Brian Just Band

Music

FEATURED SONG

Play
Play Next
Add to queue

Me and You

Album:

Released: Jan 1, 2009

Label:

1. Play
2. Play Next
3. Add to queue
Me and You
3:42
395 plays
1. Play
2. Play Next
3. Add to queue
Sinking Into My Shoes
3:17
92 plays
1. Play
2. Play Next
3. Add to queue
Duluth
2:43
74 plays
1. Play
2. Play Next
3. Add to queue
Maybe
3:38
82 plays

Total Plays: 16,700 / Plays Today: 2See All Featured ►

General Info

Genre: Americana / Bluegrass / Pop
Location Minneapolis, Un
Profile Views: 39192
Last Login: 11/9/2011
Member Since 8/27/2005
Website www.brianjust.com
Type of Label Unsigned
Bio
After releasing two contemplative folk EPs as a solo artist, Brian Just knew he needed to put together an eclectic band to reproduce the sounds for the new music he was hearing in his head. Enlisting some of the finest folk- and jazz-influenced talents in the Minneapolis music scene (including members of the Como Avenue Jug Band, The Mad Ripple, Tuesdays Robot and Beight), the six-piece Brian Just Band spent two years writing and recording their first full-length album If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone, which was released in May 2011. Produced by Jim O'Neill (Allison Scott), If You Like To Be Alone… radiates with gentle breezes of harmony and thoughtfully abstract touches of piano, flute, trumpet and banjo over a pastoral, folk-pop sound that is fresh yet deliberately evokes memories of summers long gone. Several songs have been on heavy rotation on 89.3 the Current, including "Electric" and "Washburn Square." Minneapolis music scene (including members of the Como Avenue Jug Band, The Mad Ripple, Tuesdays Robot and Beight), the six-piece Brian Just Band spent two years writing and recording their first full-length album If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone, which was released in May 2011. Produced by Jim O'Neill (Brad Senne, Allison Scott), If You Like To Be Alone… radiates with gentle breezes of harmony and thoughtfully abstract touches of piano, flute, trumpet and banjo over a pastoral, folk-pop sound that is fresh yet deliberately evokes memories of summers long gone. Several songs have been on heavy rotation on the Local Current, including "Electric" and "Washburn Square." Like their namesake in one of the country's most talented lyricists. The Brian Just Band purr softly, gently and smoothly with the restrained ability to give out with a burst of power when a powerful performance is required. Prior to recording this album, the Brian Just Band rose from the obscurity of being only six Minneapolis, Minn., college mates to the position of America's favorite young folk rock sixsome in just the time it took the nation's record buyers to snap up their first two records in copious quantities. In recording this album, the Brian Just Band achieved a series of "firsts" that are noteworthy in several respects: It is their FIRST album; it is the FIRST time they have been able to show they can do justice to classic instruments such as the flute and banjo as well as to brand new ones like the keyboard; and it is the FIRST time they have been permitted to display their ability to project rollicking songs as well as to croon blues and ballads. Their singing career started by accident- Brian and Josie intended to whip up a couples-duet act to perform at local watering holes. They invited Rick to play trumpet for them, but he sang the trumpet part instead! It proved to be one of the happiest accidents that ever happened for the benefit of harmony lovers. Working as a solo singer- songwriter in the coffee shops and bars of Minneapolis, Brian soon met like-minded musicians with a focus and training that allowed his musical ideas to come to fruition. Enlisting some of the finest folk and jazz influenced talents in the Minneapolis music scene; Brian Just Band is a six-piece group consisting of: Rick Widen and Andrew Bartelson (Tuesdays Robot, Como Avenue Jug Band), Jenny Hanson (Rufio, Como Avenue Jug Band), Josie Schmitt (Jim O'Neill, Tuesdays Robot) and Andre Leroux (Audrey, Beight). The Brian Just Band has been performing for three years and have released two albums Every Tree and Every Stone (2005) and Open Air (2008). The band will be releasing a new album in 2010 called If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ...... .......... .......... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Me and You @ Stasiu's...... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..
Members
Drums, bells and shakers - Andrew Bartelson Flute and piccolo - Jenny Hanson Guitar and vocal - Brian Just Bass guitar - Jim O'Neill Piano, organ and vocal - Josie Schmitt Banjo, trumpet, trombone and vocal - Rick Widen
Influences
Townes van Zandt, Peter Howell, The Pentangle, Lou Reed, The Muppets, Gram Parson, Will Oldham, Das Freakout, If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone, Brad Senne, Charlie Chaplin, Yo La Tengo, Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Horses, Rick Robot, Tommy James and the Shondelles, Wim Wenders, MPU, Leonard Cohen, Bicycle the Cat, Tom Waits, the Monkees.
Sounds Like
"A smile-inducing cross between Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros and Belle & Sebastian, offers up concise bits of trumpet, flute, piano and shimmery female backup vocals, all cleanly laid over Just's day dreamy, lazy-afternoon folk-rock tunes." - Chris Riemenschneider : Star Tribune "A sunny and elaborate affair, artfully incorporating 60's Folk sounds reminiscent of the Kinks Village Green Preservation Society. By turns low-key and boot-stompin', their versatile blend of acoustic folk and bluegrass highlights their signature harmonies." -David Campbell : 89.3 The Current "a perfect summer soundtrack, The Minneapolis sextets 1960s-esque If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone. Their single "Electric," a melodic stomper from the new record, has been in heavy rotation on The Current, and you'll be hard-pressed to find a sunnier driving tune." -Tom Pilcher : City Pages

More ▼Less ▲

Bio:

No other folk rock sextet in recent musical memory has achieved such perfect blending of young, soft voices as have Brian Just, Josie Schmitt, Andrew Bartelson, Jenny Hanson, Andre Leroux, and Rick Widen, who are the Brian Just Band. Like their namesake in one of the country's most talented lyricists. The Brian Just Band purr softly, gently and smoothly with the restrained ability to give out with a burst of power when a powerful performance is required. Prior to recording this album, the Brian Just Band rose from the obscurity of being only six Minneapolis, Minn., college mates to the position of America's favorite young folk rock sixsome in just the time it took the nation's record buyers to snap up their first two records in copious quantities. In recording this album, the Brian Just Band achieved a series of "firsts" that are noteworthy in several respects: It is their FIRST album; it is the FIRST time they have been able to show they can do justice to classic instruments such as the flute and banjo as well as to brand new ones like the keyboard; and it is the FIRST time they have been permitted to display their ability to project rollicking songs as well as to croon blues and ballads. Their singing career started by accident- Brian and Josie intended to whip up a couples-duet act to perform at local watering holes. They invited Rick to play trumpet for them, but he sang the trumpet part instead! It proved to be one of the happiest accidents that ever happened for the benefit of harmony lovers. Working as a solo singer- songwriter in the coffee shops and bars of Minneapolis, Brian soon met like-minded musicians with a focus and training that allowed his musical ideas to come to fruition. Enlisting some of the finest folk and jazz influenced talents in the Minneapolis music scene; Brian Just Band is a six-piece group consisting of: Rick Widen and Andrew Bartelson (Tuesdays Robot, Como Avenue Jug Band), Jenny Hanson (Rufio, Como Avenue Jug Band), Josie Schmitt (Jim O’Neill, Tuesdays Robot) and Andre Leroux (Audrey, Beight). The Brian Just Band has been performing for three years and have released two albums Every Tree and Every Stone (2005) and Open Air (2008). The band will be releasing a new album in 2010 called If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone.

Me and You @ Stasiu's

Member Since:

August 27, 2005

Members:

Brian Just guitar vocals Josie Schmitt piano vocals Rick Widen banjo trumpet guitar Andrew Bartelson drums Jenny Hanson flute Andre Leroux bass.

Influences:

Townes van Zandt, Peter Howell, The Pentangle, Lou Reed, The Muppets, Gram Parson, Will Oldham, Das Freakout, If You Like To Be Alone Or If You Need To Be With Someone, Brad Senne, Charlie Chaplin, Yo La Tengo, Neil Young, Brian Wilson, Horses, Rick Robot, Tommy James and the Shondelles, Wim Wenders, MPU, Leonard Cohen, Bicycle the Cat, Tom Waits, the Monkees.

Sounds Like:

"ambiguously descending, contemplative acoustic chords and gentle breezes of harmony must surely be what going to heaven and finding that the sun is constantly shining and the merlot is free forever must sound like" ~Ian Fildes Americana UK

"he is singing timeless songs that work just as well at a bar as they would if he were sitting on your front porch." ~Bob Longmore Howwastheshow.com

"a nod to the timeless sounds of the 1960’s with its acoustic-centered songs mixed with piano and the right amount of hippie" ~Tammy Reese Rift Magazine