It’s tough being in a Jamaican rock band. Just ask Brian Jones, co-founder of Downstairs, a powerhouse quartet that has been making guitar-crunching music for over 20 years.

The dreadlocked Jones is lead vocalist and rhythm guitarist for the band which is now known as Brian Jones and The Downstairs. Their base is mainly Jamaica’s small rock community; they have recorded two albums, and perform sporadically with a revolving cast.

Jones, original members Andrew Campbell (bass), guitarist Neville Lane, and drummer Craig Lee make a rare appearance Saturday in Kingston Undisputed, a live concert at Whitebones Restaurant that features fellow rock bands Iron Kyte and The Sky is Broken.

To celebrate the 20th anniversary of Reggae Metal, their first album, Jones said The Downstairs are tuning up for a revival.

“We want to take our writing to a new paradigm, and go harder with the guitars, the energy,” he told the Jamaica Observer. “Even though the first two albums weren’t groundbreaking as far as sales are concerned, it’s old to us and our small fan base but new to the world.”

Released in 1999, Reggae Metal was co-produced by Frankie Campbell (Andrew Campbell’s father) and Grub Cooper of the Fabulous Five Band. Their second album, the self-produced Forty Days, was released in 2013.

Jones has been the constant face of the band he helped form at Kingston College. Being a full-time musician has been challenging for other members including Alvin Peart, The Downstairs’ original drummer.

In recent months, Jones has worked with other musicians including drummer Craig Lee and guitarist Carey Fox, which influenced the band’s name change. He admits it is tough making a mark in Jamaica when one’s sound is more Metallica and Guns ‘N Roses than Jah Cure or Popcaan.

“Music is my thing, first and foremost, but it’s not a bed of roses. We have songs that I think can make it in the commercial market, ’cause I have seen our songs on mixes with popular artistes,” he said. “We’ve had songs played at rave parties and people don’t even know it’s us.”

Those songs include Losing Touch and Legs on My Shoulder, but lack of airplay and mainstream gigs have made it difficult to transform them into hit singles. Jones acknowledged that this has led to periodic frustration, though regular shows in Florida recently have revived his interest.

“I’ve become reobsessed with music after a bit of despondency,” he said.

Rock bands are a rarity in Jamaica, though a number of them sprung up during the 1990s, inspired by the grunge movement out of Seattle. Downstairs was influenced by some of those artistes, as well as Guns ‘N Roses, the no-holds-barred band that gave hard rock a shot in the arm as hip hop began dominating music industry sales early that decade.

Undisputed is an opportunity for Jones, Campbell and Lane to reintroduce their band. According to Jones, their goal remains the same.

“We want to tour the world as far and wide as possible. Wi going for the top,” he said.