If I were to compile a list of things liable to end a band, it would probably look a lot like the Jet City Fix’s life over the last five years. Official breakups? Check. Marriages and maturation? Check. Armed Services enlistment and a trip to boot camp for the lead singer? Amazingly enough, check.
Yes, the Jet City journey, which started way back in 2002, has been a wild one — but throughout it all a couple things have remained comfortably steadfast.
Number one: Despite the fact the band has had its fair share of drama in the past, Justin and Ty McDonald, Shane Flauding and Dana Sims are all still rock ‘n’ roll possessed friends — and they always will be.
Number two: Fans of rock eat this shit up.
So, it should come as no surprise to see the Jet City Fix name back on show flyers around town. This Friday, Sept. 11, the band will play a Funky Monkey, 104.9 FM sponsored show at Hell’s Kitchen with Point Defiance, Weight of the World and Vista Switch. Eight days later the Jet City Fix will support Schoolyard Heroes at an all ages show also at Hell’s Kitchen on Saturday, Sept. 19.
For lack of a more original way of looking at things, Jet City is back rocking and it’s about time. (Sorry, I had to.)
“We’ve kind of established with each other that this band will never die,” says Justin McDonald, Jet City Fix’s bassist and the brother of guitarist Ty McDonald. “This band will always be around. You just can’t kill it.”
While no one in particular has specifically tried to kill the Jet City Fix, the same can’t be said for circumstance — which, in recent history at least, seems to have a vendetta against the band. First, there was the breakup — which left one full-length, Jack Endino recorded record on the back burner, and an EP in the same boat — recorded, waiting, but with nowhere to go.
Second, lead singer Shane Flauding — yes, the guy who penned the lyrics of the Jet City Fix song “The Life” — enlisted in the National Guard, recently returning after half a year at boot camp. Justin McDonald says Flauding has a job at the National Guard recruiting office in Seattle these days — and as long as he’s around fans can expect the Jet City Fix to be active.
“We’re going to start hitting it hard,” says McDonald — revealing the band plans to release the Endino recorded full length that’s been on the shelf since 2004 by the end of the year, and an EP of material also previously recorded — titled Memoirs of Misadventure — shortly thereafter.
According to McDonald, Jet City Fix will then turn its attention to an album of all new material, which the band started working on while Flauding was at boot camp. That effort should be available in the first half of 2010.
“There’s a lot of music that’s about to be released,” says McDonald, who also says the older Jet City Fix material that will soon be unveiled for the first time on record “holds up to anything of today.”
“It’s probably a better time for it now than it was five years ago.”
Before any of this, though — the new records and the reignited drive — Jet City Fix will take to the stage in Tacoma on Friday, a scene they know all too well. And just like anything in life, when Jet City plugs in for the fist pumping masses, there’ll be things that have stayed the same and things that have changed — including the faces in the crowd. While McDonald is adamant that it doesn’t make him feel old, many of the all agers that cut their Tacoma rock teeth on the Jet City Fix will be back — this time with beer in hand.
“It’s pretty much the same,” says McDonald of the Jet City Fix’s chemistry. “A case of beer doesn’t stand a chance between us.
“We’ve always had a huge all ages following. A lot of those kids are 21 and 22 years old now. Now they can all have a beer with us.”
[Hell’s Kitchen, Point Defiance with the Jet City Fix, Weight of the World, Vista Switch, Friday, Sept. 11, 9 p.m., $5, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]
[Hell’s Kitchen, Schoolyard Heroes with the Jet City Fix, Black Houses, Starstruck, Saturday, Sept. 19, 5 p.m., $10, all ages, 3829 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, 253.759.6003]