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Originally, Isaiahs from Texas, Tommy is from Illinois, Josh is from Missouri
They came to Encinitas. For one reason or another. THere is a community of musicians and its a great one that this band has come from and is involved with still. That known, let us focus in on these three, Josh, Tommy and Isaiah.
Josh Benz and Tommy Maher have been playing together since highschool. non stop. the first time they met was to play music together. Josh and tommy were in the band Stoneded, virtualy unknown band from Encinitas from San Dieguieto High School in the 90s. They met Isaiah Mitchell through Stoneded guitarplayer Sean Walsh. With Stoneded disolving, they threw around jams and locked in a few songs. There was just to much of a good thing. Musical differences, simplicity, timeing, two great lead guitar players couldnt work it out. Sean had been playing with another group Channel one,
witch suplied an out let for what he wanted. and so they talked it out, and making the band a trio, Lead Belly's Groove. There was not alot of vocals and the band was really "Jamy" they had alot of fun, especialy at the parties.
Before long Isaiah was restless and was to move to Oakland and then back. Isaiah has and continued to be in other great bands and projects. Lions of Judah, Earthless, Nebula (playing bass), Drunk Horse, Candy Kane, Shock and Awe, ZZ GOuch (with father Steve and Ted from Operatic) and probly a few that I dont know about. Tommy aswell, has been in many other bands played with quite a few musicians: Rheanna Downey, Ryan Hicks, Channel One, Blues Dog, John compton, some others. Josh has played with many people over the years, tended to dive more into art and painting and recording then being in other bands. Tommy and Josh maintained a relationship playing bass and drums together over the years. Also over the years being friends and enjoying each others company Josh, Isaiah, and Tommy would get together for jams. in the summer of 05 something stuck again. They began forming songs. Origanal songs. they began recording on Josh's ROland 8 track digital recording device. wich is where the songs you hear on this page have been recorded.
In the Garage at the place where Tommy lives, downtown Encinitas, They have been hanging out playin old blues jams, new blues jams, and some more alternative sounding rock. Somewhere someone said Juan Peso, and now thats what the band is called, Juan Peso. Three white dudes calling themselves Juan Peso. I think it throws people off when they hear the name of the band. Juan Peso? A name amongst names, in an Ocean of bands.
There is something different about Juan Peso, something mighty about this band of brothers.
Isaiah is quite the amazing guitar player every one says he is. His talents are many either on bass, drums, harmonium, mandolin, skin flute, or what ever he applys himself to. On guitar, he has traveled cross the globe. He has learned from the best. Skills are great but they are mundane unless you know how to use them with the passion, emotion, soul, spirit and heart from inside yourself and express it, and project it. For Tommy Josh and Isaiah, this is natural. This band marks the first set of songs in a band from Isaiah Mitchell in witch he is useing his origanal song writing talent in writing the songs , the lyrics and performing them. The music that you hear from Juan Peso is equal parts of the three of them. Some songs are from Isaiah or Tommy in origin, but then they are worked out together. Some songs were formed from scratch, together. People have been saying the music sounds like Tom petty, the Allman brothers, Jimi Hendrix, ZZ top. I think that people have yet to hear the more experimental side.
The reason these guys play music is for the ritual and the joy. To them music and art brings happiness. Music is part of the culture of Earth.
Its history and future. Its what we humans do.
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