Harlequin Jones
Los Angeles, California, United States
Music
Press
"Harlequin Jones music is a refreshingly different, but dark mixture of blues piano, beating drums and daunting vocals. The Los Angeles duo create a set of songs that indulge singer and pianist Amanda Von Loon’s talents with the extensive work of Jesse Arcadio’s jazz-crunching music. The LA twosome have made music that their fans will devour and that will be released in their energy at live shows." - Live-music-scene.com
" Harlequin Jones are an original, enthralling, exciting and occasionally disturbing proposition. Straddling the worlds of pop, blues, dark cabaret and rock, but finding a peculiar niche in between. Their weapon is the strength of their songs, and their sheer melodic might is surely capable of converting even the most jaded ears. Amanda Von Loon’s voice is a thing of full-blooded power, her deep tones alternately stern and sensuous, sweet and severe. Every track here is an absolute blinder.. catchy verses and super-sized choruses that emphasise the band’s stupendous songcraft. The song "Worried Ugly" takes us into twisted, black-hearted blues, which metamorphoses into lush, baroque pop with a gargantuan avalanche of a chorus, again bolstered by Jesse Arcadio’s superb drumming and subtle yet powerful guitar work. Harlequin Jones already possess a canon of instantly classic tunes. Their future will surely be bright." - The Phonovault.com - A.F.W. Curio
"One of the most underrated bands on the planet. Harlequin Jones has the rare advantage of appealing to both underground fans and mainstream fans alike. I cant wait to see what Harlequin Jones has up its sleeve next."
- Boredtodeathhomeschooler.com
Discography
Still working on that hot first release.
Photos
Bio
Harlequin Jones rebel against any easy categorization, calling the songs roughly "piano punk and blues." The music mixes catchy dark pop hooks with lush, low female vocals alongside aggressive yet elegant piano & drums.
Once just an experiment, Harlequin Jones have honed their originality and skill into something more tangible. Amanda von Loon plays and pounds out trashy elegance on piano with deep yet lady-like vocals. With compliments from Jesse Arcadio's part jazz-master, part scrap metal machine drumming, Harlequin Jones result as a synergy of moxie, chemistry and talent.
In 2006, these attributes were demonstrated with the release of their first self titled EP. The EP was welcomed as something refreshing by listeners. In 2011, their second record, The Bad Beginning was released, deeming them by some critics as "one of the most underrated bands."
Not too long after The Bad Beginning's 2011 release, Harlequin Jones got hard to work! They jumped at the chance to record more and unleash the new gorgeous set of songs that had been in the works.
"Overflow" is Harlequin Jones' most recent recording, released October 31st 2012. Recorded in a manic rush of 4 nonstop days, "Overflow" captures a moment of time for Harlequin Jones. The EP cycles through fast paced piano punk like "Pass The Time," onto the other extreme of an eerie heartbreaking ballad such as "Overflow," whilst never denying the balance between the set of songs.
The band officially became a fully functional weapon of rock in 2005, practicing in an antiquated bedroom in dusty Simi Valley, CA. Ever since Von Loon and Arcadio found their compatibility to fit like lock and key, they continue to create and play music in the Los Angeles area.
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