Year: 2015

 Power Pop and: ‘60s Classic Pop and Modern Indie Rock

 To summarize: The Junior League is songwriter/multi-instrumentalist Joe Adragna, from New Orleans. With a little help from some famous friends he made Also Rans. And what a record he made! Something old, something new, something borrowed something blue and it all sounds so beautiful. Besides the quality of the songs it’s that sound that makes this one stand out.

Best Track(s): On/Off

Status: Really really good

What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?

There is a point in almost every recording, usually when you are doing the over dubs and my work is mostly done and I get to hear the tracks blasting back in the control room and it sounds great and you are just so excited with how the songs are turning out. On this record  it was when Jim was laying down the guitars on “Baby I Want You”, I was on cloud nine. I had been living with that song for so many years and to finally hear it in a big studio was awesome!

If we want to know you, which song do we have to listen to? And why?

I guess “I Need My Rock N Roll” because it talks about how I got into this whole thing of playing and writing rock n roll songs, been loving it since I was a kid!

The music industry has changed a lot (or so they say). What did it bring you? And what not?

Jeeze, the record business has changed a whole ton since I started (pre-internet!) Fortunately now I am totally DIY. That means I pretty much do everything myself. I like that because you get to do what you want and not what someone else tells you to do. I got a lot of benefits from the business when I was younger and we were signed to Sony Records and we had Bill Graham Management. They got my name out worldwide and that helped a lot but we weren’t really a major label kind of band, so in the end they didn’t know what to do with us! I had a lot of fun though being a young pop star!

 Who is the best musician in the world nobody has heard of yet? And why will this change very soon?

I don’t know but he or she better get out and start playing!

She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mixed tape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?

Twist & Shout – The Beatles

Just What I Needed – The Cars

Road Runner – Jonathan Richmond

In The City – The Jam

Come a Little Bit Closer – Jay and the Americans

What’s up for the next couple of months?

Just put together a rocking new band here in NY so I am going to play shows all over the east coast! Playing The Cake Shop with The Mean Jeans (Portland), hopefully going to Boston to play with The Lyres, stuff like that! Also writing songs for the next record! Keep on rocking folks!

Read the other Passports

Photo: Michael Carpenter

What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?

JH: Without a question, the best part was Living on Bondi Beach during the recording of “Joy Acid Pact”, after coming back from the studio deep inside Sydney, early in the morning, then getting to the Beach! Incredible!!

If we want to know you, which song do we have to listen to? And why?

JH: Good question, from the first album, “New Bondi Hippies”, “My Girls Random”, because all in all, I am power pop all the way, and this song soars, is intricate, and still rocks out, which is at the root of everything I do. I love my psychedelic tendencies, and even somber lyrical content now and then, but deep down as I express myself, I am a happy soul, and this song is a lifter.

The music industry has changed a lot (or so they say). What did it bring you? And what not?

JH: When I started out, the only way to get your music out was consignment in the record stores, or at live gigs. Now? I sell more records and merchandise via internet, then physical cd or vinyl product, 10 to 1. It amazes me, still. If there was a problem with this new frontier, it would be the near impossibility of standing out over the millions of other artists. So, I try to be a step ahead, but I’m always learning new tricks from younger artists coming up. Brilliant stuff!

Who is the best musician in the world nobody has heard of yet? And why will this change very soon?

JH: ‘Never heard of yet’ is doubtful, but the most amazing musician in my eyes is Mr. Michael Carpenter from Sydney Australia, a WORLD class drummer, a stylistic Bassist, a really fantastic Guitarist, and a hell of a piano player. I have never met anyone who can play EVERYTHING so well. MC blows me away, and…………..he’s a fantastic guy.

She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mixed tape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?

JH: Shelter Song TEMPLES /// Anemone BRIAN JONESTOWN MASSACRE /// Here Without You BYRDS /// I Got You STONE TEMPLE PILOTS /// Summertime ZOMBIES

What’s up for the next couple of months?

JH: I am going to be starting the third Album in Mexico City, and shooting a video for the same project over the next few months, with trips to Orlando, and Los Angeles for the same purposes, all in all ending up in Sydney once more, because I can’t live without that beach!!