The Josh Christina Band puts a new flavor to an iconic sound
When The Josh Christina Band (consisting of Josh Christina on lead vocals and piano, Mike Kufel on backup vocals and drums, Jack Bennett on backup vocals and bass guitar and Zach Sweeney on guitar) hit the stage at 4pm on September 29th at the JV Restaurant; Josh will be playing his style of “pop ‘n’ roll” music that pays tribute to icons like Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elton John, and adds his own new flavor to it.
He has recorded with two-time Grammy award winner Jon Carroll, played all over the world and credits a Disney moving for introducing him to Elvis Presley, when he was seven years old, for forging his style of music.
Vizions of Rock caught up with Josh for a one on one interview.
Vizions of Rock: Where did the name come from and why?
Josh Christina: I had started out in a country band called Josh and Good Old Stuff. I wanted to start doing more variety and less country a few years ago so it just made sense to change it to The Josh Christina Band.
Vizions of Rock: How did the band get together and how long have you been together?
Josh Christina: I’ve been playing out since 2011 but the band has had many personnel changes. Currently, Jack has been with the band three years, Zach a little over two years and Mike about a year and a half.
Vizions of Rock: Who are your influences?
Josh Christina: My top four influences would be Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Jerry Lee Lewis and Elton John. Elvis is what started the whole thing for me and that lead me to Jerry Lee, where I picked up piano and then Chuck who influenced me to start writing. Elton was the most recent and he really impacted me on several levels with my playing, writing, performing.
Vizions of Rock: Musicians like Elvis, Little Richard and Jerry Lee Lewis were popular in mainstream music a half a century ago, what drew you to their music and why do you think their music has lasted the test of time?
Josh Christina: I got turned on to them when I was about 7 and saw the Disney movie “Lilo and Stitch”. It had a bunch of Elvis music in it. I just loved that raw sound. Later, when I found Chuck Berry and Little Richard and all, same thing. There’s something about that 50’s era that just really produced some legends.
Vizions of Rock: How did the evolution of your music come together?
Josh Christina: Just through continuing to play, perform and write. I think that’s how all the great’s have done it. Just by doing it consistently and keep working on ways to improve it.
Vizions of Rock: How does your song come together, where do you get your inspiration and what is the creative process like?
Josh Christina: Usually I write about what I see or hear around me. I’ll hear something catchy or see something that I think would be a good song subject. I’ll write the chorus first and then build around that. That’s not always how it works, but most times it is.
Vizions of Rock: As a young man you made your 3rd album in Memphis at the Sam Phillips Recording Studio with some very established individuals in the music scene, what was that experience like for you, can you describe the creative process, and did they give you any career advice?
Josh Christina: It was awesome! I got to play a piano Jerry Lee recorded on, we used a room mic from way back at Sun Records. The album was titled “Instincts” and was produced by myself and two time Grammy award winner, Jon Carroll (Starland Vocal Band). We co-wrote the title track together. It’s one of my favorite projects I’ve done. Everything was live and recorded the old fashion way.
Vizions of Rock: What is the genre of your music and what you’re trying to communicate with it?
Josh Christina: I’m sure my music fits into a contemporary genre right now. If I had my own you may call it pop ‘n’ roll. It’s got a lot of older elements in it but has a new flavor to it. I’m really just making music I love and wanting people to hear it and get it out there. I’m not sure there’s really any message to it.
Vizions of Rock: What is the creative process like for your music videos?
Josh Christina: So far, I’ve only done one music video for “Let’s Get Woke”. Our basic goal for the video was to give it a kinda old school vibe with people dancing around the band with the band in the middle. There’s an old Jerry Lee Lewis video from England that’s like that and we drew from that a bit.
Vizions of Rock: Do you have a booking agent, who handles your touring?
Josh Christina: No agent yet. We do most of our bookings and tour scheduling ourselves.
Vizions of Rock: What is on the horizon for the future?
Josh Christina: Looking at doing another single and music video and just keep moving forward. That’s one thing about the music business, if you want to make it, you have to keep moving forward and can’t give up.
Vizions of Rock: How can we find you music?
Josh Christina: www.joshchristinamusic.com
JV’s Restaurant - 6666 Arlington Blvd, Falls Church, VA 22042 - (703.241.9504)
