The Penny Jar Indie Rock Band from Abilene, TX

Summary: The Penny Jar is an electric guitar- and fiddle-driven indie-rock band from Abilene, TX with classic rock, jazz, blues, and folk roots and a heart for helping people in need. Having won the SongClash indie-rock battle in April 2010 and become the top ranking act in their hometown according to ReverbNation, The Penny Jar is currently booking shows around Texas and working to expand its ever-growing fan-base. Bio: Raised in the Bible-belt, founder and front-man, Josh Carroll's teenage dream was to become a famous Christian rocker. But after some brief exposure to Nashville, he developed a discontent for the copy-cat money-first mentality that is pervasive in the record industry, Christian labels included. Disillusioned, Carroll all but abandoned his dreams to pursue a more practical path. He married, graduated college, and became a father and homeowner. Life was good, but Josh was still haunted by the desire to create original music. A new dream began to sprout, and with it a desire to abandon industry norms. Songwriting resumed, and in late 2008, fresh inspiration was found. "We do our time like pennies in a jar. What are we saving for?" This line from The Bravery's song "Believe" inspired Carroll to quit waiting for circumstances to magically change, gave him a name, and defined the mission of his music. Rather than simply writing inspiring lyrics, he would write honest songs and use time and money to make a difference. Gathering a handful of friends, he self-produced using what equipment he owned or could borrow. At every turn, simplicity and authenticity were favored over complexity and polish. The result was the eclectic short-form album: Let The Record Slow. During 2009, 50¢ of every dollar fans spent on the album was donated to World Vision. Shortly thereafter, The Penny Jar evolved. Violinist Brandi Jo Magee, bassist/cellist Scott Delony (formerly of The Rocketboys), and drummer Dion Fink (formerly of Nobody Famous) formally joined the lineup, each bringing a new sound to the table. Recently the band has been releasing recordings of new songs through their website.