The Last Flight Out
Denver, Colorado, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Wednesday, July 01, 2009
by Dave Preston
There is a force within Julia Bryan. A positive energy that tugs and pulls, like powerful, attracted magnets. A dynamic liveliness like pulsating waves, touching the shore and slowly rejoining the ocean – a charismatic spark the audience craves in a lead singer for it makes her believable, but still out of reach.
This coincidentally is the same force that drew in guitarist and band leader, “Gunny” Jeff Norman, who formed the group with bassist Jim Dombrowski and drummer Carl Holz through a clever Craigslist posting. Rounding out the sound on keyboard and backing vocals is Marcie Norman. She and Jeff met Bryan in August of 2007 with great interest for forming a new musical project. However, it was not until late 2008 that the band was officially formed.
The Julia Bryan Band is indeed living proof that musical knowledge found in the wisdom of the soul does not limit itself to age, gender or ethic differences. That is the interesting thing about a musician’s musical fate. This is also living proof that Craigslist actually produces music that can be listened to and not a “mosh pit/cookie monster” fest. Yay for good music!
Julia Bryan’s background stems from a rich music upbringing. Her great grandfather came into the United States through Ellis Island from Denmark after being accepted for his violin playing. “For me personally, growing up with a diversity of music at the heart of everything has had a profound influence.” Bryan, in her travels abroad for years at a time, found herself with more questions and few answers. However, as her intuition began to change, her natural instinct and understanding of the essence of songs started giving the pathway a light for the mysterious unknown. “I feel alive when I’m playing music and I would not trade it for anything. I can't NOT play it!”
When one takes into account the different roads in which each member of the Julia Bryan Band has wandered over the years, it is hard not to visualize these roads merging into an open, traffic-free superhighway. Each member, a vehicle, loading all the years spent learning and unraveling the riddles of music and life. They are a strong group. Where one lacks, another excels and because of this, they are protected by the very fabric of their being. If you call it fate, then do so, but whatever it is, it is clicking.
Still under a year of forming, the Julia Bryan Band has headlined weekend shows at some of Denver’s greatest venues, played the People’s Fair to an ever-loving crowd, and waits anxiously for the ultimate Red Rocks dream on August 4th. With a magnificent EP, the Julia Bryan Band can stand tall and proud and record the highly anticipated full-length album with confidence.
MySpace.com/JuliaBryanMusic
JuliaBryan.net
- Music Buzz Magazine (Denver Colorado)
Discography
2009 Julia Bryan "self-titled" EP
2009 single "Just Not Christmas" for the troops overseas (free download during the Holiday season)
2010 Julia Bryan "Unplugged" CD
2010 Julia Bryan "Still Burning" CD
2011 "Blues and Shoes" EP
2012 "BURST!" EP
audio and video clips are posted at www.thelastflightout.com
Photos
Bio
The unlikely collaboration of TLFO's "Gunny" Jeff Norman and Julia Bryan has found a welcoming audience in Colorado’s original music scene... in just the first few months of launching their musical partnership, Julia and Gunny would go from coffee houses to the legendary Red Rocks Amphitheater. Soon after, drummer Carl "Dubba" Holz and keyboardist Marcie "The Mauler" Norman would give TLFO it's wings.
Their live show is upbeat and energetic... their radio-friendly originals and bold takes on hits from the 50’s to today give their audiences a fresh new listening experience with the familiarity of putting on favorite old Levi's.
Here’s how it all started…
Gunny had just spent 20 years in the Marines, and now settling in Colorado, would finally have the opportunity to record all the music he’d been putting together during two decades of moving around. Picking up a part-time delivery job just to keep from bein’ called lazy, he would meet his new co-worker Anna, who upon discovering he was a self-professed songwriter, felt the need to brag about her talented sister, Julia. Days later Anna would hand him a homemade CD of this Julia person singing along with her acoustic guitar to serve as proof. Obliged to give at least a cursory listen, it was immediately clear that there was indeed a special emotive quality of the voice he was hearing... lilting, soulful, and honest… one he could swear he had sometimes heard in his head when doing his own songwriting.
On the other side of the world was Julia, fulfilling a second year of non-profit work in Uganda. There she had witnessed first-hand how music was the only true universal language. For both amusement and to deal with the loneliness of being 4,800 miles away from home, she found sanctuary in her songwriting. This isolated experience would both make her much worldlier than her 22 years, and drain her… coming back to the states would prove to be a difficult transition.
Their lives would collide two years later on one summer night at a Chili’s when Julia, having recently moved back to Colorado, by sheer chance, waited on Gunny and his wife Marcie. Julia looked enough like her sister Anna that Gunny guessed she just might be the one with the distinctive voice he remembered so well… his suspicions were confirmed, and he handed Julia his phone number on the way out.
Months would pass until Julia would find a use for that number, calling to see if Gunny would accompany her on guitar at Anna’s upcoming wedding. Working together proved not only painless, but even enjoyable. Julia provided a re-motivating spark to Gunny’s songwriting and the unconditional friendship extended by Gunny and Marcie would ground Julia. Now a team, they got busy recording the songs Julia had written in Africa, Gunny’s stash of tunes, and started co-writing new material together. The 30-year age difference somehow facilitated a unique musical partnership and a signature sound resulting from merging modern and classic styles… the disparity between their ages and backgrounds proved to be fertile ground, as opposed to the train wreck one would anticipate.
Within eight months they’d go from their first coffee house gig together to experiencing all the panic and indescribable excitement of looking up at 10,000 seats from the legendary stage at Red Rocks Amphitheater. Five years, countless gigs and 5 CD’s later they still haven’t killed each other, and whether unplugged or with the band, the serendipitous pairing of The Last Flight Out continues to make for one hell of a ride.
“The Last Flight Out is a tremendous joy to work with from booking through the last set. Their professionalism is matched by great, crowd-pleasing music that’s right for a variety of settings. We have been pleased to have them at several of our events and are looking forward to working with them in the future.” –Anna Salim, Downtown Boulder Events
“Julia Bryan and the Last Flight Out are obviously in love with what they do. Their music is beautiful not only because of the lyrics and tones but because it is so apparent that these musicians are 'in it' to perform and for the love of the music. The energy they express onstage floods out to the crowd, making their shows one-of-a-kind experiences. Don't miss the chance to be part of this magic.” – Jamie Booth, Crested Butte Center for the Arts
“The Last Flight Out . . . what an amazing band. They have been playing at our events for the last couple of years and have always hit the crowd just right! They are lively, upbeat, and crowd pleasing. They are always excited to be at our events and play their hearts out. Julia Bryan has one beautiful voice . . . Love her music . . . could and do listen to it as often as I can -- especially live!” - Marilyn Kahlich, HobNob Events and Festivals
“There is a force within Julia Bryan. A positive energy that tugs and pulls, like powerful, attracted magnets. A dynamic liveliness like pulsating waves, t
Links
