“The best live band working in New Jersey right now”, Joy On Fire, play an eclectic but immediately gripping style of jazz punk fusion. Their new album, States Of America, includes “Thunderdome” which was originally premiered on Bob Boilen’s NPR All Songs Considered. 

The band features the talents of bassist / guitarist John Paul Carillo, sardonically funny spoken word lyrics from frontman Dan Gutenstein, and the powerful saxophone playing of Anna Meadors, sounding a bit like if Protomartyr were listening to way more John Coltrane.

In this interview spotlight, I chat with John and Dan of Joy on Fire about the music, memories, motivations and more.

Full Q&A along with links and music below.

What’s something you’d like readers to know about your latest project?

JOHN: Our latest release, States of America, is both a group of nine individual tracks, but also a “concept” album of sorts, with tracks 2, “Thunderdome,” 5, “Anger and Decency,” and 9, “God and Godlessness” sharing a musical theme as well as certain lyrical elements.  This threads the album as a listening experience that goes beyond simply hearing a series of unconnected tracks.  The record features many textures and instruments, with the foundation being sax, bass, guitar, drums and vocals, and though some of the songs utilize rock structure conventions (verse / chorus), many of the tracks reinvent this and create some structural surprises that are more exciting than the norm.  “A thrill of high voltage jazz ‘n’ roll” English critic Gareth Thompson has said of Joy on Fire’s work!    

DAN: States of America will throttle you (as it should) with some hard-charging jazzpunk. There are some slower pieces, true. To them: simply jump about. You know: rock out casual.

How does this project compare with your other release(s)? Was there anything specific you were trying to accomplish?

JOHN: There is more vocal material on States of America as compared with Joy on Fire’s past releases.  I’m a big fan of our lyricist / vocalist Dan Gutstein’s writing, and there’s lots of great turn of phrase on the album.  I also think one of the most beautiful solos our saxophonist Anna Meadors has ever taken is on the record, a lament on the track “Uh Huh.”  As a soloist, Anna continues to break new ground on States of America!

DAN: This is the first Joy on Fire release to feature vocals throughout. Don’t panic, though. There’s plenty of rollicking guitar, bass, and drums – as well as some blistering saxophone.

What motivates you to create music?

JOHN: I pick up the guitar every day, and there it is—the music is there!  What motivates me is to follow the music where the music needs to go, for the music itself to find its correct ending, structure, and shape.  What also motivates me, with the pieces I write, is to create spaces for Anna, Dan, our new drummer Mark, and our numerous guest musicians to work and be creative in.  And for all of us to tell big stories, with long playing music that builds with more and more energy as it progresses and develops! 

DAN: We want to be fiercely independent and original. Yet to be fair, we want to blend traditions that have gone before. Imagine Joy Division + Coltrane + King Crimson + Gang of Four + Sleaford Mods.

What’s one of your first or most powerful music memories? Did that play any role in driving you to create?

JOHN: Early in high school, I found myself at a record store in Delaware, on a trip with my folks, and I saw Jimi Hendrix’s “9 to the Universe” album.  I bought it with that youthful feeling that I’d found something special, something just for me, ha ha.  As it turns out, this is a controversial record, as Hendrix wasn’t alive to mix it, and apparently the Hendrix family has ordered the discontinuation of the record.  But it’s a great record, a surprising record, especially the title track, which builds to a plateau with the vocals finally coming in at around six or seven minutes, and it was my introduction to a rock / jazz hybrid coming more from the rock side of things, which is pretty much where Joy on Fire stands.  “9 to the Universe” still plays a role in driving me to create big and surprising structures.

DAN: For the lyricist in the group, Dan Gutstein, the moment may have been a poem by New York School writer Frank O’Hara: “The Day Lady Died.” The poem is about hearing Billie Holiday sing and the final couplet reads —

“while she whispered a song along the keyboard
to Mal Waldron and everyone and I stopped breathing”

and perhaps we want to strive for that kind of breathless sensation amongst our listeners.

If you could collaborate with anyone – dead or alive, famous or unknown – who would it be and why? If it’s an indie/DIY artist, please include a link so readers can check them out.

JOHN: I’d love to work with Robert Fripp.  King Crimson is a looming influence over Joy on Fire, and I’d love to hear Anna and Fripp solo side by side over some fat bass chords that I’d play!

DAN: Duke Ellington. He was much more adventurous than people think and he was a statesman – a Duke – of American music. I’d like to imagine him and us playing a jazzpunk version of “Take the A Train” ha ha ha, but our great bandleader John Paul  Carillo would not permit a cover!

What was the last song you listened to? And who is one of your favorite all-time bands/artists?

JOHN: “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie.  And I’ll mention Fripp and King Crimson here again as all-time favorites.  There’s a pretty strong Bowie / Fripp connection, as Fripp did session work on some Bowie albums, “Low” and “Heroes” most notably.  

DAN: I listened to “Liza Jane” by the great young banjoist and singer Nora Brown. It is amazing. In terms of favorite all time bands – I’d say Joy Division.

Where is the best place to find you and stay connected?

The band can be found at www.joyonfire.com and if we’re doing personal websites, then Anna can be found at https://www.annameadors.com/ and John can be found at http://www.jpcarillo.com/ and Dan can be found at https://www.dangutstein.com/

I really appreciate Your time. Anything else before we sign off?

JOHN: We have produced videos for six of the nine tracks from the album, with three different video artists, two of the videos directed by ourselves.  I think these videos are exciting projects in themselves, and you can check them out here!: States of America – YouTube

DAN: Thank you! We are much obliged and we greatly appreciate the opportunity to reach new audience.