992 debut album in its entirety.

- April 06, 2004: Participated in a 4-band tribute to Nirvana; played 4 acoustic selections from their "Unplugged" album, and 2 songs (from other albums) at full-throttle volume.

Basic Requirements

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