On Friday night, Jackie O’s Pub and Brewery will play host to The Cliftones, a Cincinnati band intent on rocking whoever attends their show.
The Cliftones are an eight-piece roots reggae band led by lead vocalist and songwriter Diedrich Jones and rounded out by two guitarists, a saxophone, horns and percussion.
The band has had big success in Cincinnati and hopes to bring their blend of traditional and modern reggae to show-goers in Athens to continue their growth as a band.
During the past few months, The Cliftones have won a Cincinnati Entertainment Award from City Beat for best world music/reggae act, an accolade they have achieved two years in a row. This is special for Jones, who said the band has only been in existence for about two and a half years.
They also released a single, “Hard Ground,” in late December and are in the process of mastering an album they hope will be finished within the next year.
Jones said he hoped to maintain the band’s momentum in Athens, which will be their first show outside of Cincinnati after winning the award.
“I just want it to be rocking out, bigger and better,” Jones said. “We want to let (the band) keep growing.”
The college population in Athens provides a nice backdrop for a band like The Cliftones to perform because of the energy that emanates from the people who attend their shows, Jones said
“Athens has this underlying sense of a rebellious nature,” Jones said. “There are a lot of good memories here; it is a good, under-riding vibe.”
Jones added that the band aims to play more to build an audience like they have in Cincinnati.
Chris Madine, guitarist for the band, said he thinks the band’s “up-tempo, dance-like” take on roots reggae allows for stronger crowd support, making their shows all the more entertaining.
“Athens has a great vibe about it as a college town interested in music, whether the crowd is big or not, which makes us want to do it again,” Madine said. “We want to pack that place and rock it.”
Jones said he hopes his band’s music will inspire those who attend the show to continue to support the group, but ultimately he hopes they would enjoy themselves.
“I just want people to have a good time,” Jones said. “Be nice and don’t start fights with people. (The music) is like embracing your own culture.”
ds834910@ohiou.edu
