The Penny Jar

The Penny Jar is an indie-rock group from Abilene, TX with classic rock, jazz, and folk roots and a heart for helping people in need. Raised in the buckle of the Bible-belt, founder and front-man, Joshua Carroll’s teenage dream was to become a famous Christian rocker. But after some brief exposure to Nashville and the Christian music scene during college, he developed a deep discontent for the copy-cat money-first mentality that is so pervasive in all arenas of the recording industry, Christ...

The Penny Jar is an indie-rock group from Abilene, TX with classic rock, jazz, and folk roots and a heart for helping people in need. Raised in the buckle of the Bible-belt, founder and front-man, Joshua Carroll’s teenage dream was to become a famous Christian rocker. But after some brief exposure to Nashville and the Christian music scene during college, he developed a deep discontent for the copy-cat money-first mentality that is so pervasive in all arenas of the recording industry, Christian labels included. Disillusioned, Carroll all but abandoned his dreams of musical success to pursue a more practical path. He married his college sweetheart in 2002 and graduated in 2004. The Carrolls gave birth to a daughter in 2006 and became homeowners later that year. Life was good by suburban American standards, but deep down, Joshua was still haunted by the desire to create original music. A new dream began to sprout, and with it a growing desire to completely 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 helped define the mission of future musical endeavors. Rather than simply writing inspiring lyrics, he would write authentic and honest songs, and use his time and any money made from the music to make a tangible difference. Gathering a handful of friends, he began to record and self-produce original songs for a new album using what equipment he already owned or could borrow. At every turn, simplicity and authenticity were favored over complexity and polish. The result was the eclectic short-form indie-rock album: Let The Record Slow. During 2009, 50¢ of every dollar fans spent on the album was donated to World Vision. Shortly after the album’s release, The Penny Jar evolved once more. 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 unique sound to the table. The band is currently in the beginning stages of recording new material to be released later this year, lining up shows, and brain-storming ways to use their music to benefit others. Influenced by the raw energy of such modern artists as Jet, Spoon, and Switchfoot, the prowess of songsters Glen Hansard and Jon Foreman, and the classic sounds of artists ranging from Led Zeppelin to Stevie Ray Vaughan to Charlie Daniels, The Penny Jar’s sound is a bipolar, bad to the bone, Texas Indie-Rock amalgam.