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From the Studio to Live
Barefoot
Jax has evolved from being an ongoing home studio project to a live
original rock band that is ready to gig. The last ten years have essentially
been driven by song writing and recording thus giving birth to over
ninety inspired songs. BFJ has released four original rock albums by
way of the internet – “Crank,” “Much
Obliged,” “Leaving Tracks,” and “The Legend of
Skinny on the Flip.” You may have heard Agora, Party Girl, or
Roller Coaster as some of their more popular tunes. They are unsigned
and beyond the point of wanting, or needing a record deal for validation
or monetary success. They simply want to play their original songs live
and have their fans enjoy their music. And oh yes, they want to write
some more! Is that too much to ask for?
Ferni D says, “It was a very comfortable existence to write, have my musical
buddies come over, record a new song, and ask them to come back weeks later to
overdub their parts. The real work would then kick in as I was left by my lonesome
to edit, mix, and eventually master the tracks.” This was the mode of
operandi. He continues, “But for some time now the desire has been to get
the live band together and play out. Be a real band! Work together, write together,
and play out together.” As if you haven’t yet noticed the operative
word seems to be “together.” Ferni says, “We will record new
material and release it one by one as it comes. No more waiting until an entire
album is done. That’s too long a wait. Record it, and put it out.
But the main focus right now is simply to play out.” |
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Barefoot Jax now consists of Mark Johnston (vocals/guitars), Erich Greiner
(vocals, guitars), Robert Gonzalez (vocals/bass), and Ferni D (vocals/drums).
The group has placed recording on hold for the time being and has been rehearsing
regularly to work up a set of their unique brand of rock ‘n’ roll.
Their song list pulling from their extensive collection thus far includes:
Party Girl, Agora, We’re Gonna Win, Mango Time, She’s A Killer,
Mr. Friendly, The Liar, Dogman, You’re The One, I Do, His Fame, and Roller
Coaster. They have also worked up their own versions of two covers: Johnny
Cash’s Folsom Prison Blues, and Buddy Holly’s Oh Boy. Ferny says, “The
great thing about this present line-up is that everybody wants to be here.
They show up on time, learn their parts ahead of time, play great, and have
a super attitude. What a pleasure!” It looks like their future is wide
open.
As the band is making the transition from studio to the live act it is noteworthy
to indicate that Carlos Mesa who had previously co-written and played on numerous
tracks is no longer available. He has indicated that family and work responsibilities
don’t leave him any available time. Also, Allen Edwards who had performed
a lot of the vocals on the recordings has moved on to pursue other interests.
Ferni says that there are definitely no hard feelings and that they are both
wished only the best.
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The new line-up
rehearses in the infamous Bamboo Studio, in Miami Springs, Florida
where BFJ’s four original albums
were recorded, mixed, and produced by Ferni D. Mark (singer/guitarist)
tells how a chance meeting turned him into a band member: “Ferni
and I met through a mutual friend and after some conversation about music,
he asked me if I would be interested in recording a few songs with him
in the now world famous Bamboo Studio. I was actually playing with another
band but was in-between gigs and agreed.
Out of the three songs that
we attempted and numerous attempts to get them right, one song called
You're the One was recorded and published. A half a year later, the band
I was in, decided to go in different directions so we parted ways. I
ran into Ferni at a social gathering establishment (Woody's West End
Tavern) and he was very excited about a new project he was working on
going from a virtual band to live band, and said he was auditioning people.
That is when I felt the hook being set.” Mark not only took the
bait but is now a major source of positive energy fueling the group. |
Erich’s story is a little different (singer/lead guitarist). He says, “I
had almost one year living in the U.S. when, I don't know how, I found the
Craig’s List website and saw many advertisements of musicians looking
for a band, and bands looking for musicians. I created an ad presenting myself
as a blues and rock guitarist. I got some feedback of people that required
full commitment and a very high priority to the band, which I could not offer.
Then I received Ferni's e-mail that started everything: ‘Hi, I saw your
ad on Graig's List. We are a four piece rock band and might need another guitarist.
We are in our 40's and write and record out of Miami Springs. Below is a link
to our music. Please let me know if you are interested. By the way, do you
sing? Do you have any links or songs that you play on that I can hear?’” Erich
soon agreed to join the band and not only learned all the lead guitar parts,
but is singing harmony on most tunes, and lead on The Liar. He has been a steady
constructive force along the journey.
In need of completing the line-up with a bass player that could sing, especially
harmonies, Ferni reached out to an old friend via a Facebook private message.
His friend, Cuqui Berrios, right away recommended his cousin and said he would
check with him. Robert (singer/bass player) recalls, “My cousin who is
a keyboard player, Cuqui, turned me on to Ferni. I listened to the music and
liked it. The songs were good and catchy! Ferni called me and we enthusiastically
talked for about forty-five minutes and set-up a night, a week away, to go
over the songs.” Robert came in knowing all fourteen songs in the set
list and sang the harmonies. Everybody was happy. The band was now complete.
At this time, Robert is singing lead on Dogman, and She’s A Killer. Robert
has great ears and sings all of the high parts. He also has a great positive
energy and a lot of experience.
The players all have their own influences, but together they sound as one whole
as if they have been playing for years together. All four of them sing, the
band grooves, and the solos are great. The sound is reminiscent of classic
rock with a hint of the south. Most importantly the songs are great!
Regarding
influences, Mark says, “As
far as bands there are too many to list, but of course the classics like
Marshall Tucker, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Allman Brothers, Doobie Brothers, Bad
Company, James Gang, Eagles, and pretty much any band coming up thru
the 60's, 70's and 80's... it was a great era for music.” He
continues, “From a personal standpoint, both my grandmothers played
piano and they played the old rag/honky-tonk style... they were amazing.
Also, my mother, my wife Tammy, and my good friend, James Ham, from the
Love Kings were also an influence. He always kept the faith.” Mark
has a great sounding tone to his voice and does all the songs justice.
You can hear him in Barefoot Jax’s recording of You’re The
One.
Erich says, “From Brazilian music, I guess my main influence is Luiz Gonzaga, ‘The
King of Baião’, a particular kind of music that is part of Forró,
a music style created in the northeast of Brazil. His songs are very famous all
over Brazil and they mostly talk about the very hard life of simple people and
their everyday fight in the dry lands in the northeast of Brazil. On the other
hand, my rock and blues influences include Skip James, Robert Johnson, Eric Clapton,
Stevie Ray Vaughan, Freddie King, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, AC/DC
and so on.” Erich has a great guitar sound and plays very cool solos
that are deep rooted in the blues |
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Robert says, “Actually to many to name. Classic Rock and classic R&B.” Robert
has a great ear for harmonies and can sing just about anything. He has a very
strong sense of rhythm and provides the solid foundation along with Ferni on
the drums.
Ferni’s drumming has been influenced by John Bonham, Alex Van Halen,
and earlier on, Jeff Porcaro (from Toto). His influences as a song writer come
from bands like the Beatles, Tom Petty, and others that share a power pop sensibility
strongly rooted in song. He says, “In other words, song first, then add
the colors and the band arrangement.” His favorite producer was the
late, and legendary Tom Dowd. Ferni’s main drive on the drums is for
the music to groove, even if it is rock, it has to groove. He says, “There
has to be a pocket. People have to want to tap their feet, or clap their hands
to the music. It has to be like a clock where the time is steady and feels
good.”
Mark has played with The Usual Suspects (S.F.), Crosstown, and Sidetracked.
He says his personal favorite was the "Love Kings."
Erich’s previous band in Brazil was Puro Malte (pure malt). He says, “More
than band mates, Cláudio (vocals and guitar), Aldo (drums), and Vitório
(bass) are very good friends, or maybe more than that, since Vitório
is my brother-in-law. It is a blues and rock 'n'roll band with a good projection
in my hometown, Fortaleza, a city with 2.5 million inhabitants.”
Robert said, “I started out playing with the Warlocks, then Peach, Machine,
Bogie, and recently with Harmony.”
Ferni D’s first band was Urizon, then One Step Ahead, Phantasy, Starfire,
Anonymous, and King Vamp.
As for the future, Barefoot Jax initially wants to play out the original songs
that they have written and hope people will like them. They want to build a
live following and play festivals, concerts, and special events were they can
showcase their music. Then they want to write more, record more, and share
it with their growing fan base.
Mark says, “We are setting up as an events type band but I truly think
the band has unlimited potential. Outside of the platform created by Ferni,
we have yet to tap into the group's song writing and musical talents collectively
as a band. The leads that Erich plays, the accents in Robert’s vocals,
and the steady backbeat from Ferni keeping us on the ground… the evolution
is going to be very exciting and you won't want to miss it.”
Erich adds, “I hope we can make new songs, have lots of fun, and of course
continue performing live once in a while, because that's the best part.”
Robert will like, “Opening up for some acts in South Florida, and continuing
with originals…”
Erich says, “I hope I can influence my band mates do dive at least a
little deeper into the blues.”
Mark adds, “As Barefoot Jax embarks on this journey and we see the renaissance
of the dreams that we all share come to fruition, we will stand in humbled
amazement and realize how blessed we are to be able to share with you our music.
My wife told me, who has wisdom beyond her years, ‘Your talent will always
haunt you if you try to avoid it.’ I often think about this and wonder
if this is the “talent” to which she is referring to. I believe
everything happens for a reason and I truly believe we were brought together
to share the dream with you.”
“I am excited about working with Barefoot Jax,” Robert says.
Ferni D continues, “We are in a good place right now where the synergy
that we are creating together has the potential of being bigger than anything
that can be done just by one person. I am happy I have this great group of
guys working with me for our common goal which is to write, record, and play
out our own tunes; and have fun while we build a strong following. We hope
people will like what we do because that will complete the circle for us.”
Make sure to join Barefoot Jax along their journey:
http://www.facebook.com/barefootjaxmusic
http://www.reverbnation.com/barefootjax
http://www.myspace.com/barefootjaxmusic
http://www.youtube.com/user/TheBarefootJax
You may contact Barefoot Jax via e-mail: barefootjax@bellsouth.net or fernid@bellsouth.net
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