Joshua James
Encyclopedia
Joshua James Huff, better known by his stage name
Joshua James, is an American musician currently based in Portland, Oregon
and fronts the Chicano Rock
group Los Perros Olvidados and the rock group Joshua James and the Runaway Trains.
. After several years of touring the United States with bands such as Possum Dixon
, the Old 97's
and The Reverend Horton Heat
, James released Bullets for the Border
in 2004.
and the Silvertones one night. The Band the Runaway Trains have had many line ups throughout the years and has been unchanged for the most part since 2005.
The current members of James' band, The Runaway Trains, include Vince Adame on drums, Ross Betzer on bass, Joshua on guitar and vocals and Jason Barlow on lead guitar.
and Chicano
Spanish. Many of the themes the band writes about pays homage to their Mexican heritage and other Mexican
/chicano
/Spanish
musicians such as Los Brincos
, Los Apson and Vicente Fernández
. The English translation of Los Perros Olvidados is "The Forgotten Dogs".
In 2000 James' album Tanked Up and Derailed was featured on the Fox TV show/Eddie Murphy
creation The PJs
.
On the 2003 self titled release by the Portland based band Mars Needs Women they reference Joshua James Huff and his band Runaway Trains on the fourth track of their album. In their song about cruising titled Pimpin' in the Lincoln they sing, "We've got Josh and the Trains riding in the back."
Stevi Marie gives mention to James on her 2004 album I Thought I Told You. During the song "Good as Marilyn Monroe
on a bad day" she refers to the hard partying image of James and his band with the line, "I'm tired of all these plain Janes, tonight I wanna party like the Runaway Trains."
Rock - folk singer Kate Mann
sings "I'm gonna find me a man just like Joshua James who will steel me away on his runaway train" in the song "Ode to Motorcycle Boots" which appears on her 2005 release November Songs
.
In February 2004 Huff played a series of benefit shows with Portland singer Art Alexakis
for Friends of the Reservoirs in an effort to raise money and awareness for the non-profit foundation.
Joshua also donated song and performance to the 2004 Rock the Vote
campaign. "HWY 99 North", his song about the hardships of growing up in a small American town with dwindling economic resources was included on Failing Records Vol. 1. This was a compilation album that helped fund the Rock the Vote
street team.
According to the an article written in the May 3, 2007 edition of The Skanner by Kelly Moyer, Joshua James spoke at the peaceful demonstration that took place on Killingsworth Street in North Portland. Protesters targeted the local bar, the Florida Room, as a racist and sexist establishment. James took the microphone and gave a moving speech pertaining to his life growing up as an ethnic minority and being the target of racism. As James continued, he spoke about community acceptance, the significance of diversity and the importance of being understanding and respectful of the differing views of ones neighbors.
Joshua's song, "Coal War", was used in the Season 4 Premier of FX
's Sons of Anarchy
on Tuesday, Sept 6, 2011. The first 4 minutes or so of the show prominently features "Coal War" presenting a montage of scenes recapping old with the new. It really is a solid piece of film/tv/video moving pictures.
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
Joshua James, is an American musician currently based in Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
and fronts the Chicano Rock
Chicano rock
Chicano rock is rock music performed by Mexican American groups or music with themes derived from Chicano culture. Chicano Rock, to a great extent, does not refer to any single style or approach. Some of these groups do not sing in Spanish at all, or use many specifically Latin instruments or sounds...
group Los Perros Olvidados and the rock group Joshua James and the Runaway Trains.
Early History
James released his first full-length album with the Eugene-based band Friedrich's Teeth in the spring of 1996, on London Dog Records. In 1998, James released the E.P. "The Johnny Voodoo Sessions", also on London Dog Records. In the summer of 1999, Old Freight Rail Records released his first full length solo album:Joshua James Tanked Up and DerailedTanked Up and Derailed
"Tanked Up and Derailed" is the first full-length album by Joshua James on Old Freight Rail Records.-Track listing:#Mr. Cool#Big Train#Headlines#Just Insane#Whiskey Drinking Girls#Virginia#Cadillac#Jimmie Joe#El Diablo del Norte#The Nerolux...
. After several years of touring the United States with bands such as Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon
Possum Dixon was an American alternative rock band. Fronted by singer/songwriter/bassist Rob Zabrecky, the group's neo-new wave pop and post punk style first appeared among a string of early independently released 7 inch singles and on their self-titled debut on Interscope Records in 1993...
, the Old 97's
Old 97's
The Old 97's are an alternative country band from Dallas, Texas. Formed in 1993, they have since released nine studio albums, two full extended plays, shared split duty on another, and have one live album. Their most recent release is The Grand Theatre, Volume Two...
and The Reverend Horton Heat
The Reverend Horton Heat
The Reverend Horton Heat is the stage name of American musician Jim Heath as well as the name of his Dallas, Texas-based psychobilly trio. Heath is a singer, songwriter and guitarist....
, James released Bullets for the Border
Bullets for the Border
Bullets for the Border is Joshua James' second album, released in 2004. It was released by Old Freight Rail Records in the United States and internationally.-Track listing:#Here Come The Trains#Crocodile Annie#HWY 99 N.#Hitchhike to Rhome#Hand in Hand...
in 2004.
Casino El Camino and the Self Titled Album
It had been rumored for quite some time that Joshua James would be releasing a new album in September 2007 titled "Casino El Camino" but this never materialized as hoped. According to Old freight Rail Records website Joshua James' new album, simply titled, Joshua James and the Runaway Trains was scheduled to be released in the first part of 2008. In 2009 it was released in select markets around the United States and in parts of Europe As of the spring of this year it is available in most markets, though it never received an official release celebration. According to CD Baby, the song "She", the last track of the new album has registered more than 90,000 downloads. The status of Casino El Camino is unclear, but in June of this year James stated he was working on a new album but failed to mention anything about the unfinished album..The Runaway Trains
Joshua most often performs live shows under the banner Joshua James and the Runaway Trains. It is said he came up with name after opening for Chris IsaakChris Isaak
Christopher Joseph "Chris" Isaak is an American rock musician and occasional actor.-Early life:Isaak was born in Stockton, California, the son of Dorothy , a potato chip factory worker, and Joe Isaak, a forklift driver. Isaak's mother is Italian American, originating from Genoa...
and the Silvertones one night. The Band the Runaway Trains have had many line ups throughout the years and has been unchanged for the most part since 2005.
The current members of James' band, The Runaway Trains, include Vince Adame on drums, Ross Betzer on bass, Joshua on guitar and vocals and Jason Barlow on lead guitar.
Los Perros Olvidados
Los Perros Olvidados perform all of their music in MexicanMexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
and Chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
Spanish. Many of the themes the band writes about pays homage to their Mexican heritage and other Mexican
Mexican people
Mexican people refers to all persons from Mexico, a multiethnic country in North America, and/or who identify with the Mexican cultural and/or national identity....
/chicano
Chicano
The terms "Chicano" and "Chicana" are used in reference to U.S. citizens of Mexican descent. However, those terms have a wide range of meanings in various parts of the world. The term began to be widely used during the Chicano Movement, mainly among Mexican Americans, especially in the movement's...
/Spanish
Spanish people
The Spanish are citizens of the Kingdom of Spain. Within Spain, there are also a number of vigorous nationalisms and regionalisms, reflecting the country's complex history....
musicians such as Los Brincos
Los Brincos
Los Brincos were one of the most successful Spanish rock bands of the 1960s, and they are often referred to as the “Spanish Beatles”.The group was formed in 1964. The members were Fernando Arbex , Manuel González , Juan Pardo and Antonio ‘Junior’ Morales...
, Los Apson and Vicente Fernández
Vicente Fernández
Vicente Fernández Gómez is a Mexican singer, producer and actor. Known as Chente or El rey de la canción ranchera throughout the Latin world, Vicente Fernández, who started his career singing for tips on the street, has become a cultural icon, recording more than 50 albums and contributing to...
. The English translation of Los Perros Olvidados is "The Forgotten Dogs".
Pop culture
Joshua James has been referenced as somewhat of a rebel icon or folk hero by various musical and comedic artists.In 2000 James' album Tanked Up and Derailed was featured on the Fox TV show/Eddie Murphy
Eddie Murphy
Edward Regan "Eddie" Murphy is an American stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, and musician....
creation The PJs
The PJs
The PJs is an American stop-motion animated television series created by Eddie Murphy, Larry Wilmore, and Steve Tompkins. It portrayed life in an urban public housing project, modeled after the Brewster-Douglass housing projects in Detroit that once housed Diana Ross & Lilly Tomlin...
.
On the 2003 self titled release by the Portland based band Mars Needs Women they reference Joshua James Huff and his band Runaway Trains on the fourth track of their album. In their song about cruising titled Pimpin' in the Lincoln they sing, "We've got Josh and the Trains riding in the back."
Stevi Marie gives mention to James on her 2004 album I Thought I Told You. During the song "Good as Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
on a bad day" she refers to the hard partying image of James and his band with the line, "I'm tired of all these plain Janes, tonight I wanna party like the Runaway Trains."
Rock - folk singer Kate Mann
Kate Mann
Kate Mann is an American musician currently based in Portland, Oregon. She is originally from the Sandia Mountains in New Mexico but moved west as a young adult to pursue a career in music.-Biography:...
sings "I'm gonna find me a man just like Joshua James who will steel me away on his runaway train" in the song "Ode to Motorcycle Boots" which appears on her 2005 release November Songs
November Songs
November Songs is the 2005 debut album of Kate Mann. Though this album has not received the national air play that her later album has, it is still regarded as a great piece of work by her fans.-Track listing:#Good Girl#Star Song#Orange Dress#Polly's Song...
.
In February 2004 Huff played a series of benefit shows with Portland singer Art Alexakis
Art Alexakis
Arthur Paul "Art" Alexakis is best known as the American singer, composer, and lead guitarist of the rock band Everclear. He has been a member of several notable bands, in addition to his own work as a songwriter for other artists...
for Friends of the Reservoirs in an effort to raise money and awareness for the non-profit foundation.
Joshua also donated song and performance to the 2004 Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit organization in the United States of America whose mission is to engage and build the political power of young people....
campaign. "HWY 99 North", his song about the hardships of growing up in a small American town with dwindling economic resources was included on Failing Records Vol. 1. This was a compilation album that helped fund the Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote
Rock the Vote is a non-profit organization in the United States of America whose mission is to engage and build the political power of young people....
street team.
According to the an article written in the May 3, 2007 edition of The Skanner by Kelly Moyer, Joshua James spoke at the peaceful demonstration that took place on Killingsworth Street in North Portland. Protesters targeted the local bar, the Florida Room, as a racist and sexist establishment. James took the microphone and gave a moving speech pertaining to his life growing up as an ethnic minority and being the target of racism. As James continued, he spoke about community acceptance, the significance of diversity and the importance of being understanding and respectful of the differing views of ones neighbors.
Joshua's song, "Coal War", was used in the Season 4 Premier of FX
FX
- Entertainment :* FX , an international cable/satellite television network * F/X, a movie set in the world of special effects* F/X: The Series, a television program based on the movie...
's Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy
Sons of Anarchy is an American television drama series created by Kurt Sutter about the lives of a close-knit outlaw motorcycle club operating in Charming, a fictional town in Northern California...
on Tuesday, Sept 6, 2011. The first 4 minutes or so of the show prominently features "Coal War" presenting a montage of scenes recapping old with the new. It really is a solid piece of film/tv/video moving pictures.
Discography
- 1998: The Johnny Voodoo Sessions
- 1999: Tanked Up and DerailedTanked Up and Derailed"Tanked Up and Derailed" is the first full-length album by Joshua James on Old Freight Rail Records.-Track listing:#Mr. Cool#Big Train#Headlines#Just Insane#Whiskey Drinking Girls#Virginia#Cadillac#Jimmie Joe#El Diablo del Norte#The Nerolux...
- 2004: Bullets for the BorderBullets for the BorderBullets for the Border is Joshua James' second album, released in 2004. It was released by Old Freight Rail Records in the United States and internationally.-Track listing:#Here Come The Trains#Crocodile Annie#HWY 99 N.#Hitchhike to Rhome#Hand in Hand...
- 2007, 2008: Joshua James and The Runaway TrainsJoshua James and the Runaway TrainsJoshua James and The Runaway Trains is the third studio album by Joshua James. It has been released by Old Freight Rail Records in Select markets as of 2007 and will be fully released in 2008....
External links
- Joshua's Official Website
- Joshua's MySpace
- Old Freight Rail Records Record Label Website