R&B may not be the most popular local or national music genre in 2012, but that doesn't stop the musicians in Bad Money from playing what they love.
Made up of Marla Harris, Steve Davis, Jed Thomson, Cody Anderson and Norbbie Gavin, the band will play R&B and more at Mojo's on Saturday night.
"I think people are willing to listen to it, but there isn't any R&B around here," Harris said. "You have Smackdab that does a psychedelic funk kind of thing, and you've got Richie Leeper who does your older kind of R&B. I guess we just want to make sure we get out and people come and listen to us. We play the music we would like to hear."
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Made up of Marla Harris, Steve Davis, Jed Thomson, Cody Anderson and Norbbie Gavin, the band will play R&B and more at Mojo’s on Saturday night.
Submitted photo
The band plays a mix of originals and covers, performing songs by artists such as Jill Scott and Stevie Wonder. Bad Money modifies several of its cover songs with different arrangements.
"It's nice, hip, danceable music," Davis said. "It's just good music. Wrapped up in a nutshell, there's only two kinds of music: good music and bad music. In all of the other projects I'm in, I'm playing not necessarily for someone else, but what someone else wants me to play. With this group, we all bring a lot of ideas to the table. We have the opportunity to stretch those ideas out with the level of musicianship of the players we have."
Bad Money, which has been together for about a year, has played at Seneca Allegany Casino, and in Allegany, Olean and Pennsylvania, as well as its previous stops at Mojo's. The musicians who make up the band play with several other acts as well.
"(Bad Money) is something where we get together and all play some tunes that we know and love," said Davis, who also plays in a band called Musiquarium and for AGP recording artist Brielle, along with Thomson and Gavin.
Harris, the 2005 Chautauqua Lake Idol winner, sings with Steve Swanson's Bluze Inn. Additionally, the five Bad Money musicians play as a backup band for Preach Freedom of Rusted Root. They'll tour to Virginia and back with the Preach Freedom Band this summer, making stops along the way.
Davis, who has toured with Big Leg Emma and a couple of other acts, looks forward to hitting the road.
"Every city is different," he said. "Every stage is different. The music is different every night. It's fun meeting different people and networking."
In the meantime, the musicians will focus on Bad Money, its monthly gigs at Seneca Allegany Casino and Saturday night's show at Mojo's.
"You can go down (to Mojo's) and listen to anything from a bluegrass band to a punk rock band from a different country," Davis said. "It's an awesome, warm environment."
Mojo's is located at 104 E. Second St., Jamestown. Call 720-4621 for more information.
Those who attend the show might hear some songs they recognize. Bad Money tends to spice up its songs, however.
"We let the musicians do their solos," Harris said. "That's a little more free-form, whatever they feel, whatever sounds good. It's never cut-and-dry. The same song is going to be different every time we do it, except for the basic lyrics. When it comes to solos, especially with our trumpet player and our guitar player, we let them go. A song might only be four minutes long, but we might stretch it out into 10 minutes if we're feeling it and the audience is into it."
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"Backstage Pass'' is a feature of The Post-Journal showcasing local artists, their music and their accomplishments. Send recommendations for future "Backstage Pass'' subjects to Scott Shelters at sshelters@post-journal.com or call 487-1111, ext. 253.