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About Illinois Valley news. (Cave City, Oregon) 1937-current | View Entire Issue (July 16, 2014)
Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, July 16, 2014 Page A-5 Motel Jones is a one-man band By Judy Hoyle IVN Contributing Writer Rob Conrad, also known as “Motel Jones,” was the featured performer at Madd Moose in Selma last Thursday. He played his own lively compositions, interspersed with classic rock selections for appreciative fans as they relaxed on the second floor of the cozy venue. The musician and inventor’s unique in- strumental set-up includes the all new “Motel Jones Interactive Drum Kit,” something he’s been working on over the past several years. It is an electromechanical drum machine, the only one known to operate without a computer. Unlike other drum machines, it’s operated in real time. The high-hat cymbal and a series of switches are played with the right foot. He plays the bass line with the left foot on his 1970’s era Moog synthesizer upgraded with a new analog synthe- sizer (connected with weed- whacker wire) after the old Moog “brain” burnt out. To complete the one man-band, he adds guitar, harmonica, and vocals for the full sound he wants. Jones has played both electric and upright acoustic bass throughout the years. He bought his first bass guitar when he was 10 years old. “I didn’t last too long in high school, but I did get to play the Kay bass,” he said. Jones became a partner in his first business, a junk store in Philadelphia, when he was only 14 and claims to have lost count of the num- ber of bands he’s played in. His life and career evidence the same energy and restless- ness. A Jack of all trades, Jones eventually wound up in Portland buying, fixing up, and selling real estate by day while pursuing his passion for music at night. He wrote and played songs in a popu- lar heavy metal band that hit the charts in Europe. The nu- merous bands he has played in range from his funk band, Sky Blue Water People, to Dance Machine, a corporate disco wedding band, his last band before moving from Portland. Motel Jones plays and writes in a variety of mu- sic styles. “Now that I live in the country, I write country mu- sic,” he said. Previously, he and his wife, Jody, a school psy- chologist who now works for the Southern Oregon Educa- tion Service District, owned (Photo by Judy Hoyle, Illinois Valley News) Motel Jones during a show at Madd Moose in Selma. ALL repAirs done on site! T ues - F ri 9 A.M. - 6 P.M. s AT 10 A.M. - 4 P.M. s un & M on C losed 23772 r edwood H igHwAy K erby , or 2 WEEK SPECIAL Kiss My Face Moisture Shaves 25% OFF Boulder Canyon All you cAn eAt breAkfAst or order off the menu Assorted Kettle Chips. Gluten-free, NON-GMO. Such a great snack. Even better with a sandwich! At the I.V. GrAnGe ea. Country Natural Ball Tip Steaks 3 99 OR $ 99 4 Three to choose from. Strawberry Banana, Mixed Berry, Pineapple Reg 6.99 lb. 5 $ 99 Bagel Sandwiches.................... .15 # Meat, 2oz. Cream Cheese Assorted Meats, Assorted Bagels. 1.29 Reg. $1.69 Woodstock 4.39 $ $3.19 ea. 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Reg. $3.79 lb. 3763 Holland Loop 541-592-6045 or 541-592-4478 4 99 $ 49 2 $ 2 Over-Easy Eggs with Canadian Bacon GRAB-N-GO Cantaloupe No hormones or antibiotics. Sold in family packs. Great on the BBQ. e very Friday BREAKFAST MENU Eggs Benedict...................... 10 oz or 20 oz Reg $2.89 ea . K araoKe Deli Smoothies are BACK! $ $2.09 S PORTSMAN TAVER N Nourish Body Lotions 25% OFF Special Features 541-592-4838 F irst three s undays oF the month From 8 a . m . to 12 noon . a 3,200 square foot Victorian home in Oregon City, which was more than they needed with their two kids grown and moved out. “We had an empty nest and decided to refinance when the interest-only loans became available,” Jones said. They wanted to live in a more rural area, so they rented out the house, bought an RV and planned to travel the Pacific Northwest for the year. When they discovered the Illinois Valley three months into the trip, they quickly bought a farm house on 12 acres in 2004 and Jones began to give it the attention it needed. “I loved building forts when I was a kid,” Jones said. “Now I’m building Fort Rob.” He’s gradually creating a 30-by-40-foot log cabin home with a 35-foot-square detached music studio, also built of logs. Jones hopes to outfit the studio to allow recording and wants to invite other musicians to play and record when it’s completed. When asked about his own compositions, Jones said he easily tires of the standard blues progression. “My arrangements are trickier than that,” he said. He has written too many songs to remem- ber, with many telling stories of love, death or life on the road interspersed with lines from favorite movies. “It might take a couple of months to put it all together,” he said. “I have to wait until the right part strikes me. It’s a lot of experimenta- tion and can take time.” Although many songs only require a sim- ple, steady drum beat, the drums are an impor- tant part of the process. “It’s not reasonable for me to expect a drummer to put in that kind of time, so I built the drum machine originally as a rehearsal tool,” he said. Over time and many modifications, it’s developed into a new kind of performance in- strument. “I’ve just begun to scratch the surface of what can be done with the machine,” he said. “I want to continue its further development and see other people express their artistic angle with it as well.” Motel Jones will perform at 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, July 20, at the Rusk Ranch Nature Center’s Nature and Art Festival. The event is free to the public and is located at 27746 Red- wood Highway about a mile south of Cave Junction. His next gig at the Madd Moose will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Saturday, August 9. The versatile musician can be reached at 541-592-4974 or via e-mail at moteljones- music@yahoo.com. 2 $ 69 5 $ 09 lb. Reg. $2.89 lb. pkg. No nitrates or nitrites. Wonderful Reg. $6.69 pkg. for Sunday morning breakfast. Kelp Noodles 12% ....... Reg. $4.59 ea. Organic Wildwood ...... 3 $ 19 3 $ 69 Emerald Valley Salsa 14% • Medium Reg. 3.99 e a. • Mild We support our • Hot ea. ea. local farms! We Accept Oregon Trail Cards • Prices effective Wed., 07/09/14 thru Tues., 07/22/14. • Ad Specials - While Supplies Last 1201 Redwood Ave. • 541-471-2700 • Open Mon. - Sat. 8 am - 9 pm • Sun. 9 am - 7 pm
