Jesse Brand

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Jesse Brand
Birth name	Jesse David Brand
Born	January 1, 1976 (1976-01-01) (age 32)
Origin	Ferndale, Washington, United States
Genre(s)	Texas Country Country
Occupation(s)	Singer-songwriter, musician
Instrument(s)	Vocals Guitar Piano Dobro Drums Banjo Bass
Years active	1999 – present
Label(s)	FiveSlumpRecords
Associated acts	Jesse Brand Train, Clint Moody, Kings of Texas, Texas Mud Slingers, Plainview, Toby Keith,
Website	Official Website

The Jesse Brand Train is a country music band of the Texas Country music scene that can be seen in the Ft. Worth Stockyards and surrounding areas. Jesse is part of the rapidly growing Texas Country music scene.

Contents 1 Biography 1.1 Early life 1.2 Later years 2 Discography 2.1 Albums 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Jesse Brand was born January 1, 1976 to Steve and Gail Brand in Ferndale, Washington. His father was a musician who traveled throughout the 60s, 70s and into the 80s when he stopped so he could be closer to Jesse and his older brother Caine. Brand's parents were both well educated and encouraged the boys to read as often as they could. At an early age Brand became familiar with the works of authors including Jack Kerouac, Edgar Allan Poe, Charles Bukowski, and Garisson Keillor. Resulting in the young teenager's desire to write his own short stories and poems... stating "they helped me pass time, and kept me company when I was lonely".

Brand was also an accomplished athlete. He excelled in Baseball and Football, and even went on to play three years of minor league football for the North Texas Stampede as well as two years for the North West Avalanche. When Brand wasn't playing sports, he spent his time writing songs, and teaching himself to play guitar. Not being able to read music, he relied on his record player, his father's vinyl albums and his "ear" for his musical education. Brand discovered "I could hear a song once or twice, and for some reason, play it". Brand says "...there came a time when I realized I simply wasn't good enough to play other people's songs... I had to get serious about writing my own".

After familiarizing himself with the guitar, Brand's father made him a deal. "I was in the 8th grade and was doing very poorly in school. My dad told me he'd pay me something like $25 for an A, $15 for a B, $5 for a C... When I brought home my first report card of the year, it was nothing but A's... I guess I kinda screwed myself, because after that my folks knew I wasn't stupid... I couldn't get away with bringing home bad grades anymore." With the money Jesse's father gave him, he went to the local music store where he found his first guitar. "It was a Kramer XL III. My dad's buddy who worked at the store, gave us a heck of a deal. It looked just like the one Eddie Van Halen was playing and I figured if I had that guitar there was no reason I couldn't play just like him". Jesse played in a few garage bands throughout high school, none of which he says were very good... "we just wanted to play". "Direct quotes in this section taken from 'Jesse Brand Ft. Worth TX' www.fiveslumprecords.com"

[edit] Later years

The majority of Jesse Brand's life has been dogged by depression alcohol dependency and drug addiction. He spent several years in and out of drug rehabilitation centers, jail, and hospitals before heading off to Texas in one final attempt to straighten himself out. Determined to make something of his life, Brand loaded up what he could fit in his pick up and headed off to Ft. Worth Texas. Within his first month in Ft. Worth, Jesse landed a gig as the Drummer for Clint Moody, Playing Classic Country songs. It was while playing for Moody, that Brand met Jordan Mycoskie, a local singer/songwriter who Brand says "changed the way I look at music. I owe everything i've become to Jordan". Brand started playing at the World Famous White Elephant Saloon, and the Stockyard Saloon, where he met other singer/songwriters who played locally, and helped him get gigs along the way. At and open mic at the Stockyard Saloon, Brand met Tom Snyder, who was looking for a Drummer for his new project The Kings of Texas. After hearing Brand sing, Snyder decided to give him an audition. Brand says "I had no idea what I was getting myself into... I later found out Tom was a staff writer for Charlie Daniels, who would be helping us record our first album. We also had Audley Freed from the Black Crowes playing lead guitar on our album". This was when Brand says he knew he had finally found what he was looking for. "I never felt whole. My entire life, all I ever felt was boredom and emptiness... until that moment". The band played for one year before breaking up, but not before playing Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in Ft. Worth with The Doobie Brothers, Bob Dylan, Los Lonely Boys, Willie Nelson, and several others on the ticket. Brand went on to play drums with Plainview, Jordan Mycoskie and Toby Keith, he also played lead guitar with Extra Gravy, and Mycoskie before deciding to venture out on his own.

Jesse Brand has recorded 5 albums on his own, written a book entitled Thoughts Of A Genius which Brand says is "a book of true short stories about growing up in Ferndale", and is currently working on album number six. He continues to play regular shows with Texas Country friends, Randy Rogers, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Stoney Larue, and Dierks Bentley... despite the fact that most of his time is now spent in Ferndale. In October 2007, Jesse welcomed a son Connor to his family, who he says completely changed his life... "I can't imagine living the life I was living, with this little boy around". Shortly after learning about his son, Jesse made the decision to fly back to his native Ferndale Washington and turn himself in to the authorities for two alcohol related charges he picked up in 2000 and 2001. He spent 4 months in County Jail and since his release has remained clean and sober. All of Jesse Brand's music is written from personal experiences, often referring to his battle with addiction as "The Devil". When asked where he gets his strength to stay clean, Brand sat up in his chair, and said... "my little boy... I can't not love him enough to keep my act straight". When Connor was born, Jesse immediately began writing an album which he says is "just for my little boy, it's called To Connor From Papa and I can't wait for him to hear it". "Direct quotes in this section taken from 'Jesse Brand Ft. Worth TX' www.fiveslumprecords.com"

[edit] Discography

[edit] Albums

Year	Title
2004	Live At The White Elephant
2005	Pills Booze and Grass
2006	The Cocaine Sessions
2008	3 Steps To The Wishing Well
2008 (Unreleased)	The Suicide Tapes
2008	The Unreleased Bull Sessions
2008	Tuggin' On The Devil's Sleeve
2008	To Connor From Papa

[edit] References