The Vox Jaguars

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The Vox Jaguars is a North American rock band that formed in Santa Cruz, California in 2006. They began by performing in local coffee houses and record stores. Their influences include The Stooges, MC5, The Velvet Underground, and other protopunk artists. The Vox Jaguars are known for their energetic live performances, and have shared the stage with The Fiery Furnaces, Big Brother & The Holding Company, Grand Ole Party, and Scissors For Lefty. The Vox Jaguars have been part of the wave of the garage rock revival, and have influenced many indie artists in the Santa Cruz area of California (No Age, Foreign Born). No Age has named them their "favorite new band".^[1]

Original lineup

The original lineup featured Jordan Topf (vocals, guitar), Justin Fisher (keyboards), and Mason Rosenberg (drums). Fisher left the band to attend college in Portland which led to a rearrangement and addition of new personnel. Moving Mason Rosenberg to bass, and introducing Trevor Hope on drums, the second incarnation of the Vox Jaguars was a power trio in 2007.

Demo CD

The Vox Jaguars' demo CD, Out of Luck, was recorded by Luke David, and featured four tracks; "Swagger", "Frail", "Good As Gone", and "Metropolis". These tracks all feature an electric organ that was played by both Luke David and Mason Rosenberg. Out of Luck was well received, and enjoyed some success in the greater San Francisco, California Bay area. The song "Swagger" was discovered by the creators of FOX TV's Canterbury's Law, who used the song in the climax episode of the short-run prime-time TV series in April 2008.^[2]

Lineup changes

After touring the West coast of the United States a couple of times, Mason Rosenberg broke his hand in a bicycle accident, so Sam Copperman filled in while Rosenberg recovered from his injury. When Rosenberg's hand had healed, Copperman was retained as keyboardist. Occasionally, Luke David filled in on keyboards when Copperman wasn't available. Copperman also played stand-up bass on rare acoustic appearances that shifted Rosenberg to toy piano.

EP production

Loves In Heat Records had talked about releasing a Vox Jaguars CD, but the band's new manager, Adam Levin, arranged for a short EP release of The Vox Jaguars, a default self-titled release on Anodyne Records that was originally intended to be called Powerhouse. The title was changed at the last minute, resulting in a bit of confusion for purchasers, and online buyers. Vox Jaguars – EP was released on February 10, 2009 and was produced by Ariel Rechtshaid (who also produced for We Are Scientists, The Blood Arm, Valencia, Plain White T's). By the time The Vox Jaguars EP was released, Sam Copperman was no longer in the band, but had contributed on the EP. The Vox Jaguars dropped the keyboard when Copperman left for college in the Fall of 2008. At that time, Noah Bond was introduced as the Vox Jaguars' lead guitarist. Bond is credited as playing on the EP, but wasn't actually in the Vox Jaguars when the CD was recorded at the Sunset Lodge Studios in Los Angeles, California. The short EP features four tracks: "Swagger", "Song for the Girl", "Wild Orphan", and "Homesick". The Vox Jaguars' second version of "Swagger" has been popular among college students, and has received a good deal of airplay on university and public radio stations.

The Vox Jaguars have written about twenty original songs, although only five of them appear on their CD's. The Vox Jaguars are currently signed to Anodyne Records and have a small cult following.

List of songs

Can't Find Love in the Newspaper (unreleased)
Dead Man (unreleased)
Dilettante (unreleased)
Frail (Out of Luck 2007)
Good As Gone (Out of Luck 2007)
Homesick (Powerhouse 2009)
Lost (unreleased)
Marble Hearts (unreleased)
Metropolis (Out of Luck 2007)
Nevertheless (unreleased)
Nonsense (unreleased)
Song for the Girl (Powerhouse 2009)
Swagger version 1 (Out of Luck 2007)
Swagger version 2 (Powerhouse 2009)
Swift Street (unreleased)
Wild Orphan (Powerhouse 2009)
Terrorize (unreleased)
White Wolf Eyes (unreleased)
Without Your Holster (unreleased)

Hiatus

As of the fall of 2009, the Vox Jaguars are on indefinite hiatus as band members temporarily pursue other goals in music, work and education.

Mason - A Quantum Visionary - Bright Stone - Vox Chupacabra. Is currently studying music at Cabrillo College
Trevor - The Inciters - Vox Chupacabra. Still resides in Santa Cruz
Jordan - Mainland - Residing in New York City, Studying at The City University of New York
Sam is studying music at Michigan State University
Justin is a graduate at Portland State University
Noah is studying at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. He is currently playing self-written songs in his dorm room

References