Arlene Francis Presents:
Made of Mana (rock/Funk/Blues) and Parson Jones (Modern Soul Rock) Come ready to dance with these two great bands.
Made of Mana:
These four friends grew up making music together, and it shows. They cut their teeth early, and were soon sharing the stage with high-profile artists at major venues. They continued to hone their skills over the years through extensive touring and live performances in other projects – these are accomplished musicians.
Their new project, Made of Mana, is a modern rock band out of the San Francisco Bay Area that has been strongly influenced by the California coast they call home. Their songwriting includes strains of blues-rock guitar à la Jimi Hendrix and John Mayer, paired with soulful vocals sharing stories of longing, loss, and growth.
They are here to share the pure love and expressive power of music, removed from the glitz and glamor that typifies the music industry today. This is aspirational music, yearning for each of us to become the best versions of ourselves, but with expectations that have been tempered by the hard lessons learned through a life fully lived.
“We play music because we love it. So when we share our music with an audience, we are sharing an expression of love, and that is the most powerful force in the universe.”
Parson Jones is a Northern California duo that creates thoughtful soul/pop with a distinct melodic sensibility, lyrical intricacy, and heavy beats. Joshua Hollenstein and Kerry Fogarty started making music together in the early 2000s, and honed their songwriting craft in the following years.
Combining Joshua’s lyrical agility, gritty yet sweet voice, and memorable melodies with Kerry’s soulful instrumental palette, Parson Jones’ music explores themes of mortality, reflection, and making one’s way in an uncertain modern world, set against a backdrop of electric pianos, synths, guitars, and beats.
In 2014, Parson Jones released their debut single, “Make and Model” on Paris-based label Underdog Records.
Parson Jones draws inspiration from a wide range of vintage and modern soul, rock and roll, funk and electronic music from Beck to Broken Bells, Al Green to The Black Keys. Their debut album “Clear As Day” brings a variety of unique musical ideas to the table, from the sweet soulful pop of the title track, to the dystopian imagery and dark hip hop beat of “Shut In”, to the classic melancholy soul of “Ready To Go”.