Excitement in the familiar

Portland metal band JonnyX and the Groadies has a unique sound that is familiar to the Portland music community. With years of experience and a new album, The Upheaval on Titan, on the way, the band has a lot to be excited about. They can be easily noticed in a lineup if for nothing more than their creative names for the band as well as each member. The more than decade-old band has four members, all of whom use pseudonyms: JonnyX on vocals, Travis West on guitar and programming, Professor Romagna on master control and invisible_touch on bass.

“JonnyX and Travis met in 1995,” invisible¬_touch said. “Travis was the roadie for a band and was affectionately called ‘The Groadie.’ When they decided to start a band together, friends jokingly suggested the band be called ‘JonnyX and the Groadie.’ When more members were added it got pluralized…The first show was July 4, 1996, in Travis’ parents’ backyard. We went through several line-up changes but it has been solid since fall of 1999.”

Writing has taken up a good amount of time for the band lately as they work on the release of their second full-length album. Previously, the group had done work on many EPs but has now put their effort into another full-length album, which is in the finalizing process.

When it comes to writing, Travis, known as “Nasty Travis” to other band members, does most of it. He is known for his talent in combining “strings and screams” and does most of the midi programming and arranging of the tracks. Overall, though, the group has made a community effort in creating their own style that is unlike any other in the area.

Seeing JonnyX and the Groadies downtown will be an independent experience because of the environment downtown venues provide as well as the attitude the Groadies take into each show.

“Portland has a long history of being a ‘weirdo’ city,” invisible_touch said. “I think it’s tamed over the years but there is definitely something ‘off’ [in a really good way]. It seems like we have a lot more cooperation in this city than others. We try to create a fun environment with strobe lights, fog, blacklights, costumes and lasers. It’s more work than just getting up there with our amps and going for it, but it’s also more fun for us.”

JonnyX and the Groadies has a policy of playing only shows which are open to all ages, and is excited to bring their performance to the familiar downtown stage at Berbati’s Pan for the first time.

“They seem to be doing quite a few all-ages shows now and that’s great,” invisible_touch said. “When we first started as a band we played around the corner…at Thee O and also at the Old Paris Theatre and then more recently at [the now defunct] Foodhole, so it will be nice to play on the block again. Downtown has always had a history of great venues.”

JonnyX and the Groadies will be joined by Ludicra and Transient for the show that will ignite fans and casual audience members alike.