'Original Formula' takes fans of The Joads back to '80s, '90s

An acoustic show in early 2007 is in the works.
By JOHN BENSON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
Nostalgia is what gets us from our youth to, well, our more seasoned days.
But what is it regarding music from our yesteryear that always makes us take pause?
Perhaps we were more innocent -- or at least thought we were -- in our younger years, which makes listening to songs from decades past somewhat grounding and inspiring at the same time.
This is the feeling that drummer George Danes hopes longtime fans of Mahoning County rock act The Joads experience when listening to the band's recently released retrospective "Original Formula," which features 32 songs dating back to the '80s and '90s.
"We originally started back in the '80s and our influences are from Brian Wilson and The Beatles to John Hiatt and Warren Zevon," said 1981 Niles McKinley High School graduate Danes. "Across the board, we try not to pigeonhole ourselves too much."
Back in the day, the band used to play the Olde Main Ale and Chowder House in Niles and then all throughout the area, but as it often happens, families and life got in the way of musical stardom. While you sense Danes would have loved a shot at taking The Joads to a wider regional or national audience, the Niles resident isn't complaining.
Just wanted to play
"I don't know, I think we played out quite a bit, did some acoustic stuff before it was the thing to do," Danes said. "We played a lot of different places but I don't think we ever were really shooting for that. We were just shooting to make music. I think we're more like a Steely Dan, more into the studio and just to record and to put cool things down. We sure have a heck of a time writing and recording music people can relate to and dig."
Garage rock appears to be the umbrella under which The Joads work, with Danes mentioning "12:19" and "If Jesus Was a Surfer" as two of the finer tracks dating back over the past two decades. There's also the funk rocker "Cellophane," which has been sent to local radio stations in hopes of gaining some airplay.
As far as songwriting inspiration, Danes said the band used to get together and write with a few beers or two greasing the musical wheels. Nowadays, that's naturally evolved into vino with merlot being the varietal of choice when the "record" button is turned on.
Playing out live is a different story. These days, the band pretty much opts to stay home. However, Danes said an acoustic show in early 2007 is in the works for those fans who want to relive the sound and style of The Joads one more time.
"If you listen to radio today, [our material] is a throwback, it's original and it's something different [from contemporary music]," Danes said. "I think music right now is static, which is why people still want the stuff that's old, that's classic, that's garage-style rock 'n' roll. And that's why we're releasing 'Original Formula.' It's something that's original but comfortable."
"Original Formula" is now available at Borders and the Record Connection in Niles.