From Childhood Friends to Baythorne Days: Javi Colon Checks Into Jet Lag Motel

Hello everyone!

Javi here…

Man, where do I even start?

Brian and I have known each other since we were probably about 10 years old. We grew up around the same amazing music scene and even took lessons from the same teacher.

As long as I’ve known him, Brian has always been a musical hero to me. He was out playing in bands and part of the music scene before I was, and I always knew what an incredible musical talent he had.

It’s crazy how life works.

Years later, Brian and I saw each other again during one of his visits to Los Angeles. He was in town visiting his longtime friend and brother Luis, and after talking for a while, I asked him if he was still playing music.

He told me he really hadn’t been doing much with music because he and his wife Carisa had been so busy building SA IV Center back in San Antonio.

Being the crazy friend that I am, I basically asked him, “Why not? You should be jamming!”

We laughed. Brian said something like, “Well, I don’t know… maybe.”

And then something happened.

He started sending me these kickass song ideas.

It was like he had suddenly unleashed all of this music that had been waiting to come out. The songs had these super catchy hooks, great melodies and lyrics that came straight from the heart.

Before long, Brian and Steven were writing the songs that would become Jet Lag Motel’s first album, No Vacancy.

Then Came Baythorne Days

Recording Baythorne Days was one of the most incredible opportunities and experiences I’ve ever had.

I still remember Brian asking me to record the bass lines like it was yesterday. I was super excited and honestly honored that he wanted me to be part of it.

Then he told me we were going to Los Angeles and would be working with Taylor Carroll from Lit.

I knew Lit well. My old band, 96 Decibel Freaks, had also been part of the Orange County music scene in the ’90s, so there was already a connection to that world for me.

This was going to be something special.

Checking Into The Kitchen

On the first day, we all met up at the Airbnb, had an awesome breakfast and started jamming on the tunes.

Then we grabbed our gear, piled into the Escalade and headed over to The Kitchen recording studio in Los Angeles.

That’s where we met the one and only Nathan Bankston.

We brought everything inside, settled in, and immediately felt at home.

We found out Taylor was going to be delayed in working with us, so instead of sitting around, we just jumped straight into the music with Bankston at the helm.

And from there, it was on.

Every song we recorded has an amazing memory attached to it for me.

Brian, Steven and I spent long nights in that studio, and somehow they never really felt long. Every night became its own event. There was this incredible chemistry between us, with everyone supporting each other and pushing the songs forward.

It felt like magic.

We put everything we had into those recordings. Heart, passion, emotion, and a whole lot of laughter.

And believe me, there were some pretty crazy moments along the way.

But that was part of what made the experience so special. We weren’t just learning each other’s parts. We were getting to know each other’s feelings, hearts and emotions through the songs themselves.

That’s something I’ll never forget.

And Brian, thank you for believing in me and asking me to be part of Baythorne Days. Going from two kids growing up around the same music scene to recording an album together all these years later is pretty incredible when you think about it.

I’m proud of what we made.

Now get yourself a copy of Baythorne Days, put it on, and get ready to feel every one of these songs.

Straight to the heart and the feels.

And whatever you do…

CRANK IT UP TILL THE KNOB BREAKS OFF!!!

LET’S ROCK!!

— Javi Colon

Bass, Jet Lag Motel Baythorne Days Sessions