May 16 @ 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
Joel Edwin at JJ’s Pub after Bar Bingo on Saturday, May 16th!
Details
Date: May 16
Time: 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm
OrganizerJJ’s Pub
Phone:218-562-4600
Website:http://commanderbar.com/JJs/
Here is more about Joel Edwin from Rocktown Music:
Joel, Rocktown Music Owner
Joel is a third generation resident of St. Cloud and a graduate of Apollo High School. "When the opportunity came to open a music store in the St. Cloud Area, I knew I had to do it. I couldn't snooze," He says. "This is the town I was raised in. I've been playing at the local venues since I was a kid. I've been involved in a big way in many of the local stores and studios since the eighties. I've done a lot in the local music community. I knew I wanted to own a music store, and I knew I wanted to raise my kids in St. Cloud... it only made sense to do it all in one place."
As a professional musician:
Joel's career began in his teen years. He and high school friends put together a great little band and played bars and ballrooms across the state with Joel on lead guitar and backing vocals. "Back then it was a lot of oldies... I mean, we did Van Halen too," he laughs. Just out of high school, he went on the road with very popular hard rock band, Mace. "I was the youngest guy in the band by 10 years. The tour bus literally pulled up to the front door of my parent's house. I was 17, just graduated high school. I kissed my mom good-bye and got on board. The band leader greeted me by saying, 'Sit down, kid, it's going to be a long ride.'" He continues, "I learned a lot about sound, lights, and the business side of running a band from Kent. It was his band. He's a good guy." Mace was a springboard for Joel to start his own band, Liberator. "That was the age of excess. I had double guitar stacks, 64 par cans, towers of PA to the ceiling... it was nuts. The lead singer, Lisa, was the only female in the group. She did everyone's hair." Liberator got some attention from radio stations, record labels, and endorsements. "We were almost there, then Nirvana hit and it was different overnight." Joel spent the grunge years playing the in several of the top cover band acts that toured the midwest. Joel met Scott (the piano teacher at Rocktown Music) at an audition for a touring band called Visionary. They both made it in. He started lead singing when the band manager fired the vocalist and put Joel in the spotlight. "He must have known I could do it or else he might not have fired him. Within a few days we were on stage with Gary Richrath from REO Speedwagon, and I was singing and playing guitar." When Visionary disbanded, Joel convinced Scott to move from Wisconsin to St. Cloud and they formed a band called Rocktown. Scott has lived here ever since. "We played our 1000th show at Bubba's. They put our picture in the paper and made an event out of it." Rocktown is actually kind of still together. "We added a member and now we're called Puppet Show. Spinal Tap has never opened for us," he chuckles. "We only play once in awhile since everyone's pretty busy with other projects." Lately, his focus has been on the Joel Edwin acoustic project. Joel plays guitar, piano, mandolin, ukulele, and, of course he sings. "It's great. I'm older now, so the excessive volume and heavy gear don't appeal to me as much as when I was younger. I get to play a lot of different instruments that I wouldn't be able to play in an electric band. Plus I get to play some of the nicest resorts in Minnesota. Beautiful venues, great scenery, nice perks. It's a perfect fit for me." Not that he doesn't still play rock music. Joel is in a few assemblies of musicians that are seen regularly at the Benton Station and The Red Carpet. He's doing vocals, guitar and keys. "I still love to play electric guitar, but I'm a pretty versatile guy" You can often find updates on Joel's acoustic and electric band dates on the Facebook page, or just ask anyone at the store what's coming up!
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