Music
Press
"Electric Junction's long awaited debut CD, West of the Mississippi, has a traveling theme that seems fitting since no band member is originally from Des Moines. Members of the band made their way to Des Moines after college because of jobs, spouses and other factors, and have spent the past three years playing around Iowa and the Midwest working toward this album.
The group spent the past year touring college towns around the Midwest, building up its road-band chops. In April 06, the band went into the studio to start recording “West of the Mississippi”.
The album features Electric Junctions uncanny ability to write great songs and speak to the human spirit. “West of the Mississippi” highlights 11 new songs, including a cover of Bob Dylan's 'Tangled Up in Blue.'"
DES MOINES REGISTER staff writer Joe Lawler
- Des Moines Register: Joe Lawler
Discography
"West of the Mississippi" in accordance to Family Farm Records and Frisbee Dog Production was released in October of 2006.
West of the Mississippi track list:
1. Spirit in the Field
2. Dead Man's Soul
3. Santa Fe
4. Boise, Idaho
5. Family Farm
6. High Plains
7. Things Done Changed
8. Pack of Beagles
9. Madonna
10. Stand Back
11. High Water
12. Tangled Up In Blue (Bob Dylan)
Photos
Bio
It all began in the fall of 1987 where lil' Brian Waller met lil' Brock Beekmann in the school yard of Nodland Elementary in Sioux City, Iowa. This is where the two 7-year-olds would forge a deep rooted friendship that would last a lifetime and be the foundation for Electric Junction down the road.
After High School they left Sioux City and went their separate ways for college; Brian to Colorado State University and Brock to the University of Northern Iowa. It is during this time that both dedicated themselves to the guitar and Brian started penning the songs that would create the legitimate foundation for Electric Junction. The summers that followed saw the two reconnecting as they traveled the country to see many live shows. It was during this time that each of them truly discovered their love of music and the powerful impact it can have on all walks of life.
After college graduation both headed for Des Moines, Iowa to start Electric Junction. After playing as a duo for a couple months they played an open mic at the now infamous Jazzy Willy's. In attendance that night was a drummer by the name of Dan Tripp, who was impressed with the two musicians. Tripp, ironically enough was himself from Sioux City and it was that encounter that lead to a jam session two nights later. If Brock and Brian were a bit 'green' in their musical endeavors, Tripp was quite the opposite having studied music and been a mainstay drummer in the Iowa City, Minneapolis, and Des Moines music scenes. Tripp's friend Dan Wahl would pick up the bass duties and the family of Electric Junction was completed. The full band would return to Jazzy Willy's on the following Tuesday (11-11-03) to play what is known as 'The First Official Electric Junction Show". It was that night where they were offered the opportunity to be the house band every Tuesday night for the next year. Throughout the next year the boys developed individually and as a band, meanwhile nurturing their ever growing wide library of honest and original material.
Since that time Electric Junction has risen to become a mainstay touring act in the state of Iowa and the Midwest. With the addition of Kansas City phenom bassist, Chris Lachky, and the release of their long anticipated first Album "West of the Mississippi" 2006 saw the wheels of Electric Junction stretch from Kansas to Illinois to Missouri, and their home state of Iowa. An Evening with Electric Junction is an experience that gets the body and soul shaking with infectious boogie tunes and on a dime they have the ability to pull back, drawing the listener in, with powerfully written Dylan-esk ballads. The bottom line is you don't see too many bands these days with intention like Electric Junction.
With the addition of longtime friend and keyboard player Josh Kaufman, 2008 is set to be the biggest year in the bands history. On February of 2008 the boys will head off to Sound Farm Studios in Jamaica, Iowa to work with Producer Matt Sepanic, to form what is sure to be the finest work of the bands lifetime. With 10 never heard before original tracks EJ will take the new formation and sound of EJ on the road accross the midwest and Rock Mountian Regions.
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