Avid blues-rocker Dennis Jones has been on a tear lately, just completing a string of dates across Canada and the United States. With six albums and a live DVD under his belt, it seems like nothing can stand in his way.
Oddly enough, the electric guitar wasn’t Jones’ first instrument of choice. While growing up in the small country town of Monkton, Maryland, Jones always yearned to master the drum kit.
“Yeah, I always wanted to be a drummer, but my parents thought they were just too loud,” Jones says. “My second choice was the guitar, and about two years later I had a stack of Marshall amps in the living room. I think my parents started to reconsider the drums after that.”
Jones’ passion for the guitar intensified when he stumbled upon the music of Carlos Santana, Jimi Hendrix and the Rolling Stones. It was the raucous sound of rock’n’roll that subsequently led him to discover the blues – a fascinating case of reverse engineering.
“The Stones, Hendrix, Zeppelin, it was all blues from the start, they just added their own vibe to it,” says Jones. “I always loved those guys because they were up in front – their toes were practically at the edge of the stage. A lot of guys who played R&B were always in the background behind a singer, and that’s never where I wanted to be.”
Shortly after finishing high school, Jones enlisted in the military to see the world for himself. He further broadened his sonic palette while overseas, including three years stationed in Germany.
“I went to a ton of festivals and concerts while I was in Europe,” Jones says. “Rory Gallagher was one of the highlights for sure. Van Halen, AC/DC, Eric Clapton, Thin Lizzy – I could go on and on. There were so many incredible artists I saw at that young age of 18 to 21. It was something I’ll never forget. Going to a real rock concert and seeing people jump around, that’s something I love – the energy of rock. I try to infuse some of that into my show and my blues, rather than just being a statue on stage with a guitar.”
Jones means it, too; the conviction is palpable in his muscular guitar playing and searing hot solos. But it wasn’t until his eventual return to the United States and a fateful opportunity that Jones was able to pursue music professionally.
“Around eight years ago I was laid off from my day job, and I took it as a sign for me to start playing music full-time,” Jones says. “I always knew I was going to do it full-time, there was never any doubt, I just didn’t know when. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to a day job. Even if I have to play on a street corner with a bucket out, I’ll do that instead of punching the clock again.”
The blues represents much more than a musical genre to Jones. It’s his form of therapy, articulated in a performance style that’s brimming with raw emotion. While the genre developed out of impoverishment and adversity, Jones cultivates an authentic take on blues-rock while evading excess melancholy.
“I just told my girl lately that we’re really happy. I need some sadness in my life,” he laughs. “I’ve never been an alcoholic or drug addict. I’ve never beat anybody, been beaten or abused, so I’m a horrible blues guy, because I don’t have any bad stories.”
Jones’ upcoming appearance at the Melbourne Guitar Show will be his first official performance Down Under, and the fiery bluesman is raring to give his best.
“I’ve got a really good feeling about the upcoming show, and I’d also love to come back and play some blues festivals here. We tour Europe every year, and I want to do the same with Australia.”
Dennis Jones comes to Caulfield Racecourse for the Melbourne Guitar Show, performing on Saturday August 3 on the Marsh Whammy Bar stage at 3.15pm.
