JJ & The Rogues


No End In Sight Fort Worth, Texas Magazine the groupie's corner By Kyle Whitecotton \| September 2011 fwtx.com Since the May 10 release of the second EP, Stare Down, JJ & The Rogues has been busy writing and gigging around the Fort Worth area. "It's been one of our busiest summers," said lead vocalist Jameson Cockerell. "But we've had some great shows and opportunities to play with some terrific bands." "We're also beginning production of a full length LP, to be released in the fall of 2012," Cockerell said. "We have been writing material for this record for a while now, and we're definitely eager to get started." JJ & The Rogues originally formed in 2004, but its roots trace back to the band members' high school days. "The four of us have been playing music together, in some form, for the past 11 years," Cockerell said. "In fact, our first show was in support of Fort Worth mainstay Dave Millsap's New Year's celebration at the old Caravan of Dreams in Sundance Square in 2000." The four band members, each born and raised in or around Fort Worth, grew up listening to a similar variety of artists and styles, including The Beatles, Steely Dan, Elton John, Elvis Costello, and the Pretenders. "Composition and songwriting has always been primary for us," Cockerell said of his band's sound. "Our ideal is to emulate the best writers while not falling into the trap of being too esoteric." "Stare Down is the first record where we've come close to capturing our sound," Cockerell said. "It's much more representative of our tastes and aspirations than previous efforts. The songs themselves were written several years ago, and we've just finally gotten around to laying them down. It was self-recorded and produced, and mastered at Eagle Audio here in Fort Worth." The new EP, Stare Down, along with the band's previous release, Indifference, is available for free download at jjandtherogues.bandcamp.com
JJ & The Rogues: Stare Down "Having fun is paramount to this 10-year-old guitar-based New Wave Fort Worth quartet." By John Harden \| June 29, 2011 fwweekly.com After being nominated in the 2011 Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards as best comeback band, JJ & The Rogues want to begin showing Fort Worth they never actually left. “It’s always an honor to be recognized, but I never knew we were gone,” said frontman Jameson Cockerell with a smile. In the Weekly’s defense, the band’s brand-spankin’-new EP, Stare Down, is three years removed from Indifference, the JJ & The Rogues debut EP. In that time, Cockerell, co-lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Townley, bassist/vocalist Chris Carfa, and drummer Eric Navratil have changed their outlook on what constitutes good music. To them, it’s less about just getting music out there and more about honing their craft. “This EP was created from the ground up,” Navratil said. “It’s a much more concise effort. The music and lyrics seem much tighter and cohesive than in our previous album.” The band’s rollicking, pianistic, expansive brand of ’80s guitar-based New Wave is still intact. It’s just a little warmer, friendlier. Stare Down was produced by the four guys on their own in their home-recording studio. “It all comes down to not just making a product but making the right product and doing it well,” Navratil said. Performing live has also presented its share of obstacles. “I feel like we have to convince people to listen to us because we sound so different,” Townley said. “When people listen to us, they can tell we’re different, and you can kind of see that they don’t always know how to take us.” Well, maybe not always. At the band’s recent performance at 7th Haven as part of the Music Awards Festival, listeners were not only numerous but pretty enthusiastic. Cockerell said lyrics are as important to the band as its sound. “We don’t do songs like ‘Friday,’ ” Cockerell said. “That’s a bad example, but we’re not trying to write songs that are about something that has no lasting value.” All of the band members contribute to each song, but Cockerell does most of the writing –– and Townley has written a few tunes. “We approach songwriting the same way we approach writing an essay,” Townley said. “I like to have a focus and then figure out what I want to say and how to say it in the most effective way.” The band members admit that when they were younger, they played just because they could. “We didn’t know what we were doing,” Cockerell said. “We could play it, so we played it. We didn’t have a point to our music.” Naturally, sticking together for nearly 10 years has given the band the kind of perspective required to transcend playing “just because” to thriving. “We’re not ashamed to say we want to be like the best bands,” Townley said, adding that there’s a good reason the best bands are at the top of the pecking order –– they’re excellent. Another thing that’s changed for JJ & The Rogues is their approach to promotion. In the past, they never really promoted themselves or their shows. Today, though, they’re active on their Facebook page and personal web site, where some music is available for free download. The group also recently participated in a battle of the bands of sorts in Austin, getting to the final four out of dozens of other Texas bands. “When you get older, there just comes a time where you have to ask, ‘Why are we doing this?’ ” Townley said. “We don’t play as much as we used to, but at the same time I’m not saying we’re not serious about it anymore. We’re just trying to have a good time with it.” Cockerell said the group tries to schedule a gig every five or six weeks and is now planning a mid-July show in Fort Worth and a fall show in Austin. “We don’t want to have too many shows too close together” and over-saturate the market, he said. Navratil is hoping that the band’s long experience together will draw more fans. “We have a great energy, which I think comes from us knowing each other so long, and audiences seem to feed off that,” he said. “We only get better with time.”

Stare Down Fort Worth, Texas Magazine listen up By Kyle Whitecotton \| September 2011 fwtx.com JJ & The Rogues released their latest EP Stare Down this summer. The four-song set showcases this local band's energetic style and picks up where their 2009 release Indifference left off. Stylistically, the band's sound is a distinguishing taste combining a rock sound with elements of jazz and blues. "It's the soundtrack to a drive from Austin to New York," explains the band on their Facebook page. "Blending rock & roll and leading-edge pop styles to form a unique sound that's throwback and modern all at once." Look no further than the EP's title track to find a jovial collaboration of catchy instrumentation and entertaining lyrics. "It's plain enough that I want to be your man / But you led me on so watch me rub your face in the sand / And we'll see who's crying when your head is buried in your hands / It's a stare down, been going since the world began." Based in Fort Worth, JJ & The Rogues incorporate the musical and creative talents of Joshua Townley, Jameson Cockerell, Eric Navratil and Chris Carfa. The band has been writing and performing their unique sound since they joined forces back in 2004. Visit jjandtherogues.bandcamp.com for a free download of both Stare Down and Indifference or visit their Facebook page for updates on upcoming shows. And stay on the lookout for a full-length project from JJ & The Rogues set to come out sometime next year.
Breakout Bands: Five New Local Releases By Preston Jones \| June 22, 2011 dfw.com JJ & the Rogues, Stare Down: An EP intended to tide fans over until the release of a sophomore full-length next year, this Fort Worth quartet -- Joshua Townley, Jameson Cockerell, Chris Carfa and Eric Navratil -- keeps things taut on this four-track collection. JJ & the Rogues conjure pleasing evocations of late '60s pop/rock with tunes like opener Nothing Here Worth Staying For. They move easily into other styles, as evidenced by the vaguely gospel-tinged title track, suggesting this band's future is unlimited.
June Crop O’ Pop, Rock & Psych Singles By Review Stalker \| June 4, 2011 reviewstalker.com Nothing Here Worth Staying For by JJ & The Rogues‘s EP Stare Down from Fort Worth, Texas is somewhere in-between Elvis Costello my aim is true and a Monkees lunchbox with a rock-n-roll McCartney shake. Hold the Lennon in this Wilco salad as I say they seriously have lots of influences that come across in the right ways. Oh and did we mention this release is free like air? Yup get some.

The Feel-Good Sounds of JJ & the Rogues "Fort Worth four-piece JJ & The Rogues is quickly making a name for itself on area stages." By Steve Watkins \| July 20, 2011 dfw.com This week found me making my way to the West Seventh Street area in search for some live music. I'd been hearing about JJ & the Rogues for a long time now, but I just never managed to cross paths with them. When I saw that they were playing a gig at the Wild Rooster Bar, one of my favorite little clubs, my decision was clear. I really like the Wild Rooster because it has invested in a great sound system (and a great sound guy -- Ben Napier), decent lighting and tables. Far too many local venues have cleared out the furniture so that they can cram as many people into the place as possible -- college dive-bar style. I'm sure it makes money, but I like to kick back and enjoy the show. When I walked in, the place was pretty packed, but after a few minutes at the bar, I was able to snag a table right off the edge of the stage. The band members are Joshua Townley (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Jameson Cockerell (guitar, vocals), Chris Carfa (bass, vocals) and Eric Navratil (drums). At first, they were playing something that seemed just a little too popish for me. There was a Van Morrison vibe to the whole thing, and these guys seemed way too clean and happy to be evoking Morrison. But it didn't take long for these guys to embrace their inner-rogues. They did a cover of Steely Dan's slam on Bard College (My Old School) that made me smile, and when the crowd demanded Radio Radio by Elvis Costello, they nailed it. They did Take Me to the Pilot by Elton John, and Hey Bulldog by the Beatles; can't argue with any of those, now can we? The originals, well, they are anything but fluff. "We try to have a point to our songs," Cockerell told me, "not just meaningless entertainment. One of my new songs, called Young Pretender, it's a song we haven't recorded yet. I was reading a biography, at one point it referred to a young pretender who was Bonny Prince Charlie, an historical figure, who was compelled to go back and try to take the English crown from the Protestants." Genres aside, I've always categorized music by how it leaves you. Some bands make you want to go out and turn over a car, some make you want go home and contemplate the mysteries of life. But others, like JJ & the Rogues, really just make you feel good -- and while we need music to inspire us to great heights, I can't think of anything much more important than just inspiring the audience to enjoy the ride. The band has a new EP out, for free no less, at jjandtherogues.bandcamp.com, and it has a full-length project it plans on having out next year some time. I'm glad I finally made the band's acquaintance, and I think you will be, too.
One More Time, Who’s JJ & The Rogues? By Next Stop Music \| June 29, 2010 nextstopmusic.com I think most of us can remember a time when we’d go to a show not really knowing what to look for. The objective was to listen to the music, sing along to the songs you knew and dance in place (which looks awkward, no matter how skilled you think you are). But after years of concert going, you begin to learn the joy in experiencing an act that could be considered part of the true independent music scene. These are the shows that often really make an impact on your life. Now, I’m not saying seeing the Boss at the Garden can’t be as special; I’m just saying as a member of a crowd no greater than a few hundred, you experience a unique energy that comes from such an intimate setting. What better intro to up-and-comers JJ & The Rogues, a band I’ve been seeing perform since their formation in 2005. They were kind enough to invite me down to see their June 5th performance at a local TCU stomping ground, The Moon in Fort Worth, Texas. After getting over the initial shock to the system known as 101-degree heat, I mingled with the college crowd, who were eagerly waiting for the set to start while nursing their dollar beers. The band, made up of Joshua Townley (Keyboards, Guitar, Lead Vocals), Jameson Cockerell (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Chris Carfa (Bass, Vocals) and Eric Navratil (Drums) opened up strong with a new rendition of “So Fast, So Long”; which leans heavy on the Pop element of their sound. Much shorter and to the point than the original EP version, it reminds me of Petty’s old saying, “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.” Its quick cut guitar-leading lines have a reminiscent Townshend feel to them. Townley warmed up quickly singing lead on eight out of twelve off the set list, with a voice that has an early Elvis Costello flair to it. It’s not everyday you see two leads take to the mic adding yet another unique depth to their live performance. He also surprised the audience with the use of a new synthesizer thrown in the mix for a new spin on a few of their numbers. A quick guitar change for Townley and we’re off to the races riding “Passersby”, a song with a lyrical ‘pitch and catch’ from all the guys that has had the chance to constantly grow since their formation almost six years ago. This time around, it was like the song grew a pair and told the band how to ride it or else it would leave the band for a smarter jockey. Respectfully, the band acknowledged its wishes and paid it back with full justice. By this time, the audience was raising their beers in the air and belting along, the perfect time to hit the first cover of the night. What sounded not like a particular beat, but rather a sound wave began to emit from the speakers. Then out of nowhere, Cockerell strikes his 1970’s Telecaster Deluxe and slides into that familiar guitar line we all know and love after Taco Bell graced our television screens with Joe Jackson and a cheesy gordita crunch. Townley leapt up, grabbed the microphone and wailed a version of “One More Time” that allowed him to show off a side of himself that strongly differs from his typically mellow persona. Pretty much after that, the band could’ve played Justin Bieber the rest of the night and been selling the crowd on a good performance. They launched next into “Suburban Queen”, or was it “Posh Suburban Queen” (there seemed to be a debate over what the song was called anymore)? It was a last minute addition to the set, requested from the man upstairs, and they added a funky beat to it on the keys, followed by a seamless transition to a beach friendly version of their song “Shelby”. After a handful of slower numbers that gave the audience a chance to refill their drinks and hit the can, Townley started playing the second cover of the night, “Holiday Inn”, by Elton John. They rounded out the show with their most popular song, “Indifference” (title track of their 2009 EP), sounding like a mashup of early rock era Elton John hosted by Jimmy Page’s Danelectro guitar. At one point Townley added a 5/4 rhythm that soared along with Cockerell’s sharp solo on his shimmering gold Stratocaster. Feeding off the energy from the crowd, they encored with a pessimistically grunge, new wave take on a new song they’re working on, “No End In Sight”. I had a chance to meet with The Rogues after the show to discuss their plans for the near future. They are currently recording an EP, which should be out near the end of summer entitled Stare Down. JJ & The Rogues, The Moon, June 5, 2010 Set So Fast, So Long Passersby One More Time (Joe Jackson Cover) (Posh) Suburban Queen Shelby Christina Jealousy Stare Down Holiday Inn (Elton John Cover) Nothing Here Worth Staying For Indifference No End In Sight
Bassist McKenna Madget is the bloom of Stella Rose By Steve Watkins \| April 14, 2010 dfw.com ..."That next act was JJ and the Rogues, a pop/new wave-tinted band with an Elvis Costello influence. Their normal vocalist, Jameson Cockerell, was ill and unable to sing. But they still played a strong, mostly original set. If they put on this good of a show with a man on the disabled list, I look forward to hearing them at their best."...
Liam Harvey jjandtherogues@gmail.com


No End In Sight Fort Worth, Texas Magazine the groupie's corner By Kyle Whitecotton \| September 2011 fwtx.com Since the May 10 release of the second EP, Stare Down, JJ & The Rogues has been busy writing and gigging around the Fort Worth area. "It's been one of our busiest summers," said lead vocalist Jameson Cockerell. "But we've had some great shows and opportunities to play with some terrific bands." "We're also beginning production of a full length LP, to be released in the fall of 2012," Cockerell said. "We have been writing material for this record for a while now, and we're definitely eager to get started." JJ & The Rogues originally formed in 2004, but its roots trace back to the band members' high school days. "The four of us have been playing music together, in some form, for the past 11 years," Cockerell said. "In fact, our first show was in support of Fort Worth mainstay Dave Millsap's New Year's celebration at the old Caravan of Dreams in Sundance Square in 2000." The four band members, each born and raised in or around Fort Worth, grew up listening to a similar variety of artists and styles, including The Beatles, Steely Dan, Elton John, Elvis Costello, and the Pretenders. "Composition and songwriting has always been primary for us," Cockerell said of his band's sound. "Our ideal is to emulate the best writers while not falling into the trap of being too esoteric." "Stare Down is the first record where we've come close to capturing our sound," Cockerell said. "It's much more representative of our tastes and aspirations than previous efforts. The songs themselves were written several years ago, and we've just finally gotten around to laying them down. It was self-recorded and produced, and mastered at Eagle Audio here in Fort Worth." The new EP, Stare Down, along with the band's previous release, Indifference, is available for free download at jjandtherogues.bandcamp.com
JJ & The Rogues: Stare Down "Having fun is paramount to this 10-year-old guitar-based New Wave Fort Worth quartet." By John Harden \| June 29, 2011 fwweekly.com After being nominated in the 2011 Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards as best comeback band, JJ & The Rogues want to begin showing Fort Worth they never actually left. “It’s always an honor to be recognized, but I never knew we were gone,” said frontman Jameson Cockerell with a smile. In the Weekly’s defense, the band’s brand-spankin’-new EP, Stare Down, is three years removed from Indifference, the JJ & The Rogues debut EP. In that time, Cockerell, co-lead vocalist and guitarist Joshua Townley, bassist/vocalist Chris Carfa, and drummer Eric Navratil have changed their outlook on what constitutes good music. To them, it’s less about just getting music out there and more about honing their craft. “This EP was created from the ground up,” Navratil said. “It’s a much more concise effort. The music and lyrics seem much tighter and cohesive than in our previous album.” The band’s rollicking, pianistic, expansive brand of ’80s guitar-based New Wave is still intact. It’s just a little warmer, friendlier. Stare Down was produced by the four guys on their own in their home-recording studio. “It all comes down to not just making a product but making the right product and doing it well,” Navratil said. Performing live has also presented its share of obstacles. “I feel like we have to convince people to listen to us because we sound so different,” Townley said. “When people listen to us, they can tell we’re different, and you can kind of see that they don’t always know how to take us.” Well, maybe not always. At the band’s recent performance at 7th Haven as part of the Music Awards Festival, listeners were not only numerous but pretty enthusiastic. Cockerell said lyrics are as important to the band as its sound. “We don’t do songs like ‘Friday,’ ” Cockerell said. “That’s a bad example, but we’re not trying to write songs that are about something that has no lasting value.” All of the band members contribute to each song, but Cockerell does most of the writing –– and Townley has written a few tunes. “We approach songwriting the same way we approach writing an essay,” Townley said. “I like to have a focus and then figure out what I want to say and how to say it in the most effective way.” The band members admit that when they were younger, they played just because they could. “We didn’t know what we were doing,” Cockerell said. “We could play it, so we played it. We didn’t have a point to our music.” Naturally, sticking together for nearly 10 years has given the band the kind of perspective required to transcend playing “just because” to thriving. “We’re not ashamed to say we want to be like the best bands,” Townley said, adding that there’s a good reason the best bands are at the top of the pecking order –– they’re excellent. Another thing that’s changed for JJ & The Rogues is their approach to promotion. In the past, they never really promoted themselves or their shows. Today, though, they’re active on their Facebook page and personal web site, where some music is available for free download. The group also recently participated in a battle of the bands of sorts in Austin, getting to the final four out of dozens of other Texas bands. “When you get older, there just comes a time where you have to ask, ‘Why are we doing this?’ ” Townley said. “We don’t play as much as we used to, but at the same time I’m not saying we’re not serious about it anymore. We’re just trying to have a good time with it.” Cockerell said the group tries to schedule a gig every five or six weeks and is now planning a mid-July show in Fort Worth and a fall show in Austin. “We don’t want to have too many shows too close together” and over-saturate the market, he said. Navratil is hoping that the band’s long experience together will draw more fans. “We have a great energy, which I think comes from us knowing each other so long, and audiences seem to feed off that,” he said. “We only get better with time.”

Stare Down Fort Worth, Texas Magazine listen up By Kyle Whitecotton \| September 2011 fwtx.com JJ & The Rogues released their latest EP Stare Down this summer. The four-song set showcases this local band's energetic style and picks up where their 2009 release Indifference left off. Stylistically, the band's sound is a distinguishing taste combining a rock sound with elements of jazz and blues. "It's the soundtrack to a drive from Austin to New York," explains the band on their Facebook page. "Blending rock & roll and leading-edge pop styles to form a unique sound that's throwback and modern all at once." Look no further than the EP's title track to find a jovial collaboration of catchy instrumentation and entertaining lyrics. "It's plain enough that I want to be your man / But you led me on so watch me rub your face in the sand / And we'll see who's crying when your head is buried in your hands / It's a stare down, been going since the world began." Based in Fort Worth, JJ & The Rogues incorporate the musical and creative talents of Joshua Townley, Jameson Cockerell, Eric Navratil and Chris Carfa. The band has been writing and performing their unique sound since they joined forces back in 2004. Visit jjandtherogues.bandcamp.com for a free download of both Stare Down and Indifference or visit their Facebook page for updates on upcoming shows. And stay on the lookout for a full-length project from JJ & The Rogues set to come out sometime next year.
Breakout Bands: Five New Local Releases By Preston Jones \| June 22, 2011 dfw.com JJ & the Rogues, Stare Down: An EP intended to tide fans over until the release of a sophomore full-length next year, this Fort Worth quartet -- Joshua Townley, Jameson Cockerell, Chris Carfa and Eric Navratil -- keeps things taut on this four-track collection. JJ & the Rogues conjure pleasing evocations of late '60s pop/rock with tunes like opener Nothing Here Worth Staying For. They move easily into other styles, as evidenced by the vaguely gospel-tinged title track, suggesting this band's future is unlimited.
June Crop O’ Pop, Rock & Psych Singles By Review Stalker \| June 4, 2011 reviewstalker.com Nothing Here Worth Staying For by JJ & The Rogues‘s EP Stare Down from Fort Worth, Texas is somewhere in-between Elvis Costello my aim is true and a Monkees lunchbox with a rock-n-roll McCartney shake. Hold the Lennon in this Wilco salad as I say they seriously have lots of influences that come across in the right ways. Oh and did we mention this release is free like air? Yup get some.

The Feel-Good Sounds of JJ & the Rogues "Fort Worth four-piece JJ & The Rogues is quickly making a name for itself on area stages." By Steve Watkins \| July 20, 2011 dfw.com This week found me making my way to the West Seventh Street area in search for some live music. I'd been hearing about JJ & the Rogues for a long time now, but I just never managed to cross paths with them. When I saw that they were playing a gig at the Wild Rooster Bar, one of my favorite little clubs, my decision was clear. I really like the Wild Rooster because it has invested in a great sound system (and a great sound guy -- Ben Napier), decent lighting and tables. Far too many local venues have cleared out the furniture so that they can cram as many people into the place as possible -- college dive-bar style. I'm sure it makes money, but I like to kick back and enjoy the show. When I walked in, the place was pretty packed, but after a few minutes at the bar, I was able to snag a table right off the edge of the stage. The band members are Joshua Townley (keyboards, guitar, vocals), Jameson Cockerell (guitar, vocals), Chris Carfa (bass, vocals) and Eric Navratil (drums). At first, they were playing something that seemed just a little too popish for me. There was a Van Morrison vibe to the whole thing, and these guys seemed way too clean and happy to be evoking Morrison. But it didn't take long for these guys to embrace their inner-rogues. They did a cover of Steely Dan's slam on Bard College (My Old School) that made me smile, and when the crowd demanded Radio Radio by Elvis Costello, they nailed it. They did Take Me to the Pilot by Elton John, and Hey Bulldog by the Beatles; can't argue with any of those, now can we? The originals, well, they are anything but fluff. "We try to have a point to our songs," Cockerell told me, "not just meaningless entertainment. One of my new songs, called Young Pretender, it's a song we haven't recorded yet. I was reading a biography, at one point it referred to a young pretender who was Bonny Prince Charlie, an historical figure, who was compelled to go back and try to take the English crown from the Protestants." Genres aside, I've always categorized music by how it leaves you. Some bands make you want to go out and turn over a car, some make you want go home and contemplate the mysteries of life. But others, like JJ & the Rogues, really just make you feel good -- and while we need music to inspire us to great heights, I can't think of anything much more important than just inspiring the audience to enjoy the ride. The band has a new EP out, for free no less, at jjandtherogues.bandcamp.com, and it has a full-length project it plans on having out next year some time. I'm glad I finally made the band's acquaintance, and I think you will be, too.
One More Time, Who’s JJ & The Rogues? By Next Stop Music \| June 29, 2010 nextstopmusic.com I think most of us can remember a time when we’d go to a show not really knowing what to look for. The objective was to listen to the music, sing along to the songs you knew and dance in place (which looks awkward, no matter how skilled you think you are). But after years of concert going, you begin to learn the joy in experiencing an act that could be considered part of the true independent music scene. These are the shows that often really make an impact on your life. Now, I’m not saying seeing the Boss at the Garden can’t be as special; I’m just saying as a member of a crowd no greater than a few hundred, you experience a unique energy that comes from such an intimate setting. What better intro to up-and-comers JJ & The Rogues, a band I’ve been seeing perform since their formation in 2005. They were kind enough to invite me down to see their June 5th performance at a local TCU stomping ground, The Moon in Fort Worth, Texas. After getting over the initial shock to the system known as 101-degree heat, I mingled with the college crowd, who were eagerly waiting for the set to start while nursing their dollar beers. The band, made up of Joshua Townley (Keyboards, Guitar, Lead Vocals), Jameson Cockerell (Guitar, Lead Vocals), Chris Carfa (Bass, Vocals) and Eric Navratil (Drums) opened up strong with a new rendition of “So Fast, So Long”; which leans heavy on the Pop element of their sound. Much shorter and to the point than the original EP version, it reminds me of Petty’s old saying, “Don’t bore us, get to the chorus.” Its quick cut guitar-leading lines have a reminiscent Townshend feel to them. Townley warmed up quickly singing lead on eight out of twelve off the set list, with a voice that has an early Elvis Costello flair to it. It’s not everyday you see two leads take to the mic adding yet another unique depth to their live performance. He also surprised the audience with the use of a new synthesizer thrown in the mix for a new spin on a few of their numbers. A quick guitar change for Townley and we’re off to the races riding “Passersby”, a song with a lyrical ‘pitch and catch’ from all the guys that has had the chance to constantly grow since their formation almost six years ago. This time around, it was like the song grew a pair and told the band how to ride it or else it would leave the band for a smarter jockey. Respectfully, the band acknowledged its wishes and paid it back with full justice. By this time, the audience was raising their beers in the air and belting along, the perfect time to hit the first cover of the night. What sounded not like a particular beat, but rather a sound wave began to emit from the speakers. Then out of nowhere, Cockerell strikes his 1970’s Telecaster Deluxe and slides into that familiar guitar line we all know and love after Taco Bell graced our television screens with Joe Jackson and a cheesy gordita crunch. Townley leapt up, grabbed the microphone and wailed a version of “One More Time” that allowed him to show off a side of himself that strongly differs from his typically mellow persona. Pretty much after that, the band could’ve played Justin Bieber the rest of the night and been selling the crowd on a good performance. They launched next into “Suburban Queen”, or was it “Posh Suburban Queen” (there seemed to be a debate over what the song was called anymore)? It was a last minute addition to the set, requested from the man upstairs, and they added a funky beat to it on the keys, followed by a seamless transition to a beach friendly version of their song “Shelby”. After a handful of slower numbers that gave the audience a chance to refill their drinks and hit the can, Townley started playing the second cover of the night, “Holiday Inn”, by Elton John. They rounded out the show with their most popular song, “Indifference” (title track of their 2009 EP), sounding like a mashup of early rock era Elton John hosted by Jimmy Page’s Danelectro guitar. At one point Townley added a 5/4 rhythm that soared along with Cockerell’s sharp solo on his shimmering gold Stratocaster. Feeding off the energy from the crowd, they encored with a pessimistically grunge, new wave take on a new song they’re working on, “No End In Sight”. I had a chance to meet with The Rogues after the show to discuss their plans for the near future. They are currently recording an EP, which should be out near the end of summer entitled Stare Down. JJ & The Rogues, The Moon, June 5, 2010 Set So Fast, So Long Passersby One More Time (Joe Jackson Cover) (Posh) Suburban Queen Shelby Christina Jealousy Stare Down Holiday Inn (Elton John Cover) Nothing Here Worth Staying For Indifference No End In Sight
Bassist McKenna Madget is the bloom of Stella Rose By Steve Watkins \| April 14, 2010 dfw.com ..."That next act was JJ and the Rogues, a pop/new wave-tinted band with an Elvis Costello influence. Their normal vocalist, Jameson Cockerell, was ill and unable to sing. But they still played a strong, mostly original set. If they put on this good of a show with a man on the disabled list, I look forward to hearing them at their best."...
Liam Harvey jjandtherogues@gmail.com