Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers’ Americana desert rock has been filling the summer night skies over Puerto Peñasco for more than a decade, and drifting out over the bay each January for the past eight years. More than a rock concert, since 2008 January Jam has brought various musicians and fans together to share in good times, good vibes, and truth be told a tequila or two. In true RCPM “keep the fiesta going” style, a few years ago the Jam began to stretch its wings and now includes a Friday night warm-up, as well as the Mexican Moonshine Tequila Classic charity golf tourney on Saturday, with proceeds for the Esperanza para los niños Children’s Home.
Greg Ross, RCPM event manager in Mexico, explains by throwing Friday night in they are trying hard to give all the loyal fans something different and multiple shows when they come out to see the band in January. This fares particularly well for fans who faithfully fly from spots north, not to mention those who make the pilgrimage across AZ, to get to our sandy shores for an extended weekend of music, sunsets, and amigos.
This year, Friday evening began with a set by Tempe based Tramps & Thieves before launching into RCPM’s second year of a Friday cover fiesta – joined by Chris Kantor and Jason Boots who each belted out their best covers.
“I think the Friday Cover Set is picking up steam and complements Saturday really well,” explains Ross, adding he believes there were about 700 at Banditos on Friday.
On Saturday morning, RCPM guitarist Jim Dalton donned his finest golf pants once again before joining RCPM front man Roger Clyne, bassist Nick Scropos, and drummer PH Naffah for the 3rd Mexican Moonshine Tequila Classic at The Links golf course of Las Palomas Beach & Golf Resort. Started by Naffah in 2013, this 9-hole fun and friendly tourney aimed to raise about $3000 USD for Esperanza this year. While final numbers are still coming in, both from participants and raffle tickets, it looks like they should be close at reaching this goal. PH thanks all the staff at The Links, Golf Director Luis Torres, Las Palomas Director Héctor Vazquéz, everybody who donated auction items, and of course all the fans who came out to support the tournament.
As the sun worked its way across the sky on Saturday evening, RCPM sound guy, trumpet man, and frequent “Beastie Boy” Jason Boots took the stage at JJ’s Cantina in Cholla Bay to get things warmed up before RCPM dove straight into a nearly 3 hour set. A sold out crowd of over 800 people filled all the nook and crannies at JJ’s, with another 100+ dotting the shore with campfires, ponchos, and sombreros. Ross tells us the numbers for January Jam overall were up from 2014. To wrap up the starry night, “Serious Moonlight” featuring PH Naffah and James Gerard wound down the crowd as others made their way back to Banditos for a rockin’ performance by The Black Moods.
RCPM’s spirit of encouraging and showcasing additional talent both at January Jam, and of course at the summer Circus Mexicus, has introduced the likes of Shurman (TX), Pistoleros (AZ), Black Carl (AZ), The Black Moods (AZ), Ghetto Cowgirl (AZ), and many others (not to mention each of RCPM’s band members numerous reincarnations) to our little corner on the edge of the Sea of Cortez – expanding our love for music as we “pace ourselves” from one set and venue to another. While some of these have made their way back to our neck of the woods on their own, it’s always with a nod to the Peacemaker glow and flow that brought them over the border in the first place.
After wrapping up January Jam VIII, Roger and the band emphasize, “We’d like to thank RPR Mexico, the staffs at Banditos and JJ’s Cantina, Tramps and Thieves, James Gerard and the Serious Moonlight, and of course the greatest fans we could ask for.”
So, with another January Jam checked off it’s time to count down to Circus Mexicus (June 11 – 14, 2015).
¡Hasta la próxima!
