Casey Jones
By Lys Mayo
Who would have expected a side project to take the world of hardcore by storm? Casey Jones sure didn’t. What began as merely another outlet for members of Evergreen Terrace along with a few close friends to express themselves and have some fun soon became much more. Three records and nine years later, Casey Jones are calling it quits.
“Man, it would be really fun to start a really simplistic, fast, punk, hardcore, straightedge band,” says vocalist Josh James, recalling a conversation with original bassist Josh Smith back in 2003. Casey Jones had no visions of grandeur nine years ago. No world tours, probably not even any records. But as the buzz around their hometown, Jacksonville, FL, grew to a roar and they began selling out of merch and running out of free demos, they decided to take it to the next level.
In that time, Casey Jones felt there were no strong straightedge bands spreading the message. This was largely a driving force. They had a lot to say to those who wanted to hear it.
“We wanted the band to have a main focus for what we all collectively stood for,” says James, referring to their straightedge lifestyle.
Although Casey Jones was never a main focus for its members, they were able to squeeze in Europe a few times, most of the U.S., and Australia. Not bad for a side project.
The final tour beginning this January, a package with No Bragging Rights, Death Before Dishonor, and Hundredth, will bring Casey Jones to Canada for the first time. In addition to Toronto and Montreal, the band’s goal for this tour is to hit not only their favorite U.S. cities, but the ones they have never had a chance to play.
Looking back at their days on the road, James reminiscences in the places that he feels gave them their best shows; Germany, Australia, Vegas, Nashville, Southern California, and Columbia, South Carolina. However, their life as a band hasn’t always been just fun and games.
As many things are, the final record released in 2011, I Hope We’re Not the Last, was the best and worst experience for the band.
“We had the record completely written, and we were supposed to record it under Eulogy Records,” says James. Unfortunately, not everything went as planned with the company and James was forced to self-release the album a year later.
“One of the biggest highlights of the band ended up being able to self-release an album and actually get a good reaction out of it and seeing that our existing fans still cared about it and that new kids are really pumped on it,” says James.
James also recalls the best and worst of their road adventures.
“After the fourth show, our van broke down every single day,” says James, describing the ten-day tour from hell. A three-ring circus ensued as the band shuffled members in and out of vehicles trying to make it to each show. Unfortunately, this circus was anything but fun-filled. After throwing money into various parts and repairs, the escapade ended with a towing company wrapping the chain around the gas tank, ripping it open. This was the inspiration for “Birdman Got Hit by a Trolley” off of I Hope We’re Not the Last.
Despite the inevitable lows of tour, Casey Jones aimed to make each trip one to remember. One summer they made a set of rules; You’re not allowed to eat unless it’s free, you’re not allowed to bathe unless it’s in a natural body of water, and you can’t sleep at anyone’s house unless you’re approached by them with an invitation. They stuck it out for the entire month.
Unlike most bands, the demise of Casey Jones is not a negative one. As they grow older, life happens. Although it was the lack of pressure and “just for kicks” attitude that kept Casey Jones around for as long as they were, there is simply no time for it these days. Josh James and brother Caleb James (drums) will turn their attention back to Evergreen Terrace, while the other three will pursue their careers. One works at a Mayo Clinic studying cures for Alzheimer’s and another is getting his Master’s in Biology at Boston University. These guys don’t mess around.
Casey Jones will be hitting both coasts and everywhere in between starting this coming January, so keep a look out for the date near you. This will be your only chance to score a vinyl of I Hope We’re Not the Last.
“By the end of the tour, who knows if half the band will even survive it,” says James. This will be one for the record books.
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