Durand Jones & The Indications

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Durand Jones & The Indications
Durand Jones & The Indications at Haldern Pop Festival 2019
Durand Jones & The Indications at Haldern Pop Festival 2019
Background information
OriginBloomington, Indiana
Genres
Years active2012–present
LabelsColemine, Dead Oceans
Websitedurandjonesandtheindications.com
Members
  • Durand Jones
  • Aaron Frazer
  • Blake Rhein
  • Steve Okonski
  • Michael Montgomery
Past members
  • Kyle Houpt
  • Justin Hubler

Durand Jones & The Indications is an American contemporary R&B and soul group founded by the core songwriting trio of singer Durand Jones, singer/drummer Aaron Frazer, and guitarist Blake Rhein. Formed in 2012, the band came to prominence as part of the soul revivalist movement around the time of the reissue of their debut album in 2018. Their second album American Love Call was released in March 2019, followed by Private Space in July 2021.

History[]

Blake Rhein and Aaron Frazer, two students at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, developed a musical relationship with Durand Jones in the early 2010s based on their shared interests in songwriting and old soul 45s.[1] Rhein had met Jones, a Louisiana native doing postgraduate studies for classical saxophone, while both were working with Indiana University's Soul Revue. Rhein and Frazer would later bring in the two other members of their blues rock band Charlie Patton's War, bassist Kyle Houpt and organist Justin Hubler, to form The Indications.[2] They wrote what would be their debut album between Fall 2012 and 2014, recording on a Tascam four-track recorder.[3] Concurrently, Charlie Patton's War toured regionally and nationally; between tours, Durand Jones & The Indications played their "one and only show" in May 2014.[4]

In 2015, the band was approached by Ohio soul label Colemine Records about releasing an album of music from their earlier sessions. They released their first 45 in 2015 and followed with their debut album Durand Jones & The Indications the following year.[5][2] They played a single show in Bloomington in April 2016 before going off to separate careers.[6] Following support from critics and independent record stores,[7] the band would reunite and toured throughout 2017, primarily in the Midwest and the South.[8] In 2017, Steve Okonski replaced Justin Hubler as organist. Their album was reissued by Bloomington label Dead Oceans in 2018 with new live material.[2]

The Chicano lowrider community, noted for their love of oldies, were early champions of The Indications and began circulating their music as early as 2016.[9][10][11] In tribute, the band released the b-side "Cruisin' to the Park" in 2019. The track was later released as a single with an accompanying music video featuring California lowriders.[12] In 2021, they released a Spanish language version, "Cruisin' to the Parque," with former tourmate Y La Bamba.[13]

During July and August 2018, the band recorded their second album in Brooklyn, New York and focused on developing a "vocal group sound."[10] Their record, American Love Call, was released in March 2018.[14] The band toured continuously through 2020, with Mike Montgomery joining as bassist at the end of 2019.[15][16][17] Among other singles released in 2020, the band put out a studio version of their song "Power to the People" two weeks ahead of the 2020 presidential election;[18] the demo version was originally released as part of the 2017 campaign Our First 100 Days.[19]

Recorded in January 2020, Frazer released a Dan Auerbach-produced solo album in January 2021, at which time he noted that a new Durand Jones & The Indications album was in the works.[20] He previously released music under the alias The Flying Stars of Brooklyn NY. Jones appeared as a guest vocalist on a number of tracks beginning in 2020, including on The Bamboos 2021 album. Of note, Rhein has worked as a researcher for The Numero Group and produced a number of reissue compilations for the label.[21]

In May 2021, the band announced that that their third record, Private Space, would be released July 30, 2021 and released the lead single "Witchoo". The ten track album was recorded in New York City at Diamond Mine and features a more disco and modern soul-inspired sound.[22] The album was written and produced by Jones, Frazer, Rhein, and Okonski with contributions from bassist Michael Montgomery as well as arrangers Ginger Dolden and Peter Lanctot, harpist Brandee Younger, and Eli "Paperboy" Reed, among others.[23]

Members[]

  • Durand Jones – vocals (2012–present)
  • Aaron Frazer – vocals, drums, percussion, synthesizer (2012–present)
  • Blake Rhein – guitar, synthesizer, vocals (2012–present)
  • Steve Okonski – organ, piano, synthesizer, vocals (2017–present)
  • Michael Isvara Montgomery – bass, vocals (2019–present)

Former members

  • Kyle Houpt – bass (2013–2019)
  • Justin Hubler – organ, piano (2013–2017)

Discography[]

Studio albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
[24] 		US
Indie
[25] 		US
Heat
[26] 		US
Taste
[27] 		UK
[28]
Durand Jones & The Indications
  • Released: 2016
  • Label: Colemine Records
  • Format: LP, CD, digital
  • Reissued March 16, 2018 by Dead Oceans[29]
 — — — — —
American Love Call
  • Released: March 1, 2019
  • Label: Dead Oceans, Colemine
  • Format: LP, CD, digital[30]
 — 11 5 14 —
Private Space
  • Released: July 30, 2021
  • Label: Dead Oceans, Colemine
  • Format: LP, CD, cassette, digital[31]
 127 16 1 2 98
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Live albums[]

Title Album details Peak chart positions
US
Indie
[32] 		US
Heat
[33]
Live Vol. 1
  • Released: March 16, 2018
  • Label: Dead Oceans, Colemine
  • Format: LP
  • Also released with deluxe edition of debut album
 36 11

Singles[]

Title
(A-side/B-side) 		Year Peak chart positions Album Format
US
AAA
[34]
"Smile"
"Tuck 'n' Roll" 		2015 — Durand Jones & The Indications 45
"Make a Change"
"Is It Any Wonder?" 		2017 — 45
"You and Me" (Penny & The Quarters cover)
"Put a Smile on Your Face" (E.J. & The Echoes cover) 		2018 — Durand Jones & The Indications (Deluxe Edition) 45, digital
"Don't You Know" — American Love Call digital
"True Love"
"Don't You Know" 		2019 — 45
"Long Way Home" — digital
"Morning in America" — digital
"Morning in America"
"Cruisin' to the Park" 		— 45
"Cruisin' to the Park" — Non-album singles digital
"Young Americans (David Bowie cover) 2020 — digital
"Never Heard 'Em Say" — digital
"Power to the People" — digital
"Cruisin' to the Park" (featuring Y La Bamba) 2021 — digital
"Witchoo" 22 Private Space digital
"Witchoo"
"Love Will Work It Out" 		— 45
"Love Will Work It Out" — digital
"The Way That I Do" — digital
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

Awards[]

Year Awards Category Nominated work Result
2019 Libera Awards Best R&B Album Durand Jones & The Indications Nominated
2020 American Love Call Nominated

References[]

  1. ^ Johnson, Seth. "Thank god — literally — that Durand Jones was finally convinced to sing". NUVO. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  2. ^ a b c "Durand Jones | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  3. ^ Frazier, Preston (2016-07-15). "Durand Jones, soul singer: Something Else! Interview". Something Else!. Retrieved 2021-03-09. Aaron, Blake and [Durand] began to write tunes in the late fall of 2012. The last song we recorded was "Now I’m Gone," in 2014. We were just doing this for fun on Sunday nights.
  4. ^ "Charlie Patton's War". Facebook. April 30, 2014. Retrieved 2021-03-09. For the past year or so, Charlie Patton's War has been recording under a totally different name along with our friend Durand Jones, and NEXT THURSDAY, we'll be playing our ONE AND ONLY show as Durand Jones & The Indications! ...This project will most likely never play live again, so DON'T MISS OUT!
  5. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications Make Old-School Soul With A New-School Honesty". NPR.org. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  6. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications". Chicago Music Guide. July 4, 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  7. ^ Johnson, Seth (September 21, 2017). "Thank god — literally — that Durand Jones was finally convinced to sing". NUVO. Retrieved 2021-03-09. Digitally, there was no traction because the band really wasn’t touring... But in the independent record store, we sold out the day of the first run, and that almost drove the hype.
  8. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications Gigography, Tour History & Past Concerts – Songkick". www.songkick.com. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  9. ^ Dueñas, Melissa. "They're A Midwest Retro-Soul Band And Generations Of LA Latinos Are Here For It". LAist. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  10. ^ a b Leight, Elias (2019-02-21). "Harmonies Are Out of Style. This Soul Group Is Trying to Change That". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  11. ^ Jun 10, Mark Alvarado Moses Mon; 2019 | 1:03pm (2019-06-10). "Durand Jones & The Indications". The Santa Barbara Independent. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  12. ^ "DURAND JONES & THE INDICATIONS - Morning In America". Colemine Records. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  13. ^ Elaine, Zoe (2021-02-22). "Tourmates Turned Collaborators: Durand Jones & the Indications and Y La Bamba deliver New Rendition "Cruisin' to the Parque"". Grimy Goods. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  14. ^ "About". Durand Jones & The Indications. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  15. ^ Ledger, Jay Miller / For The Patriot. "REVIEW: Durand Jones and the Indications light up Boston". The Reading Advocate. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  16. ^ "Durand Jones and The Indications Try to Bring the World Together at The Birchmere". The Postrider. 2020-03-02. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  17. ^ "DJ & The Indications playing in 2019 with Mike Montgomery". Twitter. December 31, 2020. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  18. ^ "Power To The People, by Durand Jones & The Indications". Durand Jones & The Indications. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  19. ^ March 5, Bill PearisPublished; 2017. "Day 45/100: Durand Jones & The Indications – "Power To The People (Demo)"". BrooklynVegan. Retrieved 2021-03-09.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  20. ^ Johnson, Seth. "Aaron Frazer is a budding soul sensation". NUVO. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  21. ^ "DURAND JONES & THE INDICATIONS". CHARLESTON POUR HOUSE. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  22. ^ Mims, Taylor (May 12, 2021). "Durand Jones & The Indications Reveal New Album With Single 'Witchoo'". Billboard. Retrieved May 9, 2021.
  23. ^ "Credits / Private Space / Durand Jones & the Indications". listen.tidal.com. 2021. Retrieved 2021-08-02.
  24. ^ "Durand Jones Chart History: Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-10.
  25. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  26. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications: Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  27. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications: Tastemakers". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  28. ^ "DURAND JONES & THE INDICATIONS | full Official Chart History". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  29. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications, by Durand Jones & The Indications". Durand Jones & The Indications. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  30. ^ "American Love Call, by Durand Jones & The Indications". Durand Jones & The Indications. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  31. ^ "Private Space". Rough Trade. 2021. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  32. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications: Independent Albums". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  33. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications: Heatseekers". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
  34. ^ "Durand Jones & The Indications Chart History: Triple A". Billboard. Retrieved 2021-08-08.
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