Now Playing: "Forget About Time" by Jon Justice (2.2 MB sample)
Also visit: Jon Justice and Co.
When he was 13, he played drums in a gospel-bluesgrass band. In high school, he rebelled and briefly fell into substance abuse. He dropped out and left home for Memphis music fame at 17, only to wind up as a traveling wallpaper hanger for hotels and jamming after hours when he got the chance (good touring experience for a young musician, he says). He has played professionally for a dozen years, and released two CDs. He has shared the stage with Buddy Guy, The Memphis Horns, Tinsley Ellis, Derek Trucks, Watermelon Slim. He is a single father to Jonah, age four.
And Jon Justice will just turn 26 a few weeks before the Jon Justice Band's appearance at the Bluesfest Kick-Start show on Friday, August 29. As the band leader, of course, Justice is the oldest member.
With that history, it's no wonder that Justice gravitates toward the blues, and he has the drive it takes to make a name for himself in that under-appreciated genre.
"I really hated school and I wasn't going to college. But I always knew what I wanted to do, so I thought I always had a leg up on everybody. I wanted to play music," he was quoted in a 2007 Cincinnati Enquirer profile by Rick Bird.
But drive alone is not enough, without talent for that drive to promote, and half-a-lifetime's experience has elevated Justice's natural performing and songwriting skills to a level that causes people to take notice. And after some early personnel changes, he has put together a solid band behind him that shares his commitment and ability.
Justice commented in a 2007 City Beat article by Brian Baker: "I've had so many musicians play with me, that's why I always kept it 'Jon Justice.' Right now, I'm using the 'Jon Justice Band' because I've had the same guys for a while and I've used these guys on the (new) record."
"These guys" are band members Wade Baker (bass), Eric Manweiller (drums) and Ben Walkenhauer ("saxamaphone"). Together with Justice, they exude an energy and a sound in a performance that you will not want to miss. The Jon Justice Band won the 2007 Cincinnati Blues Challenge, was voted City Beat Magazine Best Singer/Slinger of 2007, and was nominated for 3 Cincinnati Entertainment Awards: "Best Blues", "Best Live Act" and "Best New Artist".
The Bluesfest Kick-Start event on Friday evening joins the day-long Saturday Riverside Bluesfest on Labor Day weekend as a celebration of the Blues music genre, held annually at K.C. Geiger Park in St. Marys, Ohio. The festival includes live music, food and refreshments in a family-friendly atmosphere. A production of the K.C. Geiger Park Improvement Committee, the Kick-Start and Riverside Bluesfest are not-for-profit events with proceeds benefiting the K.C. Geiger Park Improvement Fund.
The Jon Justice Band will begin at 9:30 pm and close the Friday show. Opening the Bluesfest Kick-Start show at 7:00 pm is area favorite Big Worm & the Nightcrawlers. Dave "Big Worm" Liles, Brett Mullins, Rick Yates and Bryan Wireman scorch the stage with blues, rock and country favorites. At 8:15 pm, the Celina, Ohio blues band Lady Bird & the Dirty Dirty Earthworms perform. Stephanie Rogers' powerful vocals are backed by John Remington, Doug Wendel and Brad Barton.
Admission to the Kick-Start will be only $3.00, collected at the gate (Riverside Bluesfest presale tickets do not include admission to the Kick-Start show).
Ticket information, and the latest Riverside Bluesfest news can be found online at www. stmarysblues.com.
