Artist description Rock, rock, rock 'n' roll. Most people either love us, or hate us, or don't quite know what to think of us. We are contemporary, but try to ignore what's trendy and current. We can be experimental in the studio, but live we're your basic hard-edged guitar band. After the first time Mike and I jammed together, we walked outside, and this old, barren tree was full of thousands and thousands of screaming, squawking crows, just like something out of Hitchcock's "The Birds." We took it as a good omen, and we've been playing together ever since.

Music Style rootsy psychedelic swamp rock

Musical Influences Who, Stooges, Stones, Mc5, P. J. Harvey, Creedence Clearwater

Similar Artists Stones, Iggy, Zappa, Doors, Nomads

Artist History Joey and guitarist Mike Costelow formed this incarnation of the band in 1992, but Joey has been cutting singles, E.P.s and albums since 1980, for his own Mop-Top Records label, and several European labels. The band has done two small tours of France, played American festivals including SXSW, in Austin TX., Big Muddy in St. Louis MO. and Summer Jam in Kansas City MO, and opened up for an eclectic variety of acts including Chuck Berry, Helmet, Gravity Kills, Blue Oyster Cult, George Thorogood and Nazareth. For more information on the Kansas City music scene check out www.thezone.org.

Group Members Joey Skidmore (vocals and guitar), Mike Costelow (lead guitar and bass), Dave Molton (drums), Julia "J.T." Thro, guitars, and honorary members Producer Lou Whitney and keyboardist Joe Terry.

Instruments Guitars, bass, drums and keyboards.

Press Reviews Most recent reviews in Amplifier, Pitch Weekly, and the French magazines Abus Dangereaux, Jukebox, and 442 eme rue. "...another instant classic from J.S.," writes British critic Alexander "Gecko" Hunger in Amplifier; "...creepy, edgy territory that makes David Lynch's versions of small-town America seem tame." D. Alexander, Dave Marsh's Rock & Rap Confidential; "Takes garage sounds into spooky, misfit land." L. Kent Wolgamott, Lincoln Journal; "Joey is an oddball from Missouri..." Byron Coley, Forced Exposure; "Mr. Skidmore devours them with a flesh-eating, vintage '60s wah wah..." Alexander "Gecko" Hunger, Boston Rock; "Si vous aimez Iggy Pop, il y a de fortes chances pour que le nouveau disque de Joey Skidmore vous plaise." Bernard Masanes, Jukebox Magazine (France); "If pure, unpretentious no-frills Rock & Roll is what you're after, you've come to the right place." jeff "The Platterpuss" Shore, Foster Child; "This Skidmore guy sounds like Tony The Tiger...a libidinous paisley dandy." Jamie Lee Rake, Option Magazine; "...play the funny,dark rock that Stephen King would select for light chamber music." Jim Sundeen, The Maxx; "As real and menacing as a restless 3 a.m. drive to nowhere." Danny Alexander, The New Times; "La musique de Joey Skidmore se fait tour 'a tour enlevee, melodique, puissante, rageuse, mais toujours juste et precise, le genre de true que vous retenez apres seulement 2 ou 3 ecoutes, C'est dire sa force de persuasion." Lionel Dekanel, Rock Hardi (France); "...a big hand to anyone who can cover Iggy's 'Gimme Danger' and not try to fuck with its original beauty." Dave Thompson, Alternative Press; "Joey is a talented guy from Springfield Missouri." Doctor Demento; "'Butt Steak' is great!" Joe Bob Briggs.

Location Kansas City, Missouri - USA

Copyright notice. All material on MP3.com is protected by copyright law and by international treaties. You may download this material and make reasonable number of copies of this material only for your own personal use. You may not otherwise reproduce, distribute, publicly perform, publicly display, or create derivative works of this material, unless authorized by the appropriate copyright owner(s).