Fourth release:

Calico Heart (2008)

With its new Summerhill Records release, Calico Heart, Houston Jones, the San Francisco based high octane Americana quintet, further solidifies its reputation as an exciting innovative voice on the Americana circuit. Although celebrating their newest recording, Houston Jones is no stranger to live performance. They have performed at large festivals from the west coast to the Rockies. Most of the members of Houston Jones were original members of the internationally acclaimed Waybacks, and they have performed individually in bands with such distinguished artists as Norah Jones, Buddy Miller, Jim Lauderdale, Peter Rowan, Bo Diddley, Rickie Lee Jones, Ramblin' Jack Elliott and more. Reviews from Billboard.com called Houston Jones "a wonderful gem".

Their latest release, Calico Heart, produced and engineered by Grammy nominee Cookie Marenco, captures the incendiary energy of those legendary live performances while bringing to light in crystalline detail the songwriting and musical dexterity that sets Houston Jones apart from its peers.

Built around the gospel born whiskey cured vocals of Louisiana native Travis Jones and the high wire left handed upside down guitar wizardry of Glenn Houston, Houston Jones continues to pull away from the crowded Americana field. While at home with the high lonesome and the down and dirty, Houston Jones has charted its own path by embracing the whole, glorious pageant of American music.

Written primarily by bassist Chris Kee (who has a degree in ethnomusicology from Yale), the songs of Calico Heart move effortlessly through the American landscape-- the driving bluegrass of Coward’s Game, the achingly romantic country waltz of the title cut, the honky tonk swagger of Born in the Moonshine, the wry Texas swing of keyboardist Henry Salvia’s Sleepy Armadillo, the ghostly psychedelia of Colville, the rollicking New Orleans mambo of Mighty Red, with its musical tour of the trans-Atlantic African musical tradition, and the east meets west mystery of Roads to Dominion, merging Ladino melodies and Arabic scales with a Texas two step stomp. The rich musical mix, performed with Houston Jones’ customary virtuosity, is further distinguished by the thoughtful, literate, deeply layered lyrics, which are profoundly evocative of both the beauty and the darkness of the small towns and hidden worlds of life in America.

Calico Heart is a revelation. In the words of Cookie Marenco, “Houston Jones brings incredible depth and humanity to their music and performances. If I could join a band, it would be Hojo. They are one big, warm heart of creativity and inspiration.”

Third release:

Three Crow Town (2005)

The third CD by Houston Jones, co-released on the Fiddling Cricket and Summerhill Records labels, takes you on a joyful one hour tour of love gone from bad to good, and back again, addictions discarded, traditions re-invented, darkness illuminated, and by the end of the disc, leaving you with the distinct feeling that you have traveled an inspired journey.

Second release:

HoJo Mojo with Chojo (2003)

The HoJo Mojo CD captures the band's energy from recent live performances at Berkeley's FREIGHT & SALVAGE, Hayward's BISTRO, Ben Lomond's HENFLINGS FIREHOUSE TAVERN, and Sleepy John Sandidge's "Please Stand By" radio show on KPIG-FM.

HoJo Mojo with Chojo features one-and-only multi-talented musician extraordinaire (and friend), fiddle and mandolin player Chojo Jacques.

Caffe Trieste
2500 San Pablo Avenue
Berkeley, CA
North Beach's famous Italian coffeehouse has opened a spacious Berkeley outpost, featuring a wide array of coffee and other beverages, as well as panini and other light fare. There are frequent free concerts scheduled at night. Hours: Open Sunday through Thursday from 6:30 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday until midnight.
510-548-5198
http://www.caffetrieste.com

Rancho Nicasio
1 Old Rancheria Road
Nicasio, CA
"Rancho Nicasio is West Marin's finest eatery and musical venue. Located at the exact center of Marin County, Nicasio still retains a vast amount of land that has seen slow and gradual progress. These changes have not disturbed the tranquility that the town still possesses." (Yelp.com)
415-662-2219
http://www.ranchonicasio.com

Papillon Acoustic Concert Series
Lafayette Community Center
500 St. Mary's Road
Lafayette, CA
Papillon Acoustic Concert Series is committed to providing a comfortable place for local musicians and audiences to share in quality live music.
Reservations / Info: 925-283-1959
or email
charlotte@lafayetteconcerts.com http://www.lafayetteconcerts.com

McGrath's Irish Pub
1539 Lincoln Avenue
Alameda, CA
McGraths Pub is THE small down home bar and the music pub of the neighborhood! The best jams, the best music, the hidden secret of Northern California's Music Scene.
510-522-6263
http://www.mcgrathspub.com

Dana Street Roasting Company
744 West Dana Street
Mountain View, CA
"Independent coffee house in downtown Mountain View with free wifi and a variety of musical acts, discussion groups, and various other meetups. Good coffee, a colorful staff, and cool laid-back atmosphere make this a good regular haunt." (Yelp.com)
650-390-9638

Biscuits and Blues
401 Mason Street
San Francisco, CA
A local Union Square hotspot, Biscuits and Blues is a great place to go for dinner and a show, with an intimate atmosphere, good acoustics, a line-up of great performers and an appealing menu of Southern-Style favorites.
415-292-2583
http://www.biscuitsandblues.com

The Black Rose Pub
2074 Armory Drive
Santa Rosa, CA
"Welcome to The Black Rose Irish Pub! We invite you into our quaint establishment to enjoy the true pub experience you would only find in Ireland and Western Europe."
707-546-ROSE
http://www.theblackrosepub.com

Jack Russell Brewing Company
2380 Larsen Drive
Camino, CA
"Jack Russell Brewing Company, located in the Sierra Foothills of California, is modeled after an English Farm Brewery. Located near the small town of Camino, California, midway between Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe, the beautiful rural setting of the brewery invites visitors to the area to stop and enjoy the fresh ales and fresh air. This lovely setting, in a region known as Apple Hill for its apple, pear, and stone fruit orchards as well as its berry patches and Christmas tree farms, offers a tranquil place in which to relax and enjoy the full flavor of true English-style ales."
530-644-4722
http://www.jackrussellbrewing.com

 

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