Jupiter Effect enters Mootsy’s orbit

Fri., Nov. 26, 2004

By Isamu Jordan isamuj@spokesman.com

There came a point in Dan McElfish’s youth when he gave up on the radio.

It was about the same time he discovered The Beatles.

“I began to understand there was music other than what we’re spoon-fed on the radio and MTV,” McElfish said.

With the onset of the Internet, McElfish started exploring every genre of music he could get his ears around, and now he listens to everything from classical to metal.

That shouldn’t come as a surprise to anyone who’s heard McElfish’s genre-defying band, Jupiter Effect.

One of the strengths of JE is that it can mix styles in a way that its diverse sound – combining elements from alternative rock, funk, hip-hop, ska, blues and jazz – fits well with almost any audience.

That’s why JE has been booked at just about every music venue in town and at all kinds of festivals and community events, such as First Night, Bloomsday, Hoopfest, Live After Five and Pig Out In The Park.

JE headlines tonight at 9 p.m. at Mootsy’s, 406 W. Sprague Ave., with support acts deejay Brainchild and singer-songwriter Annie O’Neill. There is a $5 cover.

Jupiter Effect – lead vocalist/guitarist/keyboardist McElfish, drummer/percussionist Derek Neu and bassist Armando Arguello – formed about four years ago after intersecting as players for Bush Doktor, which accompanies local reggae singer Raggs.

They started JE because they had something in common in that they liked different kinds of music.

“We wanted to do our own music, something that was original for us,” McElfish said. “We didn’t want to be trapped in a genre.”

In addition to playing eclectic music, McElfish also helps drive the local scene with his Web site, www.spokanebands.com, which serves as a vehicle to expose local bands with profiles, audio, a music store, show announcements and a forum where musicians, promoters and venue owners can seek each other out.

“Spokanebands.com is there to try and get the scene going,” McElfish said. “Instead of a venue just getting a cover band and calling it a night, or someone getting booked because they are friends with the promoter, they can get original music.”

McElfish also designs sites for local venues such as The B-Side and Mootsy’s.

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