Caliente

Old Blind Dogs clearly accommodating

It's been said you can't teach an old dog new tricks. But can you teach a new dog old tricks? Aaron Jones believes you can. The 30-year-old guitarist is the newest member of Scottish folk favorites the Old Blind Dogs, set to appear at the Berger Performing Arts Center tonight. "One of the most important things coming into a band is to learn to play the established material," said Jones in a recent phone interview from Seattle. "It's hard enough sometimes when people are used to a face in the band and then you come in. You don't want to be playing completely new material or stamp your mark on it immediately. You have to settle in there." Despite less than a year under his collar with the Dogs, Jones feels he's already adjusted to the new pack. After all, this isn't his first time around the park. The Poole, England, native has lent his multi-instrumental and vocal talents to a number of groups across the United Kingdom. He has performed with primarily Irish and Scottish bands and is probably best known for his work with the Belfast band Craobh Rua. "I've been very lucky," he said. "I was in an Irish band before and I had walked in after they had done a fair amount of work in the States already. "It's the same situation with the Dogs. I walked in after they had done a lot of groundwork and established a reputation for themselves." Joining late means Jones has experienced the spoils of the band's hard work: auditorium dates and an established fanbase. He still, however, tries to contribute where he can. The performer has offered other skills to the band. Together with his brother, a professional Web designer, Jones has put together an all-singing/all-dancing Web page for the group and its fans. "It was another string to my bow," said Jones, who runs a professional world music site with his brother. "We worked it over and now we try to get the guys more involved and active in discussion groups. It's one of those things you have to embrace or it will pass you by." The band is touring off its 2003 release, "The Gab o Mey" - an album that "mixes rolling world music sensibilities and distinctly modern updates," according to the Chicago Sun-Times. It is also a project created before Jones joined the group. Jones is eager to get into the studio with the band but will have to wait until 2005 after the major tours die down. In the meantime, he can be heard on a live Dogs CD due out by the end of the year. Jones said the Dogs have been more than accepting to him, but notes the real acceptance has come from the fans. "You've got fans who know I'm the new guy, but they are all very open, welcome and supportive," he said. "They know ultimately that the band and the music is the main thing. The personnel might change, but the music is the main thing."