Josh Turner - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar * Jordan Holt - Keyboards, Banjo, Vocals * Justin Kasparek - Guitar, Vocals * Dan Haack - Bass * Melissa Morgan - Percussion * Brian Borland - Drums, Percussion
Influences
Phish, Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Grateful Dead, Bela Fleck, String Cheese Incident, Willie Nelson, Black Crowes, Allman Bros, WSP, Johnny Cash, Sly and the Family Stone, Talking Heads, Beck, Dave Brubeck
LOCAL TRANSIT is a band based on chemistry and energy. Blending rock, country, funk, bluegrass, jazz, and some jam band tendenciessometimes referred to as RockGrass, Local Transit connects well with audiences and gets people to the dancin'- oh the foon! the loove! the goood times! ...............................................................................................................Local Transit, Local Transit, Local Transit. It took a while to come up with the name. MelloMonster was in the front running, along with Salamander Jam and Frantic Pancake. But alas, we went with the timeless classic Local Transit. We meet you where youre at, connection-connection, and we take off together, thus- Local Transit!...................................................................
Out of the 6 people in the group, 3 people have names that start with the letter J - Josh, Jordan and Justinwhat are the chances? What are they! ...................................................................................
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Josh originally headed up the whole idea, and Jordan and Josh (often referred to as Yosh) soon hooked up (musically dont ya know). Yosh has been playing guitar and singing songs for a while now. Jordan (aka Jordanimo) was classically trained on piano (not to mention having a physics degree). He ended up gettin all into Herbie Hancock, and headed down a road of funk, ragtime (saloon style!) and outer space super-style....and then came the banjo...like sweet icing on the cake, or perfect flavor added to a drink, or tasty salad dressing. Ahhh, banjorific Jordanimo! Keys and banjo! ..........................................................................
Jordan brought Justin in on the scene. Justin is an amazing guitar player. If youre one that gets annoyed by guitars, theres a great chance that you will still be a fan of the way Justin plays. Hes an awesome person and musician, fired up about playing tons of music.
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These guys are all fountains of living music.the life overflows and pours out of them......................................................................................
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Then there is the incredible Melissa Morgan, sometimes called Mel or Melrose. Shes great on percussion and has a rockin arsenal to work with. Not only is she a very tasteful player, shes just good to be around and to talk to. Melrose has great ideas and communicates well. She even used to be a diving instructor (tank on the back and all). Ask her about the time she was by herself underwater, low on oxygen, with a diving suit that had short sleeves and shorts-leg coverings, and she realized that thousands and thousands of jellyfish, several football fields across, were above her. Not enough air to swim around, Mel had to slowly go up thru the jellyfish (you cant go fast because of the pressure!). She barely made it up alive, and was taken to the island witchdoctor. He gave her something that he said would make her sicker than shes ever been before, but shed be well in a couple days.and thats just what happened- sicker than most can imagine for 2 days, and then suddenly Mel was well. .............................................................................................................
Then there came the amazing drummer Brian Borland. Hes super solid and produces amazing energy. Brian always seems to know just the right thing to play at the right time. Playing with him is magical and super-chemistrific. Much love and respect for Brian!!!!.................................................................................................................................
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My name is Dan, and I play bass with Local Transit. I showed up shortly after Brian arrived, being a final piece of the puzzle. I love these people and love playing with them. We have a significantly special relationship together. It seems that weve been playing together, knowing each other and growing together for years. ...............................................................................................
Local Transit will live, one way or another, forever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Below you can read our original (for the most part) bio if youd like:
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Local Transit plays improvisational rock-n-roll with style influences from jazz, bluegrass, funk, country, blues and soopah-stahr-dance club.
We usually start out with a root song and then let the spirit of the moment, the mood of the audience and the band, along with the feel of the evening take the music where it wants.
The band creates spontaneous music using layers of soulful lead guitar, inspiring keyboard and piano, deep bass lines overlaying off-setting guitar and percussion rhythms and a driving back beat. Local Transit's 6-pieces create a sound far beyond that of a standard rock-n-roll band.
Our influences come from all over the spectrum: Herbie Hancock, Miles Davis, Grateful Dead, Bela Fleck, String Cheese Incident, Willie Nelson, Black Crowes, Allman Bros, WSP, Johnny Cash, Sly and the Family Stone, Phish, Talking Heads, Beck, Dave Brubeck and more.
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Much Love,
-LOCAL TRANSIT
Hi, Like the music and Thanks for adding us to your friends list. I am sure you checked out what we are doing for musicians and just wanted to get back with you. Please do your Free Fan Analysis and tell us what you think what we should add to make it better anything you think would help you,
Finally, some very rough tracks have been posted to give every one an idea of where were going. Check em out, they will be up for a limited time. Also keep an eye out for our first show coming very soon!!!!!
Hi Local Transit, just a quick hello from the Jazz Pistols - hope you are doing fine and have a nice christmas season. Thanks for being our friend and good luck for the things you do. Best regards - Christoph
Our Live-DVD will be released on the 1st of February 2007!
If you would like to hear more tunes of the Jazz Pistols you can check out our homepage and get the Jazz Pistols CDs in our own shop - if you are living in the USA it will be cheaper to get them at CDBaby, Abstract Logix or as digital download at iTunes. Please join our newsletter if you are interested in our tour schedule and upcoming releases.
What up Kasper? I'm getting a crew rounded up for you guys at Boston's on Saturday. Local Transit and the Peach Truck! Should be a good show. Any chance of you playing a song or two with the Peach Truck?
You guys were so good tonight. It was the best show I've seen of yours. There was something about the Movin' on Down the Line that I just wasn't feeling, but everything else was right on. I loved it. Wakarusa? I hope so.
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