On September 29th, Deeper Blues welcomed James Jones to the stage for the very first time. Of course, we had to have our first gig with James behind the drum kit at the place where it all started - Charlotte's Cafe, right here in Danville.

And, no, the similarity in last names is not a coincidence. James is the 18-year old son of Deeper Blues guitarist Gary Jones. "You have to know that his mom and I are way beyond proud about this," Gary says. "This just takes the whole thing even deeper, and I didn't think that was possible!"

While most folks know James as a guitarist and bassist, he started on drums at the tender age of three years old. By the time he was six, he was playing a professional level kit his parents and their friends had assembled for the young prodigy. Now, James just kills at guitar (acoustic, electric and classical) and bass (fretted, fretless and upright). But drums were his first love, and he still loves throwing down the beat to this day.

So... no sooner had James passed his audtion - with flying colors, we might add (and, yes, Gary and Lane made him audition for the throne just as they'd do with anyone else), than the band realized the first gig had to be at their regular stomping grounds, complete with Bubba and Rob back on the Grill, and Mama Chris holding court off one side of the stage. Charlotte's was where the band started, after all, and it was Chris that convinced Lane to put a band together in the first place. So, even though the band had already closed the season at the end of August, Dave and Verna agreed to do a one-off Saturday special event.

The only hitch was this - the gig would be in less than three weeks!!!

No pressure there, right? So, James was initiated in a serious Trial by Fire. Below are a few pictures from James' first show as well as a few from a quick photo shoot the band did a few days ago.

ALL the regulars showed up to check out the band's new drummer. The band packed the house all summer long, and still the crowd for this show set a record. Although the rumors flew, the band didn't say a word until show time. And, boy, was everyone surprised!

Look at the grin on Lane's face. "I grinned and laughed and smiled my way through
the entire show!" he says. "I had the time of my life!" As for the new feel, Lane adds,
"It's incredible. He's as intuitive in his Blues as someone who's been doing it for decades.
There's an Old School Grease that's effortless."

Father and son throw down. "Do you have any idea how cool this is for me?" asks
Gary rhetorically. "I look over at my rhythm section and it's the brother I should have
had, and my son - my pride and joy. "

Now that the band is focusing on the upcoming release of its first CD, Dig the Hole,
the shows are comprised of mostly originals, with just a few favorite covers thrown in
for fun. And a good thing, too, according to Lane. "Once we got James' first show
under his belt, we started a writing spree of sorts. In the past month, we've added
half a dozen new songs, with a few more coming. The best thing is that all but two
are cowrites. And it's added immensely to the whole thing."

Here's a shot from a recent photo shoot.