Lionz of Zion Lead Jam at Java Jolt

Someday one of their fans may say they saw The Lionz of Zion when they played outside a coffee shop on East Butler Road.  Judging from last night’s turnout at the Fifth Annual Java Jolt Summer Jam that could be any of about 200 people.

Undaunted by rain that temporarily delayed the start of the show, six local bands, headlined by the aforementioned L.O.Z., performed on stages indoor and out.

The event was organized by ’s owner Jon Sexton, who had the idea to present live music at his establishment from the time he opened on Groundhog Day in 2007.  But the music at Summer Jam was not typical of what might be called coffeehouse music or what one might expect to hear from CDs issued by a certain nationally-known chain of latte-makers. There were no angst-ridden bearded guys in flannels strumming an acoustic guitar with originals that sound like Bon Iver b-sides. Not that such music wouldn’t be welcome.

“We don’t care what kind of music a band plays,” Sexton said. “As long as it’s music that can move people.”

Sexton, whose own tastes range from Enya to Eminem, is responsible for booking the bands and is partial to groups that aren’t easily categorized. The L.O.Z. certainly fit into the category of being uncategorized. Part reggae, part jam band, part hard rock, part something you can’t quite put your finger on, the band has built a devoted following throughout the Palmetto State.

Sexton’s relationship with the L.O.Z. runs deep. The band’s very first public performance came back at the first Summer Jam in 2007. “I just want to give them the space to play their awesome music,” he said.

That’s the overriding philosophy for Summer Jam as a whole. “There are a lot of good local bands and I want to give them a venue,” Sexton said.

Sexton said he’d like to expand the event in the future, but was very happy with attendance for the most recent edition of Summer Jam.

Other bands on the bill were:

Alpaca Rumrunners
Black Spots
Medicine Man
Milli Fungus Blaze Brothers Band
Krooked Blaze