Music
Press
San Diego’s smartypants indie cabal, a collection of groups that rely on too-cool insider jokes, former-band-geek exclusivity, and counterculture self-righteousness, has an unusual member, Roxy Jones. Watching any of these acts live, you come to think that the bandmembers expect artistic credibility and a contract with Epic Records because they have the ability to irritate their audience. Although, unlike many of these local acts of the same snotty flavor, Roxy displays cohesion and talent.
While Peter Graves forces his voice a tad off-key for short stretches to impart artiness, this seems to be Roxy’s only “unorthodox” technique. On the whole, Roxy uses few high-minded concepts and instead employs a good amount of solid, traditional, good ol’ rock-and-roll elements — a refreshing notion for a local indie act. As a result, Roxy Jones remains approachable to mainstream audiences as well as the black-rimmed-eyeglass-wearing “I’m so much more independent than you” crowd.
The band’s instrument work is top notch. Graves’s lyrics deal mostly with past conversations and features of a cityscape, mentioning bars, broken glass, 7-Elevens, interaction with neighbors, and his own introspections. From “Hola Papi!”: “I was alive before I was born/ Then I rented some videotapes/ Then I got bored.”
-by Ollie - SD Reader
Discography
Pictures of a Thousand Man Garden- HOI Records 2006 3 song ep out of press
Wasn't Tomorrow Horrible?- HOI Records 2007
7 song album
Stay Merry, San Diego- a San Diego holiday comp, includes the Roxy Jones song "Santa, Please Bring Me Whiskey". Released December, 2007
out of press
Photos
Bio
We all met in college at the newspaper. We probably sound like we're trying to rip off Pavement, but there's many other secret ingredients to our sound, like real butter and Robert Wyatt. No, really.
We've recorded one album, "Wasn't Tomorrow Horrible?" at Pineapple Studios, and we're about to start work on a second at our new personal studio, Xenophile.
We've been lucky enough to play shows with some really great bands such as: The Kills, Minmae, Bunky, The Places, Phantom Family Halo, Pleaseasaur, and the late great Red Feathers. We have one west coast tour under our belts and one more planned for November.
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