Steamboat Springs — Swampadelic Rock and Soul hits Schmiggitys on Sunday night this Memorial Day weekend through the crashing musical waves of the Jeremy Jones Band. Tell Hushpuppy to batten down the hatches in the ‘Boat, because the Yampa is rising and who knows what kind of mischief swampadelic music will cause?

The frontman, Jeremy Jones, was raised in bayou country before wandering through Asia and San Francisco in his later years. While he was meditating in the Himalayas during his travels, he had a vision: music moves at the speed of love. Well, Jeremy came right down and started telling everybody. He is inspired not just by music and love, but also southern rock bands like CCR and the Allman Brothers – and perhaps some of those psychedelic chords from his experiences abroad, too. Add that with his upbringing and a home base in New Orleans, and you’ve got the swampadelic sound.

Jeremy focuses on his songwriting, and his tightly woven lyrics are part bayou blues, part lament, part reflection at times. Known for a slow and easy rise throughout his live shows, you barely notice the web Jeremy Jones spins around the music bar until you’re caught in a giant, beautiful construction.

The instrumental “Jonesin” off their latest release captured me because I could just imagine the dance party to such a raucous, jamming piece. It’s followed on the album by “The Sleeping Serpent” who rises once again, naturally. You might infer Jones is singing about the alluring yet damaging emotional gauntlet of jealousy and anger: “confounded and abused, a victim of what you’ve become / strangled at the neck by the grip of the devil’s tongue,” he croons. True, but as a Yampa Valley resident I couldn’t help but immediately associate The Sleeping Giant with this song title. Jones’ gentle, raspy voice sounds like he is singing an incantation – I half expect to see our serpent-covered mountain to the west wake up and join the party.

The opening guitar chords to “My Baby Loved Me” made me think of a Skynyrd song, until I caught up to the chorus: “My baby tried to crucify me / hung me like a scarecrow … My baby loves me with a hammer and a nail.” Between the heavy guitar, energetic drums and Jones’ unique voice, you’re along for the ride before you even have time to think about any deeper meaning in the lyrics. What’s disturbing about crucifying? Maybe Jeremy Jones is just a giant Wicked fan singing about Elephaba and Fiyero’s doomed romance.

The Big Easy crew is wrapping up a Rocky Mountain tour this May that promotes their newest album, “Keep on Movin,” and has been playing through Colorado, Wyoming and Utah. Lucky you – if you’re out of town this weekend, you can still catch them in Carbondale or Denver before the head south.

The Jeremy Jones Band is playing at 9 p.m. at Schmigitty’s on Sunday, May 24. No cover.

The Jeremy Jones band is Jeremy Jones on guitar and vocals, Anna Cucciardo on drums and percussion, Swen Hendrickson on bass and vocals, Craig Berletti on keyboards and trumpet.

Katie Carroll is a writer with a love for music and adventure. She hails from New Jersey, just 8 miles from New York City and 57 miles from the legendary Stone Pony. After spending years music hopping in the city and working for performing arts venues, she is excited to bring her passion for music to Explore Steamboat and the Steamboat Pilot & Today. Despite the Jersey upbringing, don’t worry; there won’t be any Springsteen overload (unless he is the surprise concert at the mountain, of course).