Local band Jezebel sets out not only to create original songs, but also to proactively promote itself to a record label. The band has finished two EPs and a full-length album. Its sound is Joy Division vocals with an ultramodern electric guitar twist.
Local avant-garde boutique owner and bassist for Jezebel, Michael Croft, enlightened on the basic history of their “living-room” band and why they love the local scene.
The Daily Aztec: How long have you guys been playing together, and how did that come about?
Croft: Jezebel started around the end of 2003 as the evolution of Dorian Tucker (lead singer) and Chris Jone’s (drummer) living room band. These two guys are both professional skateboarders, which is how they met. They added a couple members and the band was a reality. Their bassist then was Joey Guevara from Lady Dottie. He left and the original guitarist (Tomas Doncker) asked me if I wanted to play bass, so I joined up.
DA: How has your sound developed over the years?
Croft: We have more or less kept the same general sound throughout the course of the project, but we have certainly evolved as musicians. And unlike in the beginning, we all … share the vision of the how the band should and does sound …
DA: What has kept you local as opposed to moving somewhere like LA?
Croft: We all pretty much have our own lives aside from the band that are fairly deeply rooted in San Diego. Dorian was raised here and is now married. I have my store and my other band 300% Dynamite, Chris was in a relationship for a long time and new guitarist Ryan has a pretty solid job here. Those things have probably been the largest factors, but the general music politics of LA have also kept us from moving there.
DA: What’s your favorite venue to play locally?
Croft: My favorite venue to play is probably the Kensington Club, just because we play there so often, it kind of feels like home. But of course I love playing The Casbah and The Whistle Stop and Beauty Bar. We recently enjoyed playing The Office Bar for NXNP and my store POP! too.
Jezebel plays locally at most bars that offer booze and good times, so check out its MySpace at www.myspace.com/jezebel for upcoming shows and to purchase its album, “Favorites.”
