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Like the great brother groups of the 30s and 40s--the Delmores, the Louvins, and the Stanleys--The Get Up Johns combine close tenor harmonies with adroit and polished musicianship.

Their impassioned brother duet sound developed from a shared affection for the profound beauty of two lonesome tenor voices in perfect harmony. Jake Hyer’s West Virginian roots manifest in the sweet sadness of his fiddle and mandolin solos while Josh Wenck’s innovative bass runs and array of Carter style guitar rhythms give this unpretentious and minimalist duo the range and energy of a full band.

Dressed in matching black suits their repertoire is composed largely of old-time and early country tunes, with an emphasis on songs recorded by the Louvin Brothers. Each show turns an unswerving spotlight on the experience of sin, salvation, and heartbreak with Hyer playing the stone-faced straight man to Wenck’s garrulous carnie barker.

They have enjoyed favored status in the eclectic Twin Cities music scene, headlining at the Varsity Theater and The Cedar Cultural Center. In December of 2004 the staff of First Avenue and local industry taste-makers picked the Johns for their annual “Best New Bands of 2004” showcase in the Mainroom of the First Avenue nightclub. They also landed a top ten finish in the City Pages “Picked 2 Click” of 2005. The Johns have been nominated for three Minnesota Music Awards and their first full-length CD, “Trouble in Mind,” was released by the Mercy Recordings label in 2006 and was chosen as one of the top local releases of the year by The Onion and the City Pages.

Trouble in Mind is available at Miles of Music