John Henry & the Engine plays Thursday at The Blue Fugue

The band is staying busy, with a new music video, record and tour dates.

By Andrea Kszystyniak

Published May 5, 2009

When you go to see John Henry & The Engine, you're not just going to a concert, you're riding a rock 'n' roll roller coaster. Their live show is no Iron & Wine performance. The band kicks out the jams hard and fast from the very beginning, juxtaposing long jams next to sweet and soft songs, such as "Under the Yellow Moon."

"I think what our band is trying to do with the live show is to not focus on just being a party band or playing a relaxed show," Henry said. "We like our shows to be like a roller coaster, bring things down to the bottom and then back up at the end. We really care about the whole spectrum."

The Missouri-based band, which has been together since early 2006, has been touring almost constantly since Henry's graduation from MU two years ago.

"It's all that any of us want to do for a living," Henry said. "We're working on making that goal a reality, and I'd say that we're coming closer to that idea every year."

Henry estimates the band has played nearly 300 shows in the past three years, one of them opening for President Barack Obama's appearance on campus as well as Chuck Berry's earlier in the year.

"We're really trying to tour as hard as we can and work as hard as we can," Henry said. "I think we're playing more than anyone around."

Their hard work earned the band a spot at the South by Southwest showcase for the second time. Henry said it was probably his favorite week of the year.

"Great weather, great music, great energy," Henry said. "It's all about music and its just a very exciting atmosphere to be in."

Right now, John Henry & the Engine are focused on promoting themselves and doing what they need to do to become a well-known supported act.

"We're trying to be a professional band, do a lot of radio interviews, in-store performances at record stores," Henry said. "We're just trying to get well known and be intelligent in the way that we tour."

The band has released one full-length album and one EP on Columbia-based independent label Home Tone Records. Their most recent album, entitled "Under the Yellow Moon," was released in April 2008 and represents the coalescence of a variety of music styles.

"We're really inspired by American soul and country music as well early rock and roll," Henry said. "We try to get back to the roots of American music."

The band will also be working to record a 7-inch vinyl this summer for release later this year. With the recent production of a music video thrown into the mix, plus a grand total of roughly 110 tour dates this year, this quintet won't be settling down any time soon.

The band will be returning to its alma mater Thursday night with a show at The Blue Fugue.