Bare Bones Waxcast 16 – Country Gents
For Waxcast number 16 we welcome Lee Jones (Country Gents) to Bare Bones Wax with a belter of a mix (Player at the bottom of the page). Lee mixes the perfect blend of upfront and classic material to kick start your weekend with 2 hours of Deep House Goodness! Here is Lee’s bio:
Well it all began here: In the UK there was a very established Free Festival movement which was basically a series of illegal and unpoliced events which were tolerated. That allowed the nomadic New Age Travellers (with whom he had lived with since the mid 80’s, they were his family so to speak) to gather and meet old friends, exchange wares and earn a living to support them through the dark winter months. These were, in his mind, real festivals. The music was raw and spontaneous, the whole scene was very psychedelic, artistic and free, like a travelling Woodstock. This is what today’s big money festivals were modelled on. He never recalled anyone saying thanks. Then in 1990 something happened…
The sound of kick drums and electronic music spawned, slowly at first then at breakneck speed, which upset all authority and there began House Music in my life. He was involved greatly in the parties that unfolded in the early 90’s around a bunch of people from Nottingham, his home town, who were DiY Sound System. He was part of the already travelling, road crew that knew the land, had the marquee’s, generators and a team of strong and able people to help this into reality. They also knew what they could get away with where the authorities were concerned. This latter ability of the travelling family was soon to be rendered useless by the size of the influx of people that came from just about everywhere you could imagine. No one could have imagined how big this would grow. The rave at Castlemorton Common in 1992 was the fitting end, (as he sees it), of the crazy journey all those involved had just been on. DJ’s Simon DK, Jack, and Digs & Woosh, they were his party hero’s before he learned that he too could do that too, and didn’t just have to carry speakers and mend diesel generators that had had petrol poured in them, in a hurry, while the dancefloor was reeling with the silence they were plunged into.
It began in a valley in an old gypsy caravan in an orchard called Rocky Lane in Oxfordshire. This was his safe haven that he retreated to when the free party scene was becoming too dark. He had started hanging out in London with his mate Dave and going to warehouse parties. He was a saxophone busker and everyone called him Saxy Dave. He knew more about the music and he educated him on the labels and names of producers he admired. It was then he bought my first few records. A few that he can remember are Danell Dixon’s Dance Dance, a Deep Dish album called Penetrate Deeper, George Morel’s Let’s Groove and several things on Tribal UK. One day he woke up and decided his farm mechanic days were over. He went to the bank and told them his Land Rover had blown it’s engine (it hadn’t) and he needed to borrow £600. He had seen an advert in a newspaper for some Technics turntables and a mixer for sale in Reading. He left with £50 and the flight cased decks and an old Realistic (Tandy in UK) mixer. He still has the decks today. Then, he played his 8 records over and over. He went to visit mates in Nottingham and tried to play on their decks but really couldn’t. It was a lad called Boysie that finally showed him a technique that he understood and then it started. All he did for a year was play, he picked up an old Honda generator, remember this domestic electricity equipment was something he had not seen since he lived with his grandparents when he was 17. He had lived with candles and car batteries and log stoves. So here he was in the bottom of the valley with a little generator and new decks with time on his hands. It wasn’t long before he was visiting Massive Records in Oxford as often as he could. His free party past got him up the ladder to the test pressings and promo’s instantly.
Excerpt from an interview for Untitled Music Blog
https://www.untitledmusic.org/lee-jones-interview.html
Fast forward to 2022
Since the early 2000’s Lee has used the moniker Country Gents for gigs and releases.
Lee began Deep Cartel Recordings in 2010 with Dan Cartel and then his own Buslife Records label in 2015. Just about to release its 46th EP.
He got involved with radio 5 years ago and now has 3 regular shows. His primary radio residency is on The Underground Sessions which airs at 6pm UK time every Saturday. He also presents 2 monthly breakfast shows on Bloop London and Garage House Radio.
Lee is most likely to be found at Illegal parties around the UK he is a regular at Duvet Vous in Bristol and has a great deal of love for Smokescreen and DiY sound systems and their free party House music ethos.
Tracklist:
Intro – Brooklyn Baby – For the Soul – Frappe Records
Da Kik Squad – Do This Gig – Idea
Brooklyn Baby – For the Soul – Frappe Records
The Verticals – Jersey Jam – Gents & Dandies
Lazare Hoche – ? – White
Swirl People – Hi Mom Let’s Dance – Tronicsole
Reale & Vincent XXI. – Fuck Yourself – Houseworx
Riva Starr feat DJ Pierre – Acid Train – Hot Creations
Carlo Gambino – You & Me – Bare Bones Wax
Toka Project – Treat Me Right – Tango
Timedwellers – ? – TAK Records
Bodeler – Mandatory Trip (Tripmastaz Remix) – Heavy House Society
Pemax & Sisto – Come Clear – Daily CID
Scott Diaz – Got That Groove – Dungeon Meat
Pawsa – Funky Brother – Pawz
Hector Couto & Omar Deaz – Toolroom
Magoo – Detroit Express – Cross Section
Hoodrats – Whack Messiah – Payola
Adam Nahalewicz – Out There – Bare Bones Wax
Club Of Jacks – Move To The Groove – Club Of Jacks
Cue Kids – So Dub – DiY
Tony Senghore & Paul Woolford – Satisfaction – Wack
Tom Churchill – Out Of The Vault – DiY
DJ Honesty – Leaves – Quality Vibe
Rhythm Graffiti – Crime (True Crimes Mix) – DiY
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