Tonight at 7:30 at the Underground in Columbus, local indie rock band Young Agent Jones will headline the Tsunami Band Aid for $5. Also performing for the benefit are Pet Boy Sherman and Side Project.
“It’s not a Tsunami anymore! It’s our nami!” says Jason Jones, lead guitarist and vocalist for Young Agent Jones. “We’re taking it back!” he adds, laughing with his bass player Ben Hodge and his newest guitar/vocal addition Todd Rowan. Drummer Mike Yeager is out working.
Jason comes in from his kitchen with three beers, which they all tap and open in unison to the beat of an old Ramones song, “Rock and Roll High School.”
A board of 200 wrapped fortune cookies hangs above their TV as the focal point of the living room.
Todd and Ben sit on their couches while Jason stands in the doorway smoking and wearing a tight jacket with a patch that says “Dork” sewn on his right breast. He seems to have a newer pair of Italian shoes than usual.
“Seriously,” Todd says, sitting up. “It’s a terrible tragedy, and we want to help anyone who is over there.”
“Yeah,” Ben says. “As soon as I saw it on the news all I could think of was how evil it was and how I wish I could do something about it. I missed playing at shows like Earth Fest.”
“And since we’re all broke, we thought we’d just help out musically,” Todd adds.
Ben runs his fingers through his new dye job, a white base with black chunks. Dramatically clearing his throat in contradiction, he says, “Well, actually, this was Selena’s idea.”
Selena Alderman, a senior at Mississippi University for Women in Columbus, thought of the Tsunami Band Aid and made it possible by raising the money and doing public relations work. “(The bands) aren’t benefitting in any financial way from the Band Aid,” she says. All of the money will go to the Tsunami Survivor Fund through UNICEF.”
She says that if people are unable to go and would like to donate, they can send a check to Tsunami Band Aid, 114B Westbound Street, Starkville, MS 39759.
“Well, regardless of who thought of it,” Todd says, “Young Agent Jones is the band that cares.” They drink to that one.
Todd might have been joking, but the group might as well kick off a benefit tour tonight. At Roxies, they played for St. Jude. April 30, they will play for the Texas Accountants and Lawyers for the Arts in Houston Texas. They will play May 7 for an American Cancer Society benefit in Atlanta. The line-up goes on.
Jason says, “They have bad water, and we wanna help!” He blushes before anyone laughs with him. “We’re like the financial plumbers… Sort of.”
They seem to have a lot to laugh and smile about. Where there once were three members, now there are four.
“I didn’t miss the extra guitar and vocals until I started practicing with Todd,” Ben says. “I can scream, but I can’t harmonize the way Todd can. The three part harmony is fantastic.”
“The band has always been good friends of mine, and I love their music,” Todd says. “I love the different chord changes. It’s straightforward rock, but also medium indie rock. It’s simple and also complex and thoughtful.”
To Todd’s relief Ben says, “We take the pretentious and make it catchy.”
The band is also looking forward to their album in pre-postproduction, Nice Guice.
“This album keeps that hook that this band has always had. This style of music is built on passion. There’s no American rock ‘n’ roll idol, because the people who try to control music can’t touch rock ‘n’ roll. They know nothing about it,” Todd says.
“Rock ‘n’ roll has always struck me as long as I can remember. The sound has always had such….”
“Energy, passion and agenda,” Ben chimes in.
“Thank you,” Todd says, snapping and pointing.
Jason, with his first serious comment all night, says, “I can’t wait for the thing to come out! There are people waiting in powerful production positions to help us.”
Like before, Jason is the main lyricist. “I get inspired by people, who either piss me off or turn me on,” he says. “Lyrics are a personal thing, but I try to make them more accessible so no one gets mad.”
The band is also looking forward to a new tour all over the continental United States “We’re taking over the world.” Jason says in a low, evil tone. With their newest addition, album and tour, Young Agent Jones will be leaving a trace of their catchy indie rock in every region of the country.