Tijuana Hercules profile picture

Tijuana Hercules

THE ALMANACK OF BAD LUCK" out in 2008

About Me

A head-bobbing dose of greasy blues-rock. -CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

The bad boys of dirt soul. GARAGE AND BEAT

Dirty, raw, gutter-blues belted out with the last gasps of desperation that shine like gold. HORIZONTAL ACTION

Holy Roller gospel, and jacked-up wax-cylinder folk. THE CHICAGO READER

Junkyard Blues rawk that sounds like Fat Albert's band on black tar heroin. Ugly good. -ROCTOBER

Tijuana Hercules are graduates of the Bo Diddley School of Primal Rock. -CHICAGO SUN-TIMES

Imagine a hobo gone mental then he steps foot in a saloon and declares his need for mass tequila. -SHREDDING PAPER

The trio's horn-fueled Southern burlesque and wicked minimalist blues exude gruff, punch-drunk charm while maintaining utmost respect for the past. TIME OUT NEW YORK

These guys sound as though their hearts pump pure arsenic, mad, bad, and dangerous to know. I-94 BAR

Tijuana Hercules sound like they've taken in a lot of dust, mold and mildew while digging through poorly lit hock shops and junk stores searching for Chess records. SMASHIN' TRANSISTORS

Like the grimy grease monkey who serves as gatekeeper to the salvage yard - finger nails, jeans and mustache all blackened with oil from a lifetime of manhandling dead motors - Tijuana Hercules revels in filth. -FLAGPOLE

The Chicago trio Tijuana Hercules specializes in a raw brand of swamp shake, rattle and rockabilly. John Vernon Forbes sets his gravel pit of a voice against a frenetic backwoods stomp and dirty, fuzzed-out garage rock guitar licks. THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Deeply rooted in blues, with a bit of greasy psychobilly and just a smidgen of Louisiana voodoo shake, these cats are raw. -NEW CITY CHICAGO

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 10/13/2005
Band Members: A rotating cast depending on availability & mental stability. John Vernon Forbes- vocals, guitars, piano, organ, & bass Brendan Murphy- drums, percussion, & kettle drums Alan Scalpone- trumpet & percussion Dan "Mojo" Mojonnier- trombone & percussion Gary Camaro- harmonica & percussion Velcro Lewis- percussion, electronic didley bow, & jaw harp Greg Norman- trombone & percussion Lawrence Peters- electric washboard & brushed snare drum James Porter- harmonica Halden Spoonwood- bass
Influences: The greazy dark parts of American music
Sounds Like: “Tijuana Hercules sound like they button up their jacket the best they can when walking into that north wind coming off the lakeshore after the bad ideas of siphoning gas out of a gypsy cab. They've got the caustic burn stinging their pores and the bitter cold bite slapping their face. Parched and cracking they sound beaten and worn but ready to kill any drunkard who blocks the doorway.” –Smashin’ Transistors
Record Label: Black Pisces, Original Sound, Who-Hey
Type of Label: Major

My Blog

JVF penned article in Spain’s MOFO! magazine

In issue 3 of MOFO! (out of Barcelona, Sp), JVF has an article. The magazine is cool as shit, and I'm always greatful that they publish me. To get in touch, email either www.mofozine.com or info@mofoz...
Posted by Tijuana Hercules on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:58:00 PST

New album mixed & sequenced

The new album has finally been mixed & sequenced. The feeling is that of a 105 pound woman that just gave birth to a 300 pound gorilla. Or make that a bonobo.
Posted by Tijuana Hercules on Fri, 29 Feb 2008 05:48:00 PST

New album tracked

The new TH album has been tracked. All that is left is a few tweakings & knob turnings. It's 12 songs long & someone is bound to get pregnant along the way.& now the list of participants begins;John F...
Posted by Tijuana Hercules on Sat, 15 Dec 2007 04:30:00 PST

TH scratch video on medicinefilms.com

John Seden posted a scratch video he did for the Tijuana Hercules' song "Down In The Bottom Lines" on www.medicinefilms.com. There's crazy animation, acid-fried street vendors & dinosaurs, & monster t...
Posted by Tijuana Hercules on Sat, 25 Aug 2007 02:27:00 PST

SXSW Review from Evil Sponge

PostLibyan: We left before they were done because we had a 13 block trek to Molotov to see the next act, EvilSponge favorites Tijuana Hercules. It has been many years since we saw John Forbes and his ...
Posted by Tijuana Hercules on Mon, 16 Apr 2007 06:59:00 PST

TH music now digital

Tijuana Hercules has hooked up with the Who-Hey label to make our music available digitally. Check out www.iodalliance.com.
Posted by Tijuana Hercules on Mon, 02 Apr 2007 11:19:00 PST