RICHMOND, Va. -- The J.O.B., a rock band based in Richmond, Virginia, is set to perform at the Richmond International Film Festival.
“I can’t imagine doing anything else. My biggest fear is that I will one day not be able to play guitar,” band co-founder and professional musician Jim O’Farrell said.
Getting to this point in life is an accomplishment for the 62-year-old Army veteran who has faced challenges throughout his career, including two deployments to Iraq in 2006 and 2007.
After retiring from the military 16 years ago, O’Farrell followed his passion for music and formed The J.O.B. with his best friend, Jason Crawford.
"I couldn’t do this without Jason. This is like Starsky and Hutch," he said.
With six studio albums under their belt, the band is excited about their current momentum.
The band’s songwriting is influenced by O’Farrell's life experiences, including his time in combat.
"We’ve come a long way from the very first song," Crawford said. "Five albums later. We got new material. We’re better than ever. It’s been a long journey. Absolutely."
New members Ronnie Thomas, a drummer, and bass player Craig Babich, both previously deployed military veterans, complete the band's lineup.
The J.O.B. was selected to perform at the festival after competing with more than 1,000 applicants.
"We consider ourselves lucky, but hard work often leads to good fortune," Crawford said.
"The Richmond International Film Festival. This is like grabbing a lamp and rubbing it and a genie pops out and grants me a wish," O’Farrell added. "This is a really big deal."
The band sees themselves as storytellers, just like filmmakers.
O’Farrell hopes that their music might inspire future film projects.
“Hopefully one of the filmmakers can listen to our songs and say, 'That should be a movie,'" he said. "I feel lucky there is a sense of validation. There is a sense of recognizing and opportunity."
The J.O.B. will perform at the Richmond International Film Festival on Friday, September 27, at 7:30 PM at The Foundation.
"We are the right group at the right time, at the right place for this festival. This is going to be a good chance for us to showcase what we got,” O’Farrell said. "Who knows what might happen."
Watch Greg McQuade's stories on CBS 6 and WTVR.com. If you know someone Greg should profile, email him at greg.mcquade@wtvr.com.
