By Noe Gutierrez
Hailing from Memphis, Tennessee, Joecephus and the George Jonestown Massacre are the unmistakable link between Merle Haggard and Motörhead. The Hard Rock/Punk/Country/Metal group reminds me of a heavier Blues rockin’ Pat Travers. I recommend Terminally Hip and Tombstone Blues off of their album Death Rattle Shake (2018) to get a feel for their influential strain of mid-southern Blues Rock and Roll.
With Joey (Joecephus) Killingsworth on vocals and guitar, Daryl Stephens on drums and Brian Costner on bass and backing vocals, JGJM has served as the opening act for such diverse artists as Shooter Jennings, David Allan Coe, Jesco White The Dancing Outlaw, Agent Orange, Jim Dickinson, Green Jello, Black Oak Arkansas, Scott Biram, Reverend Horton Heat, H. R. of Bad Brains and many more. Along the way JGJM has put out several albums including the aforementioned Death Rattle Shake, their Self-Titled CD (2005), Smothered and Covered (2007), Tator Twats (2009), Hell or High Water (2010), and Arockalypse Now (2012). With additional influences like Down, Waylon Jennings, Black Flag, Hank Williams III, Jane’s Addiction, Black Sabbath, Johnny Paycheck, George Jones and Johnny Cash, you can guess why their sound is so uniquely consecrated.
JGJM will be performing at The Hood Bar and Pizza on Friday, March 13, 2020, as part of their U.S. tour. Providing support at The Hood is Robbi Robb & Friends including special guests Arthur Seay on guitar (House of Broken Promises, Unida, Death in Pretty Wrapping), Robbie Waldman on vocals and guitar (Waxy), Bri Cherry on violin and Noe Gutierrez on vocals to name a few! Robb is the intensely influential South African musician who now lays his head in Joshua Tree with his radiant wife and fellow multi-instrumentalist Amritakripa. Robb is also the luminous leader of the bands Third Ear Experience with Doug Pinnick (King’s X), Mike Hansen (Hurricane) and Amritakripa, and renowned rockers Tribe After Tribe.
The Hood Bar and Pizza is located at 74-360 Highway 111 in Palm Desert, California. The show starts at 9 p.m. and the entry fee is $5.
JGJM are ready for a full auditory assault in any venue that can take it, including The Hood Bar and Pizza. Exhibiting a tireless work ethic, the band has played Honky Tonk venues as well as Punk/Metal clubs throughout the United States. They have created a unique style by mixing Outlaw Country sounds with Rockabilly rhythms in combination with Hardcore Metal drumbeats, blurring the boundaries of Country, Metal, and Punk. Featuring members who come together from a prestigious list of some of Memphis’ finest bands, this is just the beginning for a band that will be tearing shit up for a long time to come. Do yourself a favor and experience the electrifying energy of JGJM when they roll through the Coachella Valley.
Coachella Valley Weekly spoke with ‘Joecephus’ himself for an exclusive interview.
CVW: You’re supporting the mighty Thor on some of these dates. How is the tour going so far?
Killingsworth: “We are only three days in but so far, so good. Last night in Denver, CO with Thor was awesome! Great crowd and great show!”
CVW: Your ode to Lemmy, WWLD, is epic. What about Motörhead inspired/inspires you to be influenced by them and are we missing that influence in Rock music now?
Killingsworth: “Thanks, They paved their own path by doing their own thing and influenced a generation while they were doing it. His presence is very much missed. The underground is still keeping his spirit alive.”
CVW: What would Lemmy do about the coronavirus?
Killingsworth: “Nothing! The coronavirus would know better to mess with the mighty Lemmy!”
CVW: Given your band name, the title and content of your songs and your apparent zest for life, how much do you take yourselves seriously?
Killingsworth: “Not very much, we are just lucky to be able to tour and have a good time playing music and hopefully everybody has a fun time at the shows.”
CVW: There is so much Blues in what I have heard from JGJM. When, where and how was that instilled in you individually?
Killingsworth: “Coming from Memphis, TN, the Blues is just in the DNA for all the bands coming out of the area. It just happens naturally.”
CVW: Other than Robbi Robb, do you have any other ties to the Coachella Valley/High Desert area?
Killingsworth: “None, except loving the bands that have come out of the area.”
CVW: Tell us more about your connection to the incandescent Robbi Robb.
Killingsworth: “I have been a fan of Tribe After Tribe since the early 90’s when me and my bud used to listen to ‘em all the time. Fast forward to a year or so ago, my day gig is booking agent and I ended up working with Robbi booking some tours for him.”
CVW: What do you know about Robbi that he wouldn’t like for us to know?
Killingsworth: “If he don’t want you to know I can’t tell you :).”
CVW: What should attendees expect of your show at The Hood expect from JGJM?
Killingsworth: “A good time and a bad-ass rock show!”
Upcoming JGJM Shows:
3/11 – The Viper Room – West Hollywood, CA
3/12 – Whisky A Go-Go – West Hollywood, CA
3/13 – The Hood Bar & Pizza – Palm Desert, CA
3/14 – Evel Pie – Las Vegas, NV
3/16 – House of Bards – Tucson, AZ
3/18 – The Deadhorse – San Angelo, TX
3/19 – The Mix – San Antonio, TX
3/20 – ABGB – Austin, TX
3/21 – Four Quarter Bar – Little Rock, AR
Find more info at:
https://jk47.com/
