Since 2008, Jason Helms Band has been ripping up stages all across the United States, with a unique blend of Texas Country and soulful Rock-N-Roll...a blend that landed them squarely in the label of Red Dirt. But make no mistake, these guys aren’t some band being Red Dirt because they like Red Dirt bands- this music is a blend that is as real and honest as any you’ll find anywhere. 

     Born in rural southwestern Arkansas, Jason was blessed with a musical upbringing: being the only son of a single mother who herself had been the member of various vocal groups, and who played guitar. In those formative years she taught him to sing harmony and spent countless evenings playing along to various artists-everything from Willie Nelson and Alabama to Led Zeppelin and Carly Simon.

    After playing in various hard rock bands throughout high school, Jason joined his first Texas Country band, Greg Gardner and Voodoo Cowboy, filling the vacant position of bass guitarist. It was in this band that Jason had his epiphony. Several months into playing with GGVC, they got the opportunity to play several shows opening for Jack Ingram. The first night as Jason watched Jack peel through “Mustang Burn” his life was changed, a light bulb switched on, and creation began. Although he had always been a songwriter, suddenly his song  had changed.   That moment laid the groundwork for what would eventually become Jason Helms Band. 

     Fast forward to 2008- Jason and his  JHB bandmates began making waves quickly, being asked to fly to the northern reaches of the United States to Sandpoint, Idaho to play at a music festival which featured such varied and seminal acts as Brett Dennon, Smoky Robinson, Ziggy Marley, Pure Prarie League, Marshall Tucker Band, Bomshel, Wynonna Judd and more.

     By 2010, Jason was ready to release his first full-length album. Titled “Redemption” this collection of songs was the heartfelt autobiography of a man who had been to hell, fought his personal demons and had come out the other side a better man. Tales of love and loss, of loneliness and family, and the need to search for something more- something a little more Heavenly.

     Upon the completion of this self-produced effort (featuring Jason’s own band, not studio musicians) doors began to open everywhere. Since its release they have shared stages with the likes of  Randy Rogers, Stoney LaRue, Reckless Kelly, Bruce Robison, Kyle Bennet, Brandon Jenkins, Tracy Byrd, Lee Ann Womack, Rich O’Toole, Tracy Lawrence, Micky and the Motorcars, Johnny Cooper, Justin Moore, David Nail, Joe Nichols, Colt Ford, and more. The biggest compliment, though was in January of 2011-the chance to meet and perform  with one of the most respected and enigmatic figures in all of country music- Merle Haggard.     Also in 2011, Jason’s music got the attention of MTV’s patrner project, Ourstage.com. Jason’s music won a total of 11 awards that year including winning top honors in the the Country, Singer-Songwriter, and Alternative Country catagories for his songs “My Kind of Woman”, “Headed Home”, and the heartfelt tale of a man searching for his soul, “Los Angeles”. He was also lauded by Ourstage magazine as “Country Artist to Watch in 2012”.      In 2012 JHB released 3 radio singles, “Where You Wanna Go”, “Hometown Hero”, and “My Kind of Woman” , to widespread success throught the Texas Music community. They suddenly found themselves on hundreds of radio stations, in several countries throughout the world. The culmination of this new recognition came in early 2013 when the band was nominated for 3 Texas Music Awards by the Academy of Texas Music. At the awards show, the band was crowned “Live Act of the Year”, with Jason being deemed “Honorary Texan” by the Academy, as he was the first-ever non-Texas to be given an award. 

    In the summer of 2013 JHB released a brand new album entitled “(r)evolution”. An amazing disc with 18 tracks of a newer, more progressively Southern sound, “(r)evolution” is set to be a Red Dirt Classic. The first single “First Class White Trash” was released in October 2013, and is still at the time of this printing in late March 2014, hanging solidly on the Texas Charts. 

    Also  in 2013, Jason Helms was awarded “Male Vocalist of the Year”, while Jason Helms Band was named “Country Band of the Year” at the ETX Music Awards.

  2014 has also seen a dynamic new element added to the Jason Helms Band- one of Guitar Player magazine’s “Top Ten Young Gun Guitarists” in the nation, Wes Jeans. Fast friends, Jason and Wes had collaborated for years, either writing or performing, and finally in 2014 the stars aligned and these two joined forces, further solidifying the JHB progression into territory occupied by Legends like the Allman Brothers and Gov’T Mule, but with a decidedly more country kick. 

      If you haven’t experienced it yourself, then you haven’t even imagined the experience of Jason Helms Band. Book a flight, buy a bus ticket, put a thumb out on the interstate- GO NOW, and see  JHB live and in technicolor. You won’t regret that you did!