Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 4, 1992 TAG: 9203040175
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-10 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By JOE TENNIS CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
Raleigh, N.C.-based band Johnny Quest will play downtown at Bailey's tonight in a show guaranteed to get your toes tapping, your body swaying and your heart pumping.
You might even want to sing a little, too.
According to Details for Men, Quest is the kind of group where "Van Halen meets Fishbone as told to Dr. Suess by George Clinton."
Its funk sound - underscored by Jack Campbell's powerful bass guitar - is manically metal. "Some bands have horns, more of a soul side to it. We have more of a metal side," singer Joe Farmer said in a recent news release.
The band took its name from the once-popular Saturday morning cartoon "The Adventures of Jonny Quest." The band members have nicknamed themselves after the cartoon cast: Farmer is "Johnny," Campbell is "Race," guitarist Bill Ladd is "Bandit" and drummer Steve Hill is "Doc."
The band's high-energy funk songs like "Irresponsibility" and "United We Stand" are sure-fire crowd-pleasin' rockers primed to make folks drip with sweat on the dance floor. The band also throws in covers like the Isley Brothers' "Fight the Power" and Motorhead's "Ace of Spades."
The band was formed in 1983 by record-store workers Farmer and Campbell. The two have been through a mess since then - reunions, breakups and personnel changes - but these days are ready to serve the kind of excitement their primarily college-age audience likes to hear: punchy, poignant stuff with an attitude.
The group released a four-song cassette, "The Heisman," in 1989.
The show starts at 10 p.m. Admission is $5.
by CNB