Purpose. Mom always said it’s good to have goals. Me, I’ve spent a summer confined to the woodshed in preparation. Exclusively new material debuts Sunday night, friends, courtesy of just yours truly and one lonesome guitar. My first-ever real foray into such a format.
But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. In celebration of their 5th wedding anniversary, Andrew & Teresa Allen are throwing a big bash to benefit two worthy causes: Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans and Center for Victims of Torture. $4 contribution gets you in the door, lends needed assistance and provides opportunity to hear a whopping ten local musical acts. By any measure, heckuva good deal.
Would be great to see you there.
Party With A Purpose partywithapurposemn.com Mainstreet Bar & Grill 814 Mainstreet Hopkins, MN 55343-7627 Sunday, Oct 10 6:00 PM – 12:00 midnite $4.00
Fun write-up. Gee ... almost more colorful than the album. Hey, Russ P, wanna pen some lyrics for the next venture? And J.J., what's with all this vaudeville business lately? You old soft-shoe, you.
OK. Off for my daily dose of 'Banana Splits' re-runs.
New CD Review (U.K.) - August 1, 2010
Au Contraire featured at Vanguard Online. Scads of cool indie bands here. Check out Ricky Warwick while you're there.
CD mention (U.K.) - July 14, 2010
Jon gets a nice comment in Jason Ritchie's blog on the U.K.'s Get Ready to Rock (getreadytorock.co.uk). Not only that, but he gets paired up with another new solo effort -- Ed Kowalczyk's (formerly Live), 'Grace'. Says Jon, "saw Live years back in Somerset, WI. Intense. P.J. Harvey opened the show and left me in a 2-year trance. Love her dearly but, for the record, let's just call it unbearable infatuation."
Jon's "Cherrycake" (Au Contraire) makes the ARfm list (U.K.) - July 7, 2010
Broadcasting from studios in London, ARfm brings great music, from Classic Rock of the '60s and '70s, through the Melodic Rock and Thrash of the '80s, the grunge of the '90s and on to today's future classics.
Says Jon, "I'm thrilled they chose to spin 'Cherrycake.' The guitar riff in that always reminds me of something Ratt might dish. To wit, ARfm does have a bit of metal and prog leaning -- which is helping me face my girlie-man complex with newfound sturdy outlook."
Up next: cucumber in the trousers.
Jon on U.K. radio - June 29, 2010
Jon getting some spins on Maximum FM, 106.9, Yorkshire, U.K. Graham Clark, presenter: "with a touch of Tom Petty and some good old American rock, this is a rounded rock record. Cowboy Harmony is the track I am featuring."
Jon says, "Tom Petty taught me it's cool to play a Flying V. Beyond that, any vocal resemblance is strictly a result of chronic sinus woes and plain old idol worship."
Au Contraire has dropped - February 7, 2010
It's official. Word snuck out a bit early but today's the day. Superbowl Sunday. Fellow Minnesotans, you know you love the underdog. If you didn't, how could you continue to support our much-maligned Vikes? Well, if you have any conscience left about you, you'll swear off the game today. Maybe you'll watch the commercials. And maybe you'll even enjoy them in a silent, secretive, shameful sort of way. But whatever can you do to fill the spaces in between?
You have another underdog within your ranks. Jon's been amidst you for years. In and out of the clubs in various guises (and disguises). He is a quiet workhorse, staunchly supportive of many artists with whom you're undoubtedly familiar. Rarely does he reject the reins and run wild upon his own musical hooves.
Perhaps someone slipped something into his oats.
But you know what? A wild and reckless display can really be something to behold. Unlike that ill-advised 4th quarter pass of two weeks back, here's something that pays off, and keeps on paying. "Au Contraire." Say it. Say it again. You'll find it pleasing to the ear. The French have a way with such things.
Here's something that's a real winner. Something that simply will not disappoint. And come on. Today of all days, isn't that a refreshing change of pace?
(Jon James has no actual affiliation with National League Football. Any re-broadcast or reproduction of this page is expressly encouraged.)
Mainstreet Bar & Grill
New review from 
Au Contraire featured at 
Jon gets a nice comment in Jason Ritchie's blog on the U.K.'s 
Broadcasting from studios in London, 
Jon getting some spins on Maximum FM, 106.9, Yorkshire, U.K. Graham Clark, presenter: "with a touch of Tom Petty and some good old American rock, this is a rounded rock record. Cowboy Harmony is the track I am featuring."
It's official. Word snuck out a bit early but today's the day. Superbowl Sunday. Fellow Minnesotans, you know you love the underdog. If you didn't, how could you continue to support our much-maligned Vikes? Well, if you have any conscience left about you, you'll swear off the game today. Maybe you'll watch the commercials. And maybe you'll even enjoy them in a silent, secretive, shameful sort of way. But whatever can you do to fill the spaces in between?
