Amphibious Jones

Some bands try to throw all of their influences into the mix, and it rarely works. Somehow, Amphibious Jones manages to do it without sounding like it's trying to pull off too much at one time. It's also one of the few bands that are funny without seeming like a...

By Tom Murphy

May 22, 2008

[
        {
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Inline Content - Mobile Display Size",
          "component": "12017618",
          "insertPoint": "2",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "2"
        },{
          "name": "Editor Picks",
          "component": "17242653",
          "insertPoint": "4",
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "1"
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - MediumRectangle - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261320",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 8,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "7",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Inline Links",
          "component": "18838239",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        },{
          "name": "Air - Leaderboard Tower - Combo - Inline Content",
          "component": "17261321",
          "insertPoint": "8th",
          "startingPoint": 12,
          "requiredCountToDisplay": "11",
          "maxInsertions": 25
        }
      ]

Some bands try to throw all of their influences into the mix, and it rarely works. Somehow, Amphibious Jones manages to do it without sounding like it's trying to pull off too much at one time. It's also one of the few bands that are funny without seeming like a novelty act. This might be because the group's humor reaches a lot deeper than most, much like that of Bill Hicks and Doug Stanhope. Although the band's sound falls somewhere between the absurd, bombastic pop metal of the '80s, Joe Satriani and early Mr. Bungle, its live performances are infused with a definite punk-rock aggression and abandon. Like a modern-day Blue Öyster Cult, Amphibious Jones (due at the Toad Tavern on Saturday, May 24) plays high-energy rock with tongue firmly in cheek.

KEEP WESTWORD FREE... Since we started Westword, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Denver, and we'd like to keep it that way. Your membership allows us to continue offering readers access to our incisive coverage of local news, food, and culture with no paywalls. You can support us by joining as a member for as little as $1.

Tom Murphy is a writer, visual artist and musician from Aurora, Colorado. He was a prolific music writer for Westword and a documenter of the Denver music scene.

Follow:

Twitter: @simianthinker