The desolate contents of the album were perfectly encapsulated by its minimal artwork, which depicted a deflated and broken heart on a spare grey background. West chose to pair these raw, uncompromising and bleak lyrics with a production characterized by minimalist, harrowing synths offset with stark brutalist beats (generated by the titular Roland TR-808 drum machine, a mainstay of early 80s hip-hop and synth-pop) alongside various offbeat additions such as taiko drums and monk choirs. Whether you see him alongside a piano, a four-piece rock band, or with a large orchestra, Remember Jones evokes the energy of the greatest front men and women, with one of a kind song styling and expert storytelling that keep audiences on their toes and emotions in the moment.Opener “Coldest Winter” deals harrowingly with the loss of his mother, who’d passed away due to complications with cosmetic surgery: “Goodbye my friend, I won’t ever love again/Never again,” he sings, while the bitter aftermath of his break-up with Phifer is addressed on the likes of “Robocop” and “Heartless.” “Welcome To Heartbreak,” meanwhile, was a distraught missive from a man coming to terms with the shallowness of his life, his dreams of success beginning to turn into a nightmare: “My friend showed me pictures of his kids/And all I could show him was pictures of my cribs/… Look back on my life and my life gone/Where did I go wrong?” In the vein of putting a spin on the work of other artists, Remember Jones released Ain’t That a Kick in the Head?!, a single in celebration of Dean Martin’s 100th birthday, sharing studio time with Dean’s daughter, Deana Martin. Remember Jones has shared stages with George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Ronnie Spector & The Ronettes, Darlene Love, Buster Poindexter, Nigel Hall, Rebirth Brass Band, Ivan Neville’s Dumpstaphunk, Southside Johnny & The Asbury Jukes, and more, further justifying his versatility. The company has also performed commissioned events, including Jeff Buckley's Grace album in its entirety as a collaboration with Grammy-nominated guitarist and Grace co-writer Gary Lucas, a 50th Anniversary concert experience of the musical HAIR, and a live revival of Kanye West’s 808s and Heartbreak with a 25-piece orchestra, and more.
808s and heartbreak tour full#
back to BACK TO BLACK, a recreation of the entire Amy Winehouse album with an orchestra of 12, Joe Cocker's Mad Dogs and Englishmen in a 20-piece arrangement, YAS QUEEN!, a theatrical celebration of the music of Queen and Freddie Mercury with a full choir and unique arrangements, and more have helped Remember Jones develop a diverse audience. In addition to touring and supporting two albums worth of original material, Remember Jones presents and fronts multiple productions which have also gained wide popularity. A 3rd album, currently untitled, is in production and planned for a 2021 release. In 2017, his subsequent release, Tranquilizer!, was recorded at The Bomb Shelter in Nashville, TN, under the production of Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Langhorne Slim) and was named one of Paste Magazine and Daytrotter’s Top 10 R&B/Soul Artists of 2017. Remember Jones’ debut album, Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones!, was created after raising close to $19,000 through nearly 300 small donations via IndieGoGo, and created in front of a live studio audience with a 25-piece band. Often backed and supported by a large ensemble of musicians, his original music and creative, theatrical events have played to countless packed and sold-out clubs and theaters throughout the United States. Remember Jones is a one-of-a-kind soul/pop singer, storyteller and bandleader with a throwback vibe and authentic energy. The latest release, "Tranquilizer!", produced by Andrija Tokic (Alabama Shakes, Banditos, Langhorne Slim, Hurray for the Riff Raff), is now available! Remember Jones is heading for big things." A set with Daytrotter, called "AMAZING!!.highly recommend this session to everyone and anyone." was released in February 2017: The band's DEBUT ALBUM, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Remember Jones!", available via CDBaby, iTunes, Spotify, Apple Music, and other outlets, was created after raising close to $19,000 through nearly 300 small donations via Indiegogo, and created in front of a live studio audience with a 25-piece band. "A singer blessed with an amazing instrument and an uncanny ability to interpret the music of others so that the material becomes unmistakably his own, Remember Jones is at the vanguard of the rebirth of soul music as an immersive experience that begs to befelt as well as heard." - KEF Audio ".truly captivates audiences every time he performs.". Remember Jones is heading for big things." - Popdose holds the audience in the palm of his hand." - Live For Live Music