New York, NY (Top40 Charts) Fueled by the sheer power of human connection, The J.O.B. is a band from Richmond, Virginia that is on a mission: to touch the lives of everyday people with their music. The band's founders, Jim O'Ferrell and Jason Crawford, originally met in 2007 in between O'Ferrell's deployments from the war in Iraq while searching for a lead guitar to play his music. Without hesitation, Crawford knew this was something he wanted to be a part of. However, time was of the essence, as the war was calling O'Ferrell back to action. Putting all of their energy into the music in the short time given, the two recorded an EP, Stranger, in two days. Despite coming from different musical backgrounds, and one of them in combat from continents away, the two never lost the desire to embark on this creative endeavor. A year later, in 2008, O'Ferrell was back from the war for good. With a new reality and perspective that only a soldier can have, he had a list of experiences just waiting to be turned into something more, and that is when The J.O.B. put their musical vehicle in drive.
The two-piece band began looking for other musicians to fill in the spaces. Drummer Eric Bandy joined the band in 2014 after auditioning and sweeping away all other candidates. Bandy learned the entire 30-song live show setlist in time to tour just two weeks later. In 2016, The J.O.B. discovered bassist Jared Merrill. As the youngest member, Merrill brings a new expertise and fresh energy into the band. He also brought another singing voice that they had been without for several years, adding a new, rich texture to the vocals. A multi-instrumentalist, Jared's addition was the final step in their music development and completes the well-rounded sound that The J.O.B. has today.
The love of music and performing is the catalyst that connected four people from four entirely different walks of life. As O'Ferrell says, "The band brought us all together, we weren't childhood friends sharing mix tapes in school." The chemistry between band members is undeniable, and their greatest hope is to share that and spread the comradery with anyone who sees them play. Many of the songs are inspired by the humble nature of the human heart, the souls of people O'Ferrell has met throughout life, and of the things he has seen in his time fighting for our country in the Army. The J.O.B. are storytellers, taking authentic human experiences and reflecting them like a mirror onto their audience. Giving a voice to those that may have buried their own somewhere deep inside, their music is a true companion that makes people's emotions relevant and meaningful. Every face in the crowd is an individual opportunity to form a bond. Performing live is where the rubber meets the road, and The J.O.B. travel at full speed while also taking time to appreciate every stop along the way. Their music portfolio includes five albums, three nationally charted songs, and scores of live performances ranging from saloons to festivals. Their newest album, Highway of Shadows, is out November 9.
No life journey is perfect, but having someone around to pick you up and put you on a new path can make the long, winding destination possible. O'Ferrell's bandmates did that for him, and The J.O.B. hopes to do that for others. O'Ferrell says, "I've been lucky, and I've been cursed. I've accomplished some great things and I've failed miserably. And now, I'm doing exactly what I wanted to do when I was 17 years old." The J.O.B. knows that there really is no loss in life, but that every ending is just a chance to start something new.
