 by Rob van Alstyne
The Twin Cities have never exactly been in short supply of male singer/songwriters of the low-key acoustic variety. Chances are if you walk into any given corner of the metro area for a cup of java you’ll bump up against at least one aspiring Dylan-phile with a CD-R to sell strumming away on stage. By and large these hobbyists make for pleasant background listening and little more, but every now and again a talent separates itself. Brian Just, 24, is one of those talents.
It’s not that there’s anything particularly revolutionary about
Just’s recently released EP of low-key acoustic folk-rock, Every Tree
and Every Stone, but his gorgeous execution proves that the traditional
singer/songwriter wheel is far from broken when done right. A talented guitarist
with a slightly throaty yet tender tenor, Just’s gently plucked melodies
make for the perfectly warming musical balm to guide Twin Cities denizens through
the last torturous weeks of seemingly never-ending cold spells.
Just’s musical journey began in his hometown of Mankato before moving
to the Twin Cities to pursue music and school. In the five years since his move
he’s managed to wear plenty of different hats: from bandleader (for the
now defunct group Saturday’s Sun) to sideman (he currently gigs as a backing
vocalist and lead guitar player alongside songwriter Brad Senne in Beight) to
graduate student (in education at the University of Minnesota).
“We spent about two years going to open mics pretty regularly before Brad
even made his record,” explains Just of his long working relationship
alongside Senne. “We’ve both adapted to each other’s quirks
and styles a little bit. Playing alongside Brad has helped me as a guitar player
more than anything in terms of learning to be a little bit more creative. Our
styles are pretty similar: we both kind of think the same way about different
things musically and it clicks pretty well. Right now we’re getting more
of a band thing going with Beight and I’m playing electric guitar which
is great because I’m hoping that will get me to write some faster and
more upbeat kind of songs. So far it hasn’t, but we’ll see.”
What the five tracks on Every Tree and Every Stone lack in tempo is more
than made up for in melody. Starting things off with a mesmerizing acoustic
guitar slide pattern before melting into a flurry of flutes and ambient keyboard
squiggles, album opener “The Pieces We Put Together” is arguably
one of the finest folk songs I’ve heard this year. The bells and whistles
come courtesy of Jesse Stevens, an unlikely source considering I had previously
known Stevens for his work as a drummer in local noise-rock
duo Ova.
“[Stevens’] noise-rock drumming is really only one side of what
he does,” explains Just. “He’s also an amazing guitar player
and really into country and folk; I’ve known him a long time. This past
summer we finally got together to record. I was able to record everything in
his apartment quickly—and for free—so you can’t really beat
that kind of deal. We actually attempted this once before and it didn’t
work just because we had such limited time. I would basically just record the
guitar and voice and then he would talk to me about what he wanted to put where
on top of it. We discussed a few ideas and then he would mostly overdub stuff
when I wasn’t there. I trusted him enough to say do whatever you can,
whether that was some flute stuff or some slide guitar. He was very understanding
and I just really trust his instincts with this stuff. I plan on doing something
again with him this summer.”
 The
closing track of the EP, “Heaven and Children Blues,” is similarly
fleshed out by Stevens but the remaining three cuts are spare acoustic recordings,
managing to be made distinct solely by Just’s keen lyrical eye and dexterous
playing abilities. Unlike many singer/songwriters, Just is equally likely to
crank out a tightly woven series of arpeggios and hammer-ons (as on the choral
hook of “Duluth”) as he is to favor a simple strum (“Never
Come Down Again”). It’s in this willingness to embrace both simple
and intricate acoustic guitar arrangements that Just most strongly echoes one
of his songwriting heroes: Elliott Smith.
“I really appreciate that compliment because I’ve never thought
of my playing as complex,” admits Just when I mention his similarity to
Smith in favoring both “simple” and “complicated” songs.
“I never really took guitar lessons or anything, so it’s hard for
me to really think about how I write or the complicatedness of it. Sometimes
I just start with the most simple chord progression and come up with a vocal
that I like and then don’t think about the guitar line. Generally, I think
‘the simpler the better’ when it comes to guitar parts. All of my
favorite songs have really simple progressions. I definitely don’t realize
it myself but I think all the guitar playing I’ve been doing lately with
Brad has improved my skills a little bit.”
Although Just is far from a rookie—his first band was gigging out in town
at the 400 Bar and the 7th St. Entry while he was still in his teens and he
already has a previous EP and full-length to his credit—it’s only
been recently that his solo music has started to gain some of the attention
(and concert billing) it deserves around town. Just credits friendly fellow
musicians in the scene for this occurrence. “This last year has been by
far the best in terms of making musical connections with other people,”
says Just. “It’s pretty tough for me to take the time to set up
shows on my own because I have such a busy school and work schedule; I only
have so much time. But the people I’ve met at shows whose music I like
and who like mine—they’ve done more for me than anything. People
like Brad, Jesse, JoAnna James, Chris Koza—they are all just easygoing,
friendly people which is something I haven’t run into in the music world
very much. It’s been a really cool year.” ||
Brian Just plays on Thu., Apr. 6 at the Terminal Bar with Dear Sweet
Villains and Montreal. 9 p.m. $5. 21+. 409 E. Hennepin Ave., Mpls. 612-623-4545.
For more information on Brian Just check out his official website at BrianJust.com
or download an mp3 of Just’s song “The Pieces We Put Together.”
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