The Dilettantes

Mojo Playlist for January- "Ex- Brian Jonestown Massacre 'percussionist" Joel Gion was the best thing about Dig! And here he is with his own psychedelic, garage rave-up Heavy on the Maracas, obviously well Worth the trip to MySpace - http://www.myspace.com/thedilettantes"

Joel Gion is the real deal. He paid his dues for over 10 years as the crowd pleasing tambourine man for the musically brilliant and highly dysfunctional BJM. Joel was the best thing about the award-winning documentary Dig!, where his humor and scene-stealing charm helped him survive and walk away from the slow motion BJM trainwreck. A devoted and worldwide fan base has ordained Joel a messiah of the underground. He is the world's first ever Tambourine Hero.

Joel has brushed off his denim, picked up his tambourine, and returns centerstage with his new group, the DIlettantes. The Dilettantes are a rock band's rock band with a serious arsenal of psych-pop-garage hooks, steeped in the grand tradition of West Coast Psychedelia. Joel fronts the band with vocals, swagger, and his trademark tambourine/ maracas shake-action groove. Gion also writes his own songs, which showcase his lyrical wit. Joel has the license to testify like only a pure rock and roll saviour can.

Gion shares the singer/ songwriting duties with two veterans of the San Francisco Psychgeist: Jefferson Parker (Panda) and Brock Galland (Starlight Desperation). These accomplished players bring not only hooks, but inventive and at times haunting guitar interplay to the rave-up rhythm section of drummer KC Clayton and bassist Nick Marcantonio. The sound of The Dilettantes converge at the intersection of electric guitar test and electric koolaid acid riff.