Zebras
When: 10 p.m. Jan. 8.
Where: Ole Tavern, Jackson.
Cost: Call for cover.
Who are they?: Don’t confuse this group with the singular New Orleans hard rock band Zebra. The Zebras of Madison, Wis., are far-removed from any of the common rock ’n’ roll tropes like Spandex and big hair.
The band plays loud, noisy and caustic art rock that’s somewhat of a throwback to the ’90s heyday of bands like The Jesus Lizard and Butthole Surfers.
The group is led by Vincent Presley, a fixture of the Madison scene in more than a dozen bands since 1995.
Zebras issued its debut album Parasitic Clones Under the Strong Arm of the Robotic Machine in 2008 on local record label Sector Five Records.
On the Web: www.myspace.com/slazebras.
Bon-Journey
When: 9 p.m. Jan. 8-9.
Where: Electric Cowboy, Jackson.
Cost: $10.
Who are they?: Judging by the pun-tastic name, you might think Bon-Journey is some sort of joke indie rock side project or something.
Wrong. The members of Pittsburgh tribute band Bon-Journey are dead serious about their mission: paying homage to the mighty ’80s bands Bon Jovi and Journey.
OK, so maybe they’re not so serious—how could you be performing such a seemingly random mash-up? Other than both bands having lead singers with vocal ranges no human man should be able to reach, what do they have in common?
In an 2007 feature on the group in the Pittsburgh City Paper when they were voted Best Tribute Band, Bon-Journey keyboardist Jeff Kolbfleisch explained that he read an article in which Journey vocalist Steve Perry criticized Bon Jovi for ripping off their style and sound, saying, “They might as well just call themselves Bon Journey.”
Kolbfleisch, who was already a member of a Journey tribute band, was looking to branch out, and the idea of a new act was born, thanks largely to Steve Perry’s vocal disdain.
Now Bon-Journey, together since 2006, are a highly sought-after band on the club circuit.
On the Web: www.bon-journey.com.
