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Sugar Jones - Southern Sweetness Special
to washingtonpost.com/MP3 By Katy Hershberger What's in a name? Sometimes an artist and more than one band. Sugar Jones started out as a funk band in Austin, Tex. But when frontman Chad Thevenot moved to Washington in the mid '90s, he took the name with him. "Sugar Jones" has now evolved into an indistinguishable pseudonym for him, his former Texas band and his current band. "I like the fact that people are confused [about the name]," Thevenot says. "I don't know why." To add to the confusion, Thevenot (aka Sugar Jones) relocated from Baton Rouge, La., an area passionate about music, to Washington, better known for producing White House scandal than hit records. Thevenot, however, stays optimistic about the future of music in the District. "[This is a] huge metro area that's grown more cultural, and because of that there's a lot of opportunity for a music scene." When Sugar (aka Thevenot) first began calling his sound "Southern-fried indie rock," it was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. The description is now more accurate, as those Louisiana roots shine through in his writing. "The Push," the 1994 debut of Sugar Jones (the band), is rooted solidly in the funk, rock and jazz of the 1970s. Re-released in 2002, the album is elaborate and energetic with a focus on horns, guitar and bass. For his second album, "Bring Your Own Insanity," Sugar Jones (the person) elicited the help of Meters bassist George Porter Jr., also from Louisiana. The guitars are a bit heavier on this album, marking a slight transition to more rock. However, harder songs are juxtaposed with the mellow and smooth harmonies of jazzy tunes like "You Must Be Heaven." Thevenot shows off his political side (he came to D.C. to work in drug-policy reform) with the smart, challenging lyrics in "New Enemy" and "Too Many." Because it's the closest he's ever come to getting his original vision on tape, "A Chemical Dream" is Thevenot's favorite track on "Insanity." The cello here works well against the rock and funk overtones present in most of his songs. Sugar Jones has now lost all '70s influence, and the forthcoming album, "Satsuma Skin," will be more centered on vocals and guitars than on the ornamental material found in the previous two albums. A self-proclaimed "natural optimist," Thevenot will bring this positivism to the album, hopefully to be released next year. "Satsuma Skin" will be personal, he says, "reflective of [my] experience growing up in Louisiana. It's very much about my roots as a person and songwriter." Songs by Sugar Jones can be found on his MP3 band page. |
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When Sugar . . . first began calling his sound "Southern-fried indie rock," it was somewhat tongue-in-cheek. The description is now more accurate, as those Louisiana roots shine through in his writing. |
