Barnaby Jones started out in June 2008 on Long Island, NY. All of us had been in bands together, or had made music together in some way for a long time. We were all friends, and when the idea came around to try starting a band together, it almost seemed dumb that we hadn’t tried it sooner. Dan (vocals) had done vocals for The Vagabonds amongst other ska bands that I am sure Dan is bummed that I am talking about. Chris (bass) had played for High School Football Heroes and Chance Of A Lifetime. Nick (drums) played for Chance Of A Lifetime and other earlier bands with Chris (Finish Line, Fading Fast). Justin (Guitar) never played in any bands! But he did a small record label from 2000-2002 called Crappy Jack Records (High School Football Heroes, Jaded Ways, Premarital Sax, Last One Left). It started out with Nick and Justin going to Bowery Ballroom for Piebald’s last show. Justin bailed out because he was broke and is an idiot (note: Justin is writing this, and I feel strange talking in the third person. I also hate myself for missing Piebald’s last show). Nick ran into Dan at an applebees and asked him if he wanted to go instead. Dan went, and the two discussed getting a band going with Justin and Chris. Things started to shape up very quickly. Before we knew it, we had a handful of songs and were ready to play a show. June 28th, 2008 at Mr. Beerys was that show. We played for our friends, and had a wonderful time. Fun Fact: This was Justin’s first time playing a show, at the ripe young age of 23, after playing the guitar since he (he meaning I) was 12 years old. Not too long after that, we went to our pals Tom Malinowski and Danny Sabella to record an 8 song demo. 8 songs, 11 or so minutes, of raw intensity. It went well and everyone celebrated. I’m bad at this. Anyway, some time passes, we play lots of fun shows at bars and schools and back yards. Around this time, Tom Malinowska (see what I did there?) tells us he would like to join the band. We deliberate for roughly 30 seconds, and the rock ensemble grows to five. Enters Tom Malinowski (Bomb The Music Industry!, The Fad, Lots of other bands). More time passes, more shows, etc etc. We start to record 14 songs, six from our demo, eight brand spankin new. Around this time, someone drugs the folks at No Idea records and convinces them that they should let us play Harvest Of Hope fest in St. Augustine, Florida - a three day benefit event for the Harvest Of Hope foundation (http://www.harvestofhopefest.com/) We hop in a van with our pals in BTMI! and get gettin’ to Florida. Fun Fact: Our first out of state show was with Bad Brains, Propagandhi, Paint It Black, Against Me!, Bouncing Souls, Less Than Jake, GZA, Girl Talk, etc etc. It was the best weekend of our lives. Harvest Of Hope Fest says… “…these guys channel all the good basement, powerhouse, sing-a-long with your fist-in-the-air punk rock to come out of Long Island in the last decade. Expect your face to be melted and your butt to be shaken…” On August 28, 2009, Barnaby Jones released their self-titled debut LP digitally on Quote Unquote Records. The album was self-released on CD on October 23rd of the same year. |
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