A Lasting Storm

A Review of Justin Jones and The Driving Rain

Everyone has problems – regrets they must overcome, fears that will not rest, and addictions they cannot escape. For DC artist Justin Jones and the revolving cast of musicians who make up The Driving Rain, those problems are not burdens to be conquered, but rather stories to be shared. Framed by Jones’ truly unique voice and styling on the guitar, coupled with The Driving Rain’s impressive instrumentals, the band successfully blends together country, folk and pop. I caught the first of their two back-to-back performances on April 17th at the Rock and Roll Hotel, during which the band showcased a selection of songs from their latest album “….and i am the song of the drunkards,” as well as pieces from earlier recordings. By the end of the show, Jones had reaffirmed himself as a talented storyteller, weaving his triumphs and sorrows into a compelling soundtrack rooted in human connections.

The audience waited in anticipation for the band to take the stage. As Jones began to play, his rich voice flooded the stage. The band started early on with “Hope,” which is featured on their previous album, “Love Verses Heroin”. This song highlighted their musical prowess and as each band member layered themselves into the song piece-by-piece, Jones’ story of hope and redemption came to life. They continued the set by performing crowd favorites and even included a few extras such as an unreleased song that Jones wrote about his daughter and an impromptu accompaniment with a friend of the band – Josh Read from the DC band Revival, who had come to watch the show. The audience was lively and Jones and the band did not disappoint, despite a few sound issues

Towards the end of the evening they performed “Let’s Stay Together” off of their latest album, which characterizes the bands’ more modern country sound. This song, like most of the others performed that night, were built upon the fundamentals of guitars, banjos, drums, and a keyboard. Their sound – both live and recorded – is always organic, and simply put, feels natural. Nothing is ever forced in their music. At the same time, the band has clearly distilled the sound, refining it to create their own style without losing any of the originality or sentiment infused by Jones.

The road that Justin Jones and The Driving Rain travel upon is a well worn one. Their music is admittedly familiar and reminiscent of bands such as Wilco or Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band during their earlier days. Listen to Justin Jones and The Driving Rain though and you’ll appreciate Jones’ exceptionally strong vocal abilities and the musicians’ talented precision on an array of instruments. Pairing classic melodies and complementary instrumentals with witty refrains and modern lyrics, Jones has penned songs that resonate with audiences of all ages and that are most importantly relevant to today. On the latest album in particular, there is a more stripped down sound that highlights their musical progression. While, I wouldn’t quite describe their sound as “hillbilly rock”, which Jones’ may call it tongue in cheek from time to time, it is definitely a little bit of something for everyone.