Interview by Matt Adams
Tagged 2007 alternative rock emo indie rock jawbreaker jets to brazil rock texas is the reason
What have the members of JTB been doing since the band disbanded? Did any of you have to go back to the reality of a 9
to 5 job? Was it weird to be in a touring band and then have to make the transition back to a regular job?
The ex-JTBs have all been really busy since the end of the band. I moved away from the city to pursue Cub Country, Helmet
and Carpentry. Brian moved to Austin, where he takes a lot of really great photos (
www.brianmaryansky.com) and plays hockey. Blake is finishing up school as well as teaching in NYC. Chris
continues to be a really great drummer in various bands and is pursuing a career as a hair stylist. So, yes, I think we've
all had to return to "real" jobs while searching out new paths in life. I can only speak for myself as far as the
transition away from the band. Yes, it's been a tough adjustment and I get sad that I haven't been able to play music with
Chris, Blake and Brian, but I've also continued to tour with other bands and still play shows of my own regularly. It's
actually been really liberating to find new and interesting things to learn and not be so single-minded about a music
career.
Since a lot of reunions have been happening over the past years (Smashing Pumpkins, Lifetime, Rage Against The Machine)
do you guys ever talk about getting the band back together for one last tour or show?
We've never talked about doing any kind of reunion. In fact, the 4 of us haven't been together in a room in years.
How does it feel to know that there are some bands out there making it big who refer to Jets To Brazil as an influence
on their music? Some of them say that without your band, they never would have started one.
Of course I think it's flattering and great that we get referenced in that light. The Jets meant a lot to the people in
the band as well, and it really was our lives for about seven years, so it would be my hope that it made some kind of
impact on people.
JTB ended around the year 2003. During that year, it seemed like the style you guys were playing was starting to get
some attention from major labels. Do you feel that if you guys would have waited, JTB could of been getting a call to the
majors? Do you feel that your style might of been ahead of it's time?
When we first started the band, Blake and I were actually still under contract to different major labels, and we had
[already] been through the wringer. I don't think the possibility of signing with a major again was really a concern. We
were happy with the treatment we received at Jade Tree. You could actually get a human to answer the phone when you
called, as opposed to calling a major. As far as our style being ahead of it's time, I'm really not sure. We were writing
what we felt was new to all of us and trying out new musical avenues, which was how we kept the band fresh for us. If you
are talking about "emo," we really used to laugh and make jokes about that tag. I still think it's funny that "emo" is
actually a genre of music. I thought everyone was emo. I guess I was wrong.
I know you have been playing in your band Cub Country for quite some time; do any of the other members of JTB have any
musical projects going on at the moment?
Chris was doing the Texas reunions as well as House and Parish, Brian has made a lot of electronic music, Blake still
writes songs, and I'm still working on that mysterious 3rd Cub record. I think there will always be music in our lives.
what do you think?
S.O.S. J.T.B.