Zach Jones

Zach Jones is power pop musician based out of Portland, ME. Known throughout the north east as a skilled guitarist, multi-intrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, Jones began his professional career in 2002 when he joined the band Rocktopus.

Formed by Spencer Albee, formerly of Portland, ME's Rustic Overtones, Rocktopus was a power pop band that featured Albee on Vocals, keys and guitar, Patrick "Hache Horchatta" Hodgkins on backing vocals and bass, Brian Higgins on drums and Zach Jones on backing vocals and lead guitar. With a heavy classic rock influence, Rocktopus released two albums, I Love You, Good Morning in 2002 and Something Fierce in 2003. With a quick rise in popularity in Portland, ME and surrounding areas, Rocktopus sold out Portland, ME's State Theater after the release of the Something Fierce album.

Looking to streamline their image and sound and to stretch their reach outside of Maine, in 2003 Rocktopus replaced drummer Higgins with Andrew Hodgkins and changed their name to As Fast As. As Fast As wrote and recorded their debut album Open Letter To The Damned and by late 2003, the band had signed a record contract with Octone Records (Maroon 5, Flyleaf).

As Fast As then headed off to Los Angeles, CA to record their debut album for Octone, also titled Open Letter To The Damned, with producer Matt Wallace (Maroon 5, Faith No More). By 2004, the band was on the road full time. The band spent the next three years touring nationally as direct support for such acts as Gavin Degraw, Butch Walker, Breaking Benjamin, Unwritten Law, O.A.R, Maroon 5 and more.

In 2008, As Fast As parted ways with Octone Records. They released two more albums, Destroy The Plastique Man in 2008 and AFA For Effort in 2009, independently before drifting apart to pursue different projects.

Throughout this period, Jones had also spent time on and off as lead guitarist/ backing vocalist for the popular New England group The Pete Kilpatrick Band. In 2008, Jones co-wrote and recorded the album Hope in Our Hearts with The Pete Kilpatrick Band. That same year, Jones teamed up with As Fast As bandmate Spencer Albee to work on 2009's Candy, Cake and Ice Cream by Spencer and The School Spirit Mafia.

In January of 2009, Jones moved from Portland, ME to San Francisco, CA where he eventually wrote and recorded his debut solo album Fading Flowers. Featuring As Fast As bandmate Andrew Hodgkins on drums and good friend Stu Mahan on bass, Fading Flowers was released in March of 2010. Jones returned to Maine to release Fading Flowers where the album was met with positive reviews and heavy excitement.

After a year of promoting and playing out with a few different band lineups, as well as numerous solo shows in support of Fading Flowers, Jones re-entered the studio with Hodgkins and Mahan in late 2010 to record the followup to Fading Flowers. The result of their efforts is the album Broken Record, which is due to be released on March 22, 2011.

Influenced heavily by The Beatles and the glory days of Motown, Jones appreciates a good song and knows how to look at the entire picture when crafting one. Jones's deep introspective lyrics are both personal and easily relatable. They are taken from real life experiences of personal growth and relationships.

With a talent for writing catchy melodic hooks, and arrangements that are pleasing to the casual listener yet, challenge the minds of the musically sophisticated, Jones has established himself as a force to be reckoned with in the modern, independent power pop genre.

FADING FLOWERS:

Zach Jones’ Fading Flowers musically chronicles his journey of closing one chapter and starting over, reflecting on lessons learned while building a new life 3,000 miles from home. Pulling from Jones’ real life experiences, this highly personal album manages to speak to larger universal truths, like the complexity of relationships and the challenges of facing new obstacles when youve only got yourself to rely on. With guitar-driven rock songs like the Foo Fighters-flavored ‘Easy Way Out’ or Kinks-esque ‘3,000 Miles’, to the soulful longing and loneliness of ballads ‘Back Home’ and ‘Sweet Insomnia’, Jones’ powerful, poetic, honest lyrics combine with passionate vocals and expressive rhythms to explore the highs and lows of starting anew.

Combining classic rock with vintage R&B grooves and power pop hooks, Fading Flowers explores themes of geographic and personal change based on Jones’ own move from Portland, Maine to San Francisco, California, where he found himself for the first time away from his network of friends, family and the comfortable predictability of home. Often mirroring Elvis Costello’s rapid-fire vocal delivery, Jones sings Beatles-inspired melodies wrapped in Beach Boys harmonies and Motown soul backed with his distinctive guitar playing and a dynamic rhythm section to create a unique modern rock sound.

Having toured tirelessly as lead guitaris