Hayshaker Jones was formed in 1999 as a songwriting outlet for Clint Holley. He was drawn to the beauty and simplicity of classic country songwriting as well as embracing roots based rock artists like Neil Young and the Rolling Stones.
Those influences combined to make Hayshaker Jones and the results turned out to be "The Neon Years" the first recorded effort by the band.
The Cleveland Scene said this about the record:
"Unlike countless No Depression romantics, however, Hayshaker Jones deserves the comparison that its sound immediately recalls -- Gram Parsons, a figure of country cool second to none.Like that brilliant and doomed inventor of amped-up Americana, these music-biz veterans obviously love traditional country without negating their debt to its kissing cousin, rock and roll. So if the opener, "Nowhere to Go," immediately recalls Parsons circa 1970, it also recalls Buck Owens circa 1962, back when he was being lambasted for injecting too much Chuck Berry into the Grand Ol' Opry sound."
Current members of Hayshaker Jones are:
Clint Holley - Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica
Singing and writing songs about heartbreak, loss and regret, Clint Holley brings a level of commitment and passion to Hayshaker Jones that many bands never achieve. Born in Chicago and raised in Dallas, Texas and Cleveland, Ohio, Clint has called the Midwest his home for more than 20 years and the experience has had a profound impact on his singing and writing style.
Amy Primiano - Vocals
Ever since she saw her uncle’s western swing band playing at the county fair in her hometown of New Castle, Pennsylvania, Amy knew singing was what she wanted to do when she grew up. As a young girl she was told she couldn’t "carry a tune in a bucket", but this daughter of a truck driver and a gospel-singing hairdresser worked hard to develop her big voice. After moving to Cleveland in the 1990s, Amy fronted the rockabilly band, the Haydevils, and the swing/jump blues band, the Swagger Kings. Both bands performed all over the country and saw moderate success. Amy brings a sultry, torch-and-twang kind of voice that lends itself well to Hayshaker Jones’ honky-tonk tearjerkers and country classics.
Bob Basone - Bass
Widely unknown everywhere (hardly!), newest member Bob Basone solidly complements the Hayshaker Jones rhythm section. Known from such projects as the Chan Alamuchy Trio, the Walking Clampetts and most recently the Pat Sweeney Band, Bob is a master of the six-string bass (though he only plays three strings!)
Jon Baughman - Lead Guitar
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, guitarist Jon Baughman brings 15 years experience and a wide array of influences to Hayshaker Jones. Inspired by David Gilmour and Jimmy Page to pick up a guitar, Jon would eventually come to absorb a variety of musical styles including punk, jazz, country, blues, and early rock n roll. A firm believer in the “less is more†approach, Jon works hard to make every note count.
Frank Matrka - Pedal Steel
Frank is without a doubt the most elusive and mysterious member of Hayshaker Jones. When asked about his backround he just smiles and says "All I know is that I am happy to be here." He claims to have actually met Hayshaker Jones in Windsor, Ontario, during one of his frequent strip club visits, but of course has no pictures to prove it.
View Hayshaker Jonesat Emugga.com
