Home BRU'd Sessions: Julie Rhodes

Julie Rhodes and the Union Band are a fun group to be around. They’re playful, with their conversations filled with banter, laughter, and music references. Somehow, within a few minutes of arriving at the station to film their session, they get on the topic of Green Day: “What an evolution, that band.” “How did they start wearing eyeliner, do ya think? Was it just, ‘Let’s all start wearing eyeliner!’ one day?” The rapport shines through in the way Julie Rhodes’ voice melds with the plaintive, minimal blues instrumentation. The first song, “Hey Stranger,” begins with bluesy guitar. The ballad holds you, rapt, ’til Julie’s smokey, stretchy jazz has finished its story. Julie’s voice is an incredible instrument, and she owns it:  she knows that when she tilts her head one way or pulls her fingers closed here, her voice responds by adding a gradation of tone or by changing volume incrementally or by emphasizing the huskiness. Her body is compact as she maintains super-tight control over every note. The guitar reflects that soulfulness as it weaves through its riffs. Julie wrote the last song, “Mad River,” up in Vermont at the Tweed Festival. For the rest of the backstory about this singularly jazzy, punchy song (and to hear Julie’s incredible session for yourself), watch the videos!