Jones for Revival sets a holiday homestand

FIRST NIGHT CELEBRATIONS

By GUY D’ASTOLFO

vindicator entertainment writer

YOUNGSTOWN — Schedule an interview with Jones for Revival, and the whole band shows up. It’s just how they roll.

The four members even rented a house where they live, record and practice.

The togetherness reflects their tight musical style — and their commitment to integrating their lives and their work.

Plus, it just makes things easier.

“When you have four dudes, you call each one up and say ‘can you make it to practice?’ Then maybe two can and two can’t,” said bassist Dave Lynn. “This makes it easier to have an intersection [of music and availability].”

Lynn, formerly of Mystic WIP Hustler, joined the band a year ago. Jim DeCapua (guitar), Gino West (drums) and Fred Burazer (horns) are the other members.

With a new album ready to drop, the band embarked on a six-show tour of the mid-South yesterday. Then they come home for a rare Youngstown gig Saturday at Barley’s, downtown.

Jones also has a slot at Youngstown’s First Night celebration. They will play at 6 p.m. New Year’s Eve inside 20 Federal St. JFR’s set will come right before a set by DeCapua’s father’s band, the Classic Cruisers, in the same location.

Jones for Revival opened for Zach Deputy at Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland on Dec. 2, but otherwise has been scarce in these parts. Its last Youngstown-area shows were this summer at Vexfest, Morley Pavilion in Mill Creek Park and at Nelson Ledges.

The new album will have seven songs and at least that many musical sources from various points around the globe.

One song, “Super J,” is in the African-pop style known as “soukous.”

“New Revolution” has a reggae vibe, while “Leaving Ohio” is a folk ditty.

Other songs experiment with prog-funk and edgy rock.

Although the band is based in Youngstown, its spiritual home might be elsewhere.

Jones for Revival makes its strongest fan connection at outdoor festivals in rural outposts and in independent-minded cities such as Athens, Ohio, and Asheville, N.C. They seem to fit in better with the hippie-ish mind-set of those places.

Still, they have no intention of leaving Youngstown. “It’s a perfect central location,” said DeCapua. “You can drive to the East Coast or the South in a day.”

Girlfriends, jobs and Youngstown’s low cost of living also play roles in keeping the band here.

Jones for Revival is a free- flowing jam band, more jazz than rock. It improvises at every gig, re-imagining song segments on the stage at each show. To do that, you have to be on the same page.

“We want a reputation of playing longer sets than anyone,” said Lynn. “So we have to be able to create on the spot.”

DeCapua recalled a show last summer at an outdoor festival near Oxford, Ohio.

“We played all night,” he said. “We played until the sun came up.”

if you go

What: Jones for Revival CD release party

When: 6 p.m. Thursday at 20 Federal Place, Youngstown, as part of First Night Youngstown; and 9 p.m. Saturday at Barley’s, 21 W. Federal St., Youngstown

Info: (330) 743-6480