A set from Jim Jones All-Stars recorded in the BBC Studios at Salford for Marc Riley of Riley and Co on October 13, 2025.
A bubbling swamp curse of unholy rhythm, Jim Jones All Stars is the latest project from garage godfather Jim Jones (Thee Hypnotics, The Jim Jones Revue). Formed during the pandemic, it features The Jim Jones Revue members Gavin Jay and Elliot Mortimer, drummer Chris Ellul from (The Heavy), veteran punk blues guitarist Carlton Mounsher (The Swamps), and a full horn section (Tenor Saxophonist Stuart Dace and Baritone Saxophonists Tom Hodges and Chuchi Malapersona).
Jim Jones All Stars are a journey to an alternative universe where punk never happened. They trade in the big band-infused pub rock that punk purportedly trampled into extinction in the mid-seventies. This is garage rock but fused with classic R’n’b. Think The Stooges covering the soundtrack to The Commitments and you are halfway there. Jim Jones made his name in the Thee Hypnotics, who repackaged MC5 for the brit pop generation. Since their demise, he has fronted various outfits that have tried to capture the frantic madness of brass-fuelled rock n’ roll.
Jim Jones All Stars are pure frenetic energy. There is nothing minimal or refined at play here. Every track is chock full of swing and swagger. It is wave after wave of good time boogie designed to bypass your grey matter and go straight down to the dancing feet. It is brilliantly executed with a searing combination of virtuoso musicianship and vaudeville show-personship. It also works as a perfect aperitif for an audience stealing themselves to bellow along to tracks that soundtracked their youth. Entertainingly erudite.
Here they are, as they appeared on Riley & Coe at BBC 6 Music on October 13th – Press Play and crank it up.
Special thanks to RockFlesh for the cool review of a recent gig. You get the picture.
