Black Belt Jones, a Rock and Oddities Interview with Liam Sweeny

We reached out to the band Black Belt Jones, who will be appearing at Rock and Oddities Con on October 28th and 29th. This is our conversation.

RRX: You all have a great sound. I’m listening to something a little bluesy right now, “Jupiter Queen.” So I see your bio, and holy s**t, you have a bio! I can’t tell you how many bands don’t, and it bothers the piss out of me. And after reading it, I can understand why you need it. But if you only had four sentences, what would you write?

BBJ: Mike Langone Screaming and mellow vocals of Greatdayforup and Member of Black Electric, Eric Braymer, riff machine of Spine Car, member of Clay People and Grandstand Jockeys. George Lipscomb, beat master of the ADs, Staziaks and more!!! Lawreance Byrne, shoegazing bass player on the return from Surface.

RRX: You guys have roots it the 518 and branches everywhere else. ‘Great Day for Up’, ‘Clay People,’ Wreckless Eric – see, I’ve heard of them. If I’ve heard of someone, it’s big. Because I live under a rock. So it’s a perspective, seeing the local community here with a mature eye. What do you see most about the region that pure locals don’t see?

BBJ: This area is full with talent and not just music, the art is rich, people need to go out and support. Lots going on.

RRX: I caught your name; actually, I knew about you before, but I got the cue to interview you from the people at Rock Oddities con, which is going on in Saratoga on October 28th and 29th. It looks like an amazing collection of bands. So I wonder if you’ve ever played with any of those bands before, and if not, are there any you’re psyched to play with?

BBJ: Never played with any of the bands on the bill, but I am thrilled just to be a part of the line up. Looking forward to checking them all out.

RRX: In the course of interviewing the bands of Rock Oddities, I’ve had to (wanted to) listen to their songs. And I’m hearing a lot of super tight metal. Black Belt Jones is not the brutal, ferocious sound that I’ve heard with the other bands. So as far as “rock oddities,” Black Belt Jones is an oddity. Do you play with different sounds a lot?

BBJ: I guess we fall under the riff rock/stoner rock category. We have some heavy stuff that’s not recorded yet. I love heavy blues, metal and hardcore, so some of those ingredients are in there.

RRX: The way that I heard about you is that you performed a Xperience Fuze Box at, of course, The Fuze Box. Which is a trip to see the inside of that place since the last time I was there (under a rock, right). I know that different venues can bring out different-feeling shows. What in a venue can make for a great show?

BBJ: It’s always the sound of the place, not the size. Fuze Box and Empire Underground rule for sure. We just played the El Dorado in Troy, great sounds in that room. Fingers crossed for Rock and Oddities.

RRX: I feel like if I ask you all about your influences, it would be weird, as you all as a band could each be the influence of a ton of smaller bands starting out. And it’s a question that I get bored asking, because the whole is always greater than the sum of its parts. So who do you all agree that you don’t want to sound like?

BBJ: Taylor Swift, Back Street Boys, The Dead; we can go on and on, I do respect anyone that puts hard work in and can stay together as a band, it’s not easy especially to deal with people sometimes. Bottom line, I just love playing music.