Artist description In the current monochromatic musical landscape, The Jones paints in vibrant primary colors. These funk rockers from Nashville, Tennessee jump in a time machine to draw on past influences and create a sound that is at once familiar and fresh. Drawing on elements as diverse as James Brown, Van Halen, The Beatles, and Mother's Finest, they are fast becoming a band that those "in the know" know about. In May '99, The Jones was asked to perform at the EAT'M Conference in Las Vegas, at which they received much attention due to their funky image, brilliant marketing ploys, and overwhelming stage presence. Bob Ezrin, veteran producer of such acts as KISS and Pink Floyd, said of The Jones "Now, this is GREAT! I LOVE this stuff! You guys could be the next Sly & The Family Stone!" The Jones' live shows are garnering increased attention for heartstopping energy and showmanship; the band creates an atmosphere they call "JonesWorld", where full pyrotechnics, exploding guitars, and balloons falling everywhere are just the start of it. Mainstream rock and 70's funk fans alike will feel right at home with The Jones.

Music Style Funk/Rock/Groove

Musical Influences KISS, Queen, Prince, P-Funk, AC/DC, Van Halen, ZZ Top, James Brown, Mother's Finest

Similar Artists Prince, Mother's Finest, George Clinton, Van Halen,

Group Members Cleopatra - Vocals; Toddzilla - Guitars, vocals; Anthony "SmooveGroove" Joyner - Bass, vocals; "Mighty" Matt Green - Drums; Lawrence "Yoda" Bailey - Saxophone, guitar, vocals

Instruments guitar, bass, drums, vocals, keyboards, horns, dancing girls...

Albums Showtime At The Apocalypse

Press Reviews (Tom Demalon, Dec. 14,'99; MTV.com)--THE JONES Inject Plenty of Fun Into Their Show--There has been something of resurgence in the big sound of '80s hard rock bands that ruled the airwaves and album sales charts of that time. It hasn't really hit here in middle Tennessee yet, although local band THE JONES is making the effort.The four piece, led by guitarist Toddzilla and lead singer Cleopatra, recently played downtown at The Attic. The Attic is a small venue and it really couldn't even begin to give THE JONES room for their expansive sound which also incorporates elements of '70s-style funk, guitar heroics, and even a bit of glam-tinged metal into their attack. Of course, THE JONES also demonstrated that they are a band that is here to entertain. Whether the music appeals to you or not, there's no denying that the band is not some self-indulgent, shoe-gazing act. They want to have fun and they want to take the crowd along with them. A part of that entertainment is a keen eye for style. Toddzilla was part dapper lounge lizard, part guitar god and a dash of Bono thrown in (okay, maybe that was the shades). Cleopatra, a powerhouse vocalist, bounded about the stage in shiny, leather pants, fuzzy shirt, and a large hat that nearly touched the club ceiling. Rounding out the band was bass player The Godfatha, a burly fellow clad in a blue suit that did indeed resemble the head of some crime family, and drummer The Heartbreaker, who plays with an over-the-top fury. The band isn't really breaking any new ground musically, but what they did succeed in was providing the crowd with an entertaining performance that reveled in all of the guilty pleasures of rock music. And they can play! Toddzilla is a fluid, flashy guitarist and the rhythm section more than held up their end of the bargain. In the process, THE JONES managed to remind everyone that, before a lot of the posing and posturing that takes itself too seriously, rock and roll was just high-energy fun. And there's nothing wrong with that. (Barye Cassell, Feb. 99 issue of the Nashville Music Guide)--The Jones...Fuse strong grooves, blistering guitar, soulful vocals with an attitude wrapped in an entertaining show and you have Nashville's premiere Funk/Rock band, THE JONES. A blend of Mother's Finest, Van Halen, and the P-Funk Allstars. They gave a stunning performance to a capacity crowd at the NEA Extravaganza. (Jay Orr, The Tennesseean)--On STOMP, the first track of a sampler CD circulating around town, the group The Jones sounds a lot like The Artist, who, of course, was formerly known as Prince; uptempo and rhythm driven. Fronted by Tara "Cleopatra" Austin, the group goes all-out in performance...

Location Nashville, TN - 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).