Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
Just stands tall
by Mike Bell
Calgary Sun
Whatever doesn’t kill you can sometimes make you stronger. But sometimes it can also mess you up.
JUST HONEST ... Cummings, far left, and Just.
Caleb Cummings from local pop-rock band Just knows that all too well. Last year, he and the band hit the road for four months, crossing Canada and playing shows.
The result?
“It was a pretty rough tour,” says Cummings rather soberly.
“I think we blew about three transmissions on the road and I think we lost about $10,000.”
The emotional toll for Cummings was far, far greater.
When Just arrived home from the tour — on Christmas Eve — and went straight into the studio for recording sessions, he hit rock bottom.
Cummings suffered a nervous breakdown which came with panic attacks and a severe form of Tourette’s Syndrome.
“I’ve always been a very emotionally strong person so that surprised the hell out of me when that happened,” he says.
To deal with it, Cummings sought the help of a doctor and relied on the therapy that came with songwriting.
He threw himself into it, eventually completing Just’s third release Stand, which they celebrate with a show May 19 at Soda.
Two of the tracks on the melodic rock disc — On a Bad Night and God — address the songwriter’s difficult times directly.
The rest of the album’s material is just as unflinching, dealing with the big subjects of life, faith and humanity on a very personal level.
“I found on the previous two records I was maybe trying to emulate other people more than I should have,” he says.
“I just threw away any preconceptions about music and decided to make what I wanted to make.
“It’s my most honest work so far.”
2005-05-19 - Calgary Sun
Just in time
by Mike Bell
Calgary Sun
Everywhere but Calgary. That seems to be the message being sent to local hard rock band Just, whose sound, and even philosophy is in demand everywhere else in the world except for the city they call home.
Local hard rock act Just are slated to perform at the Back Alley on Jan. 31.
“Because of the style of our music, particularly in Calgary, we’re right in between genres,” says Just’s dreadlocked frontman Caleb Cummings.
“The heavy metal style of Calgary, there’s only this very heavy, very abrasive and as far from mainstream metal as you could possibly get.
"On the other side there’s alternative and blues bands.
“From what I know, we’re one of the only bands in this very specific genre.”
Though a little rough around the edges, the type of music that Cummings and his band — which has gone through a number of lineup changes since it inception — have been honing for the past four years fits in nicely with today’s current crop of popular hard rock acts like P.O.D., Creed, and Linkin Park.
The fact that those acts are doing so well has boosted Cummings’ expectations as Just celebrate the release of their debut How Far the Past Is Where to Go with a show Jan. 31 at the Back Alley.
“It’s quite perfect actually,” Cummings says on the timing of the release.
“A couple of years ago it would have a pie in the sky dream to think of even getting remotely popular with all of the Backstreet Boys and *NSYNC going around ...
"It’s prime time for a band like us.”
Even the band’s ideological view is one that’s popular in rock thanks to Creed.
Just are an unabashedly Christian rock band, and although it never comes across as preachy, those beliefs are front and centre in Cummings’ lyrics.
“We’re definitely not fundamentalists ... but it’s a huge part of our lives,” he says.
“Basically it’s all I write my songs about, because that’s what my life is really involved in.
“I could write songs about girls, beer, or drugs or anything like that but everything to me pales in comparison as far as purpose is concerned.
“Sure Creed get crucified (for it), but they’re still selling 10 million CDs.” - Calgary Sun
Discography
Stand CD 2005
Imposter CD 2003
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
JUST No script, no contrived plan, no studio fabrications. . .meet Just, a genuine rock band influenced by pop culture wit without selling out to the masses.
They are un-teathered and true alongside original lyrics that are both provocative and insightful with undeniable hooks. Just boasts their own unique freestyle orchestration that effortlessly draws you into their world. Its rock music without prejudice of genre, tempo and tradition. Just is a refreshing pop culture phenomenon drenched in resin of rock music.
Just hangs their threads in Calgary where they began almost five years ago. The band has undergone some renovation and has risen with an immense sense of growth spurred by a few industry nos along the way. Their stories are typical; details unimportant. What is important is that Just is emerging as one of the most inventive and exciting rock bands in western Canada.
Their music feast is inhabited by an indelible cast of characters starting with lead vocals, co-producer and songwriter Caleb Cummings. Caleb writes for the band leaving behind the heartfelt angst of an old soul and a voice not yet recognized in this industry. Co-producer Chris Noble on drums and keyboard joins him. Chris brings to life the cocky brashness of an old rocker offering a refreshing slice of percussion heard for the first time. The rest of this motley cast is created by Dave Smith on lead guitar, and bankground vocals. Mike Van Doorn on bass.
Just hit the studio to begin production on their third record, Imposter, over two years ago. With three songs in the can, Just began pounding the pavement with an assault on radio from the back of a UHaul van (oh so romantic). Soon after, When Its Over was added to regular rotation by several stations across Canada (The Goat 106.1, Freq 107, Mix 97) and also received many specialty spins in the US and Canada, Simultaneously, Effects Networks in the US added Denver to all 44 of their stations. Just became Freq 107s most requested group of the fall after receiving an early add for Hyperventilation, a funk flavored free spirited rock edge number with a tinge of reggae.
Following their US success, Much Loud added their video When Its Over. Much Music ensued also featuring the video. With immense success already under their studded belts, Imposter was finally complete featuring 11 original songs written and produced by Cummings and Noble. Sold out crowds then followed as the group tore up the stage at Little River Faith Fest (Minnedosa MB) and sold out of all Imposter records from the back of their Uhaul. More sold-out-hungry-for-more crowds followed.
Just was also chosen to showcase at the Extreme Bandslam during Canadian Music Week where, again, they stole the show, sold out of records and were immediately added to CJAY 92, Canadas highest rated rock station. Not bad, eh? Just's most recent self- released CD effort , entitled "Stand" further defines and expands their unique sound.
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