California, here they come: Jonas Brothers move west
Take away the hit TV show and the screaming hordes of tween girls, and you have three brothers who love to make music.
Granted, the Jonas Brothers are more famous than any other sibling trio — so famous that incredibly massive bodyguards protect them. Yet despite kicking off a three-month tour July 27, Kevin’s fairly new marriage, Joe’s sputtered romance with Disney starlet Demi Lovato and the paparazzi constantly chronicling their lives, the JoBro seem remarkably grounded.
They’re sequestered in a Manhattan hotel, happy to talk music and explain how, for them, music is enmeshed with acting.
They have a lot of both coming up: the tour; the launch of their revamped Disney show, “Jonas L.A.,” on Sunday, June 20; and the sequel to “Camp Rock,” “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” premiering Sept. 3.
Before TV catapulted them to superstardom, it was all about the music. They started as musicians, backing up Nick, 17, who turned pro at 6.
He performed in Broadway plays — “A Christmas Carol,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Les Miserables” — then came back to his home state of New Jersey and performed in “The Sound of Music” at Milburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
“The initial idea was being around other young people who loved to do what I did,” Nick says of musical theater.
Kevin recalls being very young when he was first drawn to the stage.
“There was an open call for a remake of ‘(Miracle on) 34th Street,’ and I got pretty far in the process,” he says. “I loved it (acting), and it was fun and a passion, but music always took the No. 1 seat.”
The brothers are seated around a large table in a hotel conference room that looks out on a drenched Central Park. Kevin wonders if that night’s Yankees game will be canceled because of rain.
“For me, music is something that always feels comfortable,” Joe says. “Acting is something I want to do. In L.A. now I’m taking meetings. It’s been really awesome.”
The new show, as the title broadcasts, places the brothers in Los Angeles. They are in an exquisite house, which comes with a pool and an annoying neighbor. There are starlets, the sights of Los Angeles, but for these young men, there’s always the music. And the show works best during the musical numbers.
Their new song, “L.A. Baby,” featured on the show has a segment easily lifted out for a music video. In it, they do some California cruising — Kevin gets a sweet convertible that runs best on Chinese restaurant oil. There are girls and goofy scenes, but it’s truly a Disney music video, and parents need not worry.
“Driving down the highway with a California breeze in my hair,” Nick sings.
He segues easily between drums and guitar and also plays piano and cello. Nick is very intense as he delves into his music, but his older brothers, particularly Kevin, keep spirits light.
The brothers are obviously close and music only cements that bond. Their 2008 CD, “A Little Bit Longer,” went multiplatinum. Last year’s “Lines, Vines and Trying Times” includes the song “World War III,” featuring the amazing horn section from Earth Wind & Fire.
The Jonas Brothers have also worked with Stevie Wonder and Brad Paisley. It was probably expected that they would stick with the tried pop music formula, but they’ve ventured into R&B and country.
Like most musicians, they’re fans of many artists. Kevin lights up as he talks up seeing Paul McCartney in concert. He was so excited he could not stay in his seat.
“The person me kept telling me to sit down,” he says, adding that he was unable to. “It was just amazing.”
They hope to electrify their fans as their North American tour takes them from smaller clubs to amphitheaters.
“As a band, the No. 1 priority from the beginning is we strive to write more music, that’s more honest in our lyrics,” Joe says. “And we want to write music through our lives.”
“Personally, we want to continue where we are in all of our lives,” Kevin says. “I love to tour. It’s a lifestyle. You become used to it.”
Take away the hit TV show and the screaming hordes of tween girls, and you have three brothers who love to make music.
Granted, the Jonas Brothers are more famous than any other sibling trio — so famous that incredibly massive bodyguards protect them. Yet despite kicking off a three-month tour July 27, Kevin’s fairly new marriage, Joe’s sputtered romance with Disney starlet Demi Lovato and the paparazzi constantly chronicling their lives, the JoBro seem remarkably grounded.
They’re sequestered in a Manhattan hotel, happy to talk music and explain how, for them, music is enmeshed with acting.
They have a lot of both coming up: the tour; the launch of their revamped Disney show, “Jonas L.A.,” on Sunday, June 20; and the sequel to “Camp Rock,” “Camp Rock 2: The Final Jam” premiering Sept. 3.
Before TV catapulted them to superstardom, it was all about the music. They started as musicians, backing up Nick, 17, who turned pro at 6.
He performed in Broadway plays — “A Christmas Carol,” “Beauty and the Beast” and “Les Miserables” — then came back to his home state of New Jersey and performed in “The Sound of Music” at Milburn’s Paper Mill Playhouse.
“The initial idea was being around other young people who loved to do what I did,” Nick says of musical theater.
Kevin recalls being very young when he was first drawn to the stage.
“There was an open call for a remake of ‘(Miracle on) 34th Street,’ and I got pretty far in the process,” he says. “I loved it (acting), and it was fun and a passion, but music always took the No. 1 seat.”
The brothers are seated around a large table in a hotel conference room that looks out on a drenched Central Park. Kevin wonders if that night’s Yankees game will be canceled because of rain.
“For me, music is something that always feels comfortable,” Joe says. “Acting is something I want to do. In L.A. now I’m taking meetings. It’s been really awesome.”
The new show, as the title broadcasts, places the brothers in Los Angeles. They are in an exquisite house, which comes with a pool and an annoying neighbor. There are starlets, the sights of Los Angeles, but for these young men, there’s always the music. And the show works best during the musical numbers.
Their new song, “L.A. Baby,” featured on the show has a segment easily lifted out for a music video. In it, they do some California cruising — Kevin gets a sweet convertible that runs best on Chinese restaurant oil. There are girls and goofy scenes, but it’s truly a Disney music video, and parents need not worry.
“Driving down the highway with a California breeze in my hair,” Nick sings.
He segues easily between drums and guitar and also plays piano and cello. Nick is very intense as he delves into his music, but his older brothers, particularly Kevin, keep spirits light.
The brothers are obviously close and music only cements that bond. Their 2008 CD, “A Little Bit Longer,” went multiplatinum. Last year’s “Lines, Vines and Trying Times” includes the song “World War III,” featuring the amazing horn section from Earth Wind & Fire.
The Jonas Brothers have also worked with Stevie Wonder and Brad Paisley. It was probably expected that they would stick with the tried pop music formula, but they’ve ventured into R&B and country.
Like most musicians, they’re fans of many artists. Kevin lights up as he talks up seeing Paul McCartney in concert. He was so excited he could not stay in his seat.
“The person me kept telling me to sit down,” he says, adding that he was unable to. “It was just amazing.”
They hope to electrify their fans as their North American tour takes them from smaller clubs to amphitheaters.
“As a band, the No. 1 priority from the beginning is we strive to write more music, that’s more honest in our lyrics,” Joe says. “And we want to write music through our lives.”
“Personally, we want to continue where we are in all of our lives,” Kevin says. “I love to tour. It’s a lifestyle. You become used to it.”
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