Jon Wayne talks triumphs and adding fourth member

Music | November 24th, 2015

By Jamie Hutchinson

They are a band that needs no introduction here. For nine years Jon Wayne and the Pain have been bringing their reggae-rock with electronic dub elements to the region, playing packed venues and even stretching their fan base out to the west coast. While frontman Jon Wayne hit some bumps when getting the band moving, he and the rest of the band are now at a high point in their careers.

Since their formation, the band’s released three studio albums, which Wayne admits were more rushed than he liked. Nevertheless, their success allowed them to snag famed California reggae producer Lewis Richards for their 2010 album “Follow Through,” which was rereleased in 2012 with new drum tracks. Richards is known for his work with Slightly Stoopid, Sublime, Sting and even Mary J. Blige.

“He’s one of the best guys we’ve ever worked with, if not the best,” Wayne says. The opportunity even allowed Wayne to meet some of his heroes, such as Slightly Stoopid, Seedless, The Originalites and even former Sublime drummer Eric Wilson.

All members are from North Dakota cities with the exception of drummer Teeto Miller, who the band discovered while on tour in Los Angeles. Wayne himself comes from Jamestown, later moving to Fargo where he played in reggae-rock band Happens Often before finally settling in Minneapolis. It was in the Twin Cities when Jon Wayne and the Pain formed, but forming a band wasn’t the quick “one-two punch” Wayne thought it would be.

“I was kinda struggling in Fargo and so then I moved to Minneapolis and that didn’t exactly happen the way I thought it would,” he says. “Eventually things got better in my personal life and then the music of course got better because of that.”

Back in May, the band added fourth member Weston Schick.

“We had played some shows in the Bismarck area and he had sat in with us a few times and then he’d find us at Snowball Festival in Lutsen,” Wayne says. Making Schick an official member didn’t take much thought.

“He plays like four instruments and sings, so he’s a no brainer,” Wayne says.

With two years having passed since their last album and adding a new member to the band, it’s due time for a new album. However, fans will have to wait a little longer. As an appetite, Jon Wayne and the Pain are cooking up something a little more classic.

“We’re scheduled to release a two-song single on vinyl at the end of spring,” Wayne says. The idea behind it is to release an old school 45 like the kind a reggae DJ would spin. As for a full-length album, they think they’ll have one ready in fall or early winter next year.

While they’ve seen a lot of success, being a full-time touring band and more of a regional act is a lot of work. When Wayne’s not armed with his Taylor six-string acoustic, he’s busy being the band’s “all around manager” and is actively involved in promoting the band on social media. Yet, he says this is a role that will continue to diminish, especially at the start of next year when they join up with a managing company, leaving him to only deal with being tour manager.

“The last seven years have been really good and we’ve come a long ways,” he says. “The band’s been good. My life’s been good.”

IF YOU GO:

Jon Wayne and the Pain with O’Fosho

Saturday, Nov. 28, 9 p.m.

The Aquarium (Dempsey’s Upstairs), 226 Broadway, Fargo

Tickets available at ticketweb.com and Orange Records