A band usually consists of someone to play drums, guitar, keyboards, and other various instruments and, of course a lead singer, right? Not so for all bands, especially Junk Food Buddha.

“We all sing. No one person fronts the band,” band member John Winn said.

Former members of BS&M, Fighting Gravity, No Small Feet and other groups decided in June 1996 to form the band.

“We play a mix of modern, alternative rock mixed with ska and some Latin influence,” said drummer Jody Boyd.

The inspiration for their music, he said, came “definitely (from) women… from relationships, both good and bad, things going on in culture and about each other (those within the band).”

Winn, who plays saxophone, flute, and clarinet, said their most exciting show was Friday Cheers, the end- of-week party in downtown Richmond, on July 5.

“It was our first time out,…there was lots of energy. We’re basically a bunch of veteran musicians (who were) tired of being the side man the side man, and wanted to be on our own,” Winn said.

After Friday Cheers, Junk Food Buddha played at the Duck Race on the James, said trombonist Chris Leitch.

We played for about a hour and 15 minutes….We began to feel comfortable with each other on stage, more like family” he said.

Leitch said that the band hopes to have their first CD out by the end of the year.

“Right now we’re playing our music and getting the crowd’s response.”

“We are from so many different backgrounds,” Leitch said, “that we are focusing on music for it’s own sake.”

He said the only common theme of their music was the energy behind it. “We’re not trying to weigh down the world with our music,” Leitch said.

Although the band was formed only this past summer, Winn, along with Leitch, and Jeff Nagel, who plays bass and saxophone, have been writing songs collectively for about six months before the band formed, Boyd said.

They plan to play in town as much as possible, but will also travel on a regional circuit stretching from Pennsylvania to South Carolina, Winn said.

They have just developed their mascot(s).

“It’s a fat-looking Buddha holding either a pizza or a doughnut,” Winn said. They plan to alternate the food he holds with different types of junk food goodies. “We wanted to get Domino’s sponsorship, but they probably wouldn’t want to be considered “junk food,” he said.

Winn also teaches three classes in VCU’s music department and each of the band members have been students in the department.