 Indian Jewelry INDIAN JEWELRY has toured and recorded as NTX+ELECTRIC, TURQUOISE DIAMONDS, the CORPSES of WACO, and the PERPETUAL WAR PARTY BAND. We come from the SWARM of ANGELS. At various times the group has included Erika Thrasher (sympathizer, guitar, & vox) Brandon Davis (guitar) Rodney Rodriguez (drums) Jimi Hey (ozark percussion) Michael Belfer (guitar) Abi Cohen (pandemonium) Candice Vincent (saxophone) Leslie Keffer (static) Nic Barbeln (vox) Rosalinda Gonzalez (violin) Don Bolles (drums) Margeaux Cigainero (guitar) Andrew Scott (guitar) Donna Huanca (drums) Pete Czechvala (saxophone) Bryce Martin (drums) Kim System (electro) Anna Bechtol (drums) Ken Consumer (electronics/gongs) Bobby Deeds (electronics) Domokos (projecting gongs/feather axe) Mary Mary (why you buggin') Travis (war rattles) J-Morrison (ghostworm) Squeaky (pizazz) Ralf Armin (starmaker/saxophone) Chad Colehower/Sequential Sheik (sequential circuits) Nathan + Ben + Russ + Weber (havocking)  The Vox Jaguars At the Edge of Bold Begotten Fame Written by Dylan Travis Wednesday, 14 November 2007 Having mastered a swagger beyond their years, the local teenaged quartet Vox Jaguars has indie labels swooning Who says rock is dead in Santa Cruz? Certainly not the girl who chases after the scrawny, grinning frontman for the Vox Jaguars, Jordy Topf, as he arrives for an interview. “Get away! Creeper,” he shouts, pleased with the attention. Swooning high school girls aren’t the only fans the Jaguars are contending with these days. The local quartet (made up of Topf, Trevor Hope, Mason Rosenberg, and Sam Copperman) was recently name checked by experimental L.A. rockers No Age in a Pitchfork feature as one of their “Favorite New Bands.” “We went and saw No Age play the Troubadour and it was a really amazing show,” Topf says. “We basically became friends with them, and they brought these guys from Deerhunter to our show in Glendale, which was pretty awesome because I had their record too. They watched us play and they were into it, I guess!” For this band of 17 to 19-year-old, mostly high school students (only drummer Trevor has graduated so far), the national acclaim is unexpected, but certainly warranted. The Vox Jaguars burst with exuberant, youthful energy at their live shows, handling roaring waves of garage-rock with the skill of bands that are ten years older. Their self-titled, self-released EP oozes with that magic combination of attitude and disinterest that catapulted groups like The Strokes to fame in the early part of the decade, and earlier recordings sound like an earnest, Third/Sisterlovers-era Alex Chilton fronting the Modern Lovers. “I think the songs Jordy wrote before Mason and I were in the band are a lot more raw and straight-up rock and roll,” Hope says, “and once we started writing with Jordy it got a bit different.” Topf adds, “We just broadened our influences, we all listen to so much music. But we still stick to the rock and roll, because that’s how it started.” Sticking to their rock influences (Topf is a fan of Velvet Underground’s cacophonous White Light/White Heat) is what they do best—this is no Strokes-lite indie outfit. Much of the Vox Jaguars’ success has come about as a result of touring, which might have been a logistical nightmare without the help of Topf’s stepfather, who shared driving duties. “Neither of these fools have driver’s permits” says Trevor, gesturing at his bandmates and seeming a bit miffed at the prospect of driving them around on another tour. Bassist Mason Rosenberg also remembers the negative aspects of life on the road. “Probably the worst show was at the Scene in LA,” he says. “There were probably about three people there, including John who drove us.” However, a musician’s life seems to be destiny for these four; indie labels have already come knocking with offers of European releases and tours. The band is keeping clear heads and realistic goals about it all. “I just want to have people come to our shows every night and love the music, and know all the words, and I guess respect what we’re doing” Topf says. They’re well on their way with songs like “Metropolis” that are full of smart hooks that belie their age. “Your heart is a crowded metropolis,” Topf sneers, devoid of the naïveté you might expect from a 17-year-old songwriter. A proper release is on the way as well. “I’m just stoked on writing new songs right now and we’re planning on recording an album sometime next year,” Trevor says. “I just want to work hard on it and make sure we do the best that we can do. When we release that, we’ll just see what happens and hopefully play a lot more shows.” When asked if they’d drop out of high school if they get signed, Topf responds with a smile and a resounding “yeah!” Rosenberg, a senior, is a bit reticent. “I’m almost done,” he admits. “But yeah, touring Europe might be cool.” |
