30 June 22nd–June 28th, 2023 phoenixnewtimes.com phoenix new Times | music | cafe | film | culTuRe | NighT+Day | feaTuRe | NeWs | OPiNiON | feeDBacK | cONTeNTs | Fri 6/23 Sat 6/24 Sat 6/24 tue 6/25 thu 6/22 the hellFire Club 8PM • $0 Southern Culture on the SkidS 8PM • $25 earlY ShoW Strum univerSitY muSiC SChool roCk band ShoW 12PM • $0 Jimi “Primetime” Smith, bob Corritore blueS band 7PM • $12 Summer oF love 4PM • $15 lessons have led JoA to their debut LP, the 13-track “Imperfectionists.” It’s a slightly ironic title given the band’s creative process. “Some of the songs on this are things that we’ve written previously, and that have been some of our first songs that we’ve written as a band, but just weren’t quite ready to come out of the oven yet,” Long says. That whole approach — nothing comes out until it’s out — started with their debut EP, 2021’s “Make It Uglier” — and carries with it a pledge for JoA to continually develop. “Our mantra was, ‘More distortion. More on your amps. Turn it up to 11,’” she says. “Our thing was in getting everybody to come out of their comfort zone. But we’re never going to make anybody do anything that they’re fully uncomfortable with.” Still, getting it right doesn’t mean safe, perfect creations. “I think that comes with being an older band,” Long says. “Like, it’s good enough. It doesn’t need to be sparkly or polished; that’s not the point. We have that ability to raise our hands and say, ‘This isn’t ready’ or ‘I don’t like this or this,’ and so we’re not going to bring anything to the table that’s not ready.” It took some real time to reach this cohesiveness. It was ultimately about finding the best ways to communicate with one another. “So having five different people with five different ways of learning and figuring out what your musical language is, it’s really important,” she says. “And it took a while to get there; there were some frustra- tions and disagreements. At the end of the day, we were able to come to a common mindset of, ‘Play it more like the Pixies’ or whatever it is and figure out what our musical language is.” But there’s no arguing with the end result, especially given how streamlined JoA are these days. “We booked two days with [Nelson]. We had the entire album almost fully recorded on day one,” Long says. “Day two was like, ‘Do you want to record any more songs?’” The album itself reflects a lot of these experiences and values. From the “sugary pop bomb” of “Peck” to the “super sludgy and doomy” standout “Final Girl Semifinalist,” JoA certainly ran the sonic gamut. But there’s also an immediacy to the record; it’s not exactly like their vomit- inducing live pace but it certainly bashes steadily along regardless. It’s an effort made by folks with a lot to say and the experience and urgency to scream it as loudly as possible. “I think we already have eight to 10 new songs lined up and ready to go,” Long says. “We don’t have an off button, which is sometimes a good thing and sometimes a bad thing. It’s not homework for us. We’re not making money off of this.” That attitude of doing this for the love also informs JoA’s larger goals and objec- tives. For instance, they want to play Bisbee’s Sidepony Express Music Festival again, and land a “really rad opening gig” somewhere. Still, it’s not just about staying humble or setting attainable goals; JoA understand their unique career path and what really matters in terms of achievements. “I think we worked in reverse of a lot of other bands that get lucky that first time,” Long says. “They put something out and that’s their biggest hit and then that’s what they have to live up to forever. I don’t think that we’ve released our biggest hit yet. I say that with quotations; the thing that sounds the most like us and the thing that we embrace the most. Maybe it’s coming out on this next record, or maybe it hasn’t even been created yet.” That goal, this dream of a big song that explains why they sacrificed so much and clawed to get here, is all that matters. It’s about what Long called “being in it for the cool stuff” — and absolutely nothing else. “We want to have a really good time, and put out good music that we believe in and that we’re confident in and that we have a good time making,” said Long. “As soon as it stops being fun for any of us, the road is over.” The Imperfectionists release show is scheduled for July 1, at Yucca Tap Room, 29 West Southern Ave. in Tempe. The free show begins at 8 p.m. Visit yuccatap.com for more info. The members of JoA are a tad older than your average up-and-comers. Jeff Niemoeller No Time from p 28
