By: Gregory Spektor — 8/27/2008

"If you go far enough you will discover new material and people don’t realize it."

Rarely do you see a new Jam Band emerge on the scene that has the chemistry that this band has. It's something you either have or you don't and more often than not a band will casually meander their way into a jam break and completely fall apart. After all, a jam band is only as good as their jamming. For a group this young (only forming in May of 2008) the guys of Roy Hobbs Agenda portray a band that has "IT". Like they've been doing this together for years. There is only one thing on their agenda and that is making good music. Where other groups fall apart they triumph and leave you with a feeling that all is right in the world. I can breath easier because music is good again. Wicked bass lines accompanied by even more massive guitar riffs topped off with some of the baddest keyboard playing that I haven't heard come from the speakers in a long time. The Breadbox Band is over and gone. The torch has officially been passed. Be blindsided. Listen to the Roy Hobbs Agenda.

We caught up with Jordan Simms (keys) from the Roy Hobbs Agenda the night they rocked out The Donegal Saloon.

Greg Specktor: So you were in the Breadbox Band before this one. How long did you play with those guys?

Jordan Simms: Yes I was; spent three years with those guys

GS: What happened with that? Why did you end splitting ways?

JS: I’ll be honest with you. Actually me and the drummer are from the Breadbox Band and it really wasn’t an option of leaving, truth of the matter is, we came to a road where we were 5 years together and 3 years I was with them. Just came to a point where people just cant get along and if you're not having fun anymore and you know some people think they can do it better than others and it becomes a matter of egos and the chemistry has got to be perfect for it to work well and you know one of them decided to call it quits and other one just kind of went with them and ill be honest I was the last guy who wanted it to happen. But you know I guess everything happens for a reason and I love those guys and I truly respect everything they brought me but I don’t think this would have happened if it wasn’t for that. So, I guess it was a blessing in disguise. Still I owe them for the door so I appreciate that.

GS: Did the tensions between the group come out through your music and performances?

JS: That was the sad thing about it. It wasn’t coming through the music. Towards the end we stopped talking and the only time we talked was on stage and I don’t know if it was anger or if it was happiness but it definitely didn’t affect the music which was the most confusing thing to us and the fan base.

GS: How’d the current members of Roy Hobbs Agenda get together?

JS: Me and the drummer, as I mentioned, are from the Breadbox Band. The bass player, Brian Gallo, is from my first band when I was in San Francisco. Sean played bass in a band called Natural Breakdown. They sort of parted ways and Sean and I walked into a jam session one night and we were like “yo dude what are you doing?”, and then four of us got together. I always say this phrase like I don’t want to say it, but it was magic and sometimes things just feel right. Put Sean on the guitar, and Brian stays on bass and that's pretty much how it happened and we’ve been fooling around for about four months? So its been good and it was a miracle the way everyone walked into the right place at the right time.

GS: How would you explain RHA's new sound?

JS: I can’t explain it…Of course we’re a jam band and like I said before, it gives you an excuse to play everything. But we definitely believe in the song; we’re definitely a song-oriented band. Understand that you still need that three or four minute song to go on the radio and do all those things. But to describe us I really feel that we’re just a jam-funk; yet song-oriented project altogether.

GS: And you write all of the songs?

JS: I write a lot of the newer stuff, we also take a lot from my first band's catalogue, which Den Elkins wrote a bunch of. It’s a combination of the things we wrote in our old band and the new material that I’m writing right now.

GS: So what about you? How did you get your start in music?

JS: I’ve always played the piano. When I was a kid I don’t think I watched cartoons. Instead I sat down at the piano. I didn’t take any lessons or anything. I just began by sitting down trying to recreate what I was hearing on the radio

GS: Does Roy Hobbs Agenda plan on getting into the studio anytime in the near future?

JS: We realize that you need a product; if you don’t have a product you can’t sell anything. If you don’t have a product and can’t sell anything you cant make any money. So yea, were thinking about going in November.

GS: Where do you see the Music industry heading?

JS: It’s a dirty business, not the way it used to be. No one’s selling CD’s anymore, its impossible. So the thing about the music business is getting into other media: video games, commercials, etc. The benefit of being in a jam band especially in the music industry is that it’s all about the live shows. You know they’re not going to buy a CD because you can get anything now from the computer from anybody you want for free so as long as it gets heard that’s all that were worried about right now.

GS: So you’re just having fun with it?

JS: It’s a business don’t get me wrong. You take care of your business but we still have fun but I understand its not like it was in 1962. The music industry is hurting right now but I haven’t given up hope on it yet.

GS: What was your reaction when you found out that you were the number one jam band on jambands.com?

JS: Holy crap!(laughs) Can you quote that? That jam band title means so much and it was a humbling experience. The main thing we got from that was that we’re going to go out there tonight and do what we do and not to let you down. It just made us not want to let anyone down because it took the people, the fans, and our friends to vote for us and make that happen so it’s humbling all around, we just go out there and try not to let anyone down on any night whatsoever.

GS: So let’s talk a little bit more about the jam scene, how does a lot of the band’s inspiration come about?

JS: Basically there’s the chorus and then there’s the solo and that’s where the jam thing comes in. Its trusting everyone on stage, its knowing that if someone’s doing it that night and they want to lead then let them take that and its all about just following everyone else and fresh stuff don’t come out until 15 minutes later. That’s the most amazing part about the jam scene if you go far enough you will discover new material and people don’t realize it. If you go 15 minutes into a jam without giving up that’s when the good stuff will come out. You always have this perception of what should sound right in your head. But its about trusting each other, it really is, its really about going out there with no net and having that feeling of letting loose with not just one leader. Whoever is in that moment let them take it.

GS: What are some of your biggest influences in music?

JS: First of all the 60’s and 70’s, they taught us almost everything we needed. The 60’s and 70’s taught me what I needed to use correctly, I’m also a huge Bob Marley fan.

GS: Finally what tip do you have for someone who’s trying to learn to play guitar like you?

JS: Just do it you know? Guitar is a great one because there’s acoustics. So listen, I know people like to sit on their couch and watch TV do whatever they want to do, just put a guitar on your lap. That’s it. It’s the most portable blessing there it just put a guitar on your lap. Just sit there and stay at it and play everything that you love. It doesn’t come in two days, it doesn’t come in a week, it doesn’t come in a year, just stay at it and don’t give up. I mean I almost did or else this day would have never come so don’t give up.