270:. Tonie Joy has said that seeing The Hated play for the first time inspired he and Jonathan Vance to start Moss Icon, saying, "“I remember thinking, ‘This is like hardcore thrash meets Richie Havens.’ How were they strumming so fast?” Joy says. “I think that night jump-started the idea of us doing a band.” Moss Icon were active until 1991, briefly in 2001, and occasionally since 2007. Joy recalls: "The folks in Moss Icon, we were between 16 and 18," Joy said ..., "all in middle class and upper-middle class suburbia outside of Annapolis. I lived with my grandmother, which made me a little different than most of my friends. I was never much of a child. I thought the Black Panthers were cool when I was, like, 10." In 1990 Joy played guitar in
319:, who, despite a period of inactivity from 2002–2005, currently remain active under the name The Convocation. It was formed in 1998 by Joy and drummer George France. They were later joined by bassist Guy Blakeslee. The band's sound is characterized by a mix of post-hardcore, experimental rock, and psychedelic influences. Their music often features intricate guitar work, dynamic rhythms, and a blend of melodic and dissonant elements. The Convocation is known for its atmospheric and expansive soundscapes, distinguishing them within the post-hardcore scene.
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highly energetic, contributing to their reputation in the underground music scene. They released a self-titled EP, a full-length album, and several singles. The band's influence, especially marked by Joy's distinctive style of guitar work, extended beyond their brief existence, impacting many subsequent post-hardcore and punk bands.
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band Grok and previous group The
Verdicts, Joy began playing music as a teenager. Joy got his first guitar when he was 15 years old. He met up with his father at a guitar store, and they split the cost of the guitar - with his father paying half as a Christmas present. This was the first time Joy was
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The band was known for its intense, chaotic performances and a sound that blended elements of punk, hardcore, and experimental rock. Universal Order of
Armageddon's music was marked by frantic energy, complex structures, and a raw, aggressive sound. Their performances were often unpredictable and
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Tonie Joy’s guitar playing style is distinctive and influential within the post-hardcore and experimental rock scenes. Overall, Tonie Joy’s guitar style is a blend of aggressive punk energy, experimental creativity, and complex rhythms, all delivered with a raw and authentic DIY spirit.
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Joy had a diverse range of early musical influences starting from a young age. He was drawn to the loud, distorted sounds of 1970s hard rock and metal bands that his parents and older cousin, who loaned him records by Joy
Division and Throbbing Gristle. He listened to, such as
243:. Throughout his teenage years, Joy remained open-minded with his tastes, enjoying a variety of styles including psychedelic rock, metal, and any "weird" or unique music. These diverse influences from his early life helped inform the unconventional sound that Joy and
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Joy incorporates experimental elements into his guitar work, utilizing unconventional chord structures and dissonance. This experimentation adds an atmospheric and sometimes chaotic feel to the music, setting it apart from more traditional punk and hardcore styles
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His playing often features complex rhythms and time signatures, which adds to the unpredictability and excitement of the music. This complexity is a hallmark of his work with bands like
Universal Order of Armageddon and The Convocation
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When asked why he preferred
Fenders and single coils over Gibsons and humbuckers, Joy explained that Strats felt more comfortable and he appreciated working within their limitations. He also admired Ritchie Blackmore, who used Strats.
235:). As the 1970s progressed, he began gravitating towards more experimental and avant-garde music. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he was exposed to punk rock and gained an appreciation for bands in the emerging hardcore scene like
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Throughout his career, Joy has been appreciated for his innovative guitar work and his ability to blend intensity with emotion in his music. His contributions have left a lasting impact on the alternative and punk music landscapes.
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and was a touring guitarist on their 2011 UK and EU tour. Later this year, Joy debuted his 7 piece live band called Slow Bull, the culmination of several years of solo writing and recording efforts. Joy currently is in band called
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His playing is deeply emotive, often conveying a sense of urgency and passion that resonates with listeners. This emotional intensity is a key aspect of his contribution to the development of the emo and post-hardcore genres.
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Tonie Joy’s approach is marked by a raw and aggressive sound, typical of the post-hardcore genre. His playing often features heavy distortion and a gritty tone, which contributes to the intense atmosphere of his music.
160:, a band that played a significant part in the development of the post-hardcore and emo scenes with their complex song structures and introspective lyrics. Moss Icon's music, especially their album
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He frequently employs various effects pedals to create a wide range of sounds, from reverb and delay to more flanger and phaser. This contributes to the expansive and layered textures in his music
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Influenced by the DIY ethic of the hardcore punk scene, Joy’s style also reflects a hands-on, unpolished approach that emphasizes authenticity and emotional expression over technical perfection
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Joy also in 2024 contributed guitar tracks to the forthcoming record "Learning to Live with Fire" by
Caithlin de Marrais, the singer and bassist for
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In 2010 he briefly played bass in the hard rock band The
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Shortly thereafter, following a brief period playing guitar in and contributing artwork to Lava, Joy co-founded
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from 1989 until 2001. He emerged in the late 1980s and has been a key figure in several notable bands.
874:"an interview w/ Tonie Joy of Moss Icon, on the reunion and discography release (win a TEST PRESSING)"
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899:"The Enduring Legacy of Moss Icon: An Interview with Tonie Joy"
799:"The Enduring Legacy of Moss Icon: An Interview with Tonie Joy"
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508:"The Hated reunion: How a band helped shape hardcore and emo"
722:"Tonie Joy and Slow Bull w/ The Pilgrim, Frosty & Hadol"
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would go on to create in the 1980s DC underground scene.
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Having been inspired by his father Bill's early '70s
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774:"Tonie Joy Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More"
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642:. April 13, 2005. Archived from
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311:The Convocation (1998 - present)
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849:"Tonie Joy Discography"
438:"Tonie Joy (Moss Icon)"
334:Cherish the Light Years
251:Moss Icon (1986 - 1991)
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560:"Return of Moss Icon"
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298:in the late 1990s.
292:The Great Unraveling
77:Guitar, vocals, bass
728:. February 24, 2012
585:"Close to Far Away"
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112:Ebullition
43:Birth name
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700:Stereogum
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264:punk rock
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227:, and
185:, and
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