The Pixies, Nirvana, Radiohead, The Beatles, Daniel Johnston, 30 Seconds To Mars, Alice In Chains, Staind, Audioslave, System Of A Down, Three Days Grace, Elliott Smith, Puddle Of Mudd, Weezer, Seether, etc...
Just Visiting doesn’t fit a stereotype. Just Visiting hasn’t hopped on the musical bandwagon. Just Visiting doesn’t have a gimmick. Just Visiting just plays great music.
Just Visiting is the alternative rock brainchild of singer/songwriter/guitarist Johnny P. Cervini. With influences that range from heavy rock to blues, and a bilingual repertoire, Just Visiting emerges as a truly unique presence in today’s cookie-cutter rock landscape.
From the pop-rock gem “Life in a Shoebox” to the brooding “Glass of Whine” to the passionate Spanish-language “Para Ti,” the songs of Just Visiting are varied, but are cut from the same cloth. The distinct sound combines revealing lyrics, grungy chords and bluesy lead guitar to create a collection of songs that are at once heavy, melodic and introspective.
What’s in a name?
The phrase “Just Visiting” began as an inside joke – something Brooklyn-raised Cervini would say in his small college town of Geneseo, NY when people asked if he was from the area. Cervini was attached to the phrase and also saw that it doubled as a commentary. “Being a consumer of music before I was a maker of music, I’m aware of how quickly success can be bestowed upon and then taken away from an artist,” Cervini explains, “so the name is also a sarcastic take on the touch and go nature of the music industry.” Indeed, since Cervini was just learning guitar at the time, he had the name in mind even before there were songs.
The backstory . . .
In Spring 2005, Cervini, now living in Queens, NY, entered the studio to record the bilingual SINpathetic EP, featuring six of his original songs, with some musician friends who sat in for the recording. Those friends could not commit to a regular gig and Cervini did not form a full band until 2006 when he hooked up with a local drummer and bassist. The band, using the Just Visiting name, began practicing the songs that Cervini wrote for the SINpathetic EP in addition to several new ones he had written. Wanting to make up for lost time, Cervini purposely booked their first show before they were ready. Though there were wrinkles still to be ironed out, this first show created an appetite for live performances that fueled them to practice hard and create a tight set quickly.
In its short lifespan, this incarnation of Just Visiting played an impressive list of shows, working the NYC circuit for several months at venues such as Arlene’s Grocery, Kenny’s Castaways, the Underscore, Desmond’s Tavern, Siberia and the Pussycat Lounge. They also had the honor of playing at the legendary CBGB club in its final weekend of operation. The hour-long set list packed a punch with catchy new songs such as “Sounds Pretty,” “The Tone Def Song,” and “As I Climb,” in addition to the stellar “Life In A Shoebox,” among other material from the SINpathetic EP.
Cervini also lent his songs to the soundtrack of the film “Double Down,” which was a winner at the 2006 New York International Independent Film and Video Festival in November and continues to make the film festival rounds, both nationally and internationally.
Looking to the future…
In April 2007, the band’s members split over creative differences. Cervini has carried on as Just Visiting and continues to hone his songwriting craft and develop new material. Just Visiting will soon return to the studio to record several singles for the independent Black House Records label and Cervini is prepared to take the next logical step in his career as an artist – taking his unique brand of alternative rock from a local to a national audience. Check the MySpace often for the new songs, which will be heard here first!
Update: On January 12, 2007 from 8pm to 10pm, the new line-up of Just Visiting rehearsed at Astoria Soundworks and clicked on a personal and musical level. Everyone checked their egos at the door and the band has decided on the date Saturday April 5th as their return to New York City stages...
Stay tuned for exact time and location of this and all future Just Visiting performances!
CASTLE 83-11 LIFERS PRESENTS@ ACE of CLUBS [Acme] Located at 9 great jones street [3rd street] between broadway & lafayette in NYC! WWW. ACEOFCLUBSNYC. COM [for all directions etc]
ON FRIDAY NIGHT-- JUNE 20TH We Got Your Rock!...NYC STYLE!!!
8PM- SUN UP RISES 9PM- SEX POLLUTION 10PM- AND YOU AND I 11PM-- DEAD BY CHOICE *12MID--JUST VISTING*
*MUST BE 21 AND UP TO ENTER CLUB AT ALL TIMES! [ID A MUST!] *ADMISSION IS 10 BUX *DOORS OPEN AT 7.30PM
Man..great sound, love to see you play sometime. please stop by our page and grab a listen if you get a chance. would love to do a show with you sometime. -christian
hey whats going on? just wanted to stop by to thank you for adding me. i just recently put a new song on my page. it would be cool if you checked it out and told me what you think about it. id really appreaciate it! :)
