Empire Strikes Brass

Story by MELANIE JOHNSON | Photos provided by EMPIRE STRIKES BRASS
Empire Strikes Brass is the first and only second line brass band to hit the streets of Asheville, North Carolina. They first brought their unique sound to Asheville in May of 2012 and individual members hail from such well-known groups as Squirrel Nut Zippers, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Big Ole Nasty Getdown, and the Firecracker Jazz Band.
I spoke with Paul “Pauly” Juhl about the band’s past and future.
A friend of Pauly's asked him if he could put together a New Orleans-style brass band for his sister’s wedding. Fortunately there was a generous budget for the gig and Pauly was able to ask the top local musicians.
Then another friend of Pauly’s, Jay Frank, the mandolin player of Sanctum Sully, wanted the group to play for his wedding, but he wanted to add some guitar, keys, and more vocals. That’s how the band came together.
“By that time we were hitting the streets and playing horn combo gigs,” Pauly says. “Liam kept hitting me up about doing a co-bill.” Producer Liam Collins, who works under the DJ name Push/Pull, is an electronic performer who seeks variety for his events. “I told him we would do it if we collaborated on a few songs.” They performed together on February 9 of this year to a nearly sold-out crowd at Asheville Music Hall in downtown Asheville. “Everyone went wild for the collaboration. So now we’re in the studio preparing an album/EP.”
“This whole time, other musicians have been interested in our group,” Paul continues, “I got the idea of having substitutes, so that we could do second line parades every week. So we started to bring more (musicians) in. We are now up to 20 members, if you include substitutes. It’s like herding cats sometimes, but everyone is very receptive of what they can do for the group.”
They made a name for themselves quickly in the last year with some high-profile gigs. Their parades at last year’s Bele Chere brought the crowds to their feet. Last September, they ushered dancing crowds from venue to venue at the Lexington Avenue Arts & Fun Festival (LAAFF) and led folks to the Orange Peel for the Galactic concert. The LaZoom Holiday Tours enjoyed scooping them up right off the street to play for folks on the bus around the holidays.The fun doesn’t stop there; it’s just beginning for Empire Strikes Brass! Check out these upcoming shows:
15th annual National Day of Puppetry (ashevillepuppetry.org) on Saturday, May 4
Appalachian Breakdown Festival at Highland Brewing Company on Saturday, May 18
Rooster Walk Music & Arts Festival in Martinsville, Virginia, (roosterwalk.com) on May 24–26
Be sure to keep your ears open downtown and on the river this summer as Empire Strikes Brass keeps the crowds motivated between sets with their traveling parade style at Bele Chere (July 26-28) and the Riverlink RiverMUSIC Concert Series (June 14 & July 12). Instead of hitting the stage, they are booked to do parades that keep the audience pumped between sets. Their entrance into the RiverLink concert will be on a barge, playing up the river as they approach!
Empire Strikes Brass will also be hitting the streets of downtown Asheville on Sunday afternoons this summer starting at 2 p.m., so keep an eye out. When Empire Strikes Brass drops the force, it keeps the party bouncin’!
For more information or to book an event, please visit the Empire Strikes Brass website.
Melanie Johnson is a freelance editor and writer, new to the Asheville area. - The Laurel of Asheville Magazine

Empire Strikes Brass formed in May 2012. They started cutting their teeth on the streets by introducing second line parades to Asheville, North Carolina. They have expanded from the streets to the stage with a 10 piece New Orleans brass funk band, and a groundbreaking DJ/Brass Section Set with DJ PUSH/PULL that has opened new doors to the electronic music scene. ESB includes members of Squirrel Nut Zippers, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown, and many other greats. Their inspirations include Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, and RJD2 to name few. When Empire Strikes Brass drops the force, it keeps the party bouncin’. - Kayla Sanders

Empire Strikes Brass formed in May 2012. They started cutting their teeth on the streets by introducing second line parades to Asheville, North Carolina. They have expanded from the streets to the stage with a 10 piece New Orleans brass funk band, and a groundbreaking DJ/Brass Section Set with DJ PUSH/PULL that has opened new doors to the electronic music scene. ESB includes members of Squirrel Nut Zippers, Karl Denson’s Tiny Universe, Big Ol’ Nasty Getdown, and many other greats. Their inspirations include Rebirth Brass Band, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Trombone Shorty, and RJD2 to name few. When Empire Strikes Brass drops the force, it keeps the party bouncin’. - Kayla Sanders