Bands are often recognized for their lyrics, but Gainesville-based progressive-math rock band, Just Neighbors, crafts tunes that are centered around their instruments. This hasn’t deterred them from their bed of roses, though: they’ve played a handful of packed local shows, and just recorded and released a full-length album through local Black Bear Studios on March 15, 2016.
For those unaccustomed, Math Rock, as a genre, originated in the 1980’s and was heavily influenced from Progressive Rock. The genre’s calculated rhythms and precise riffs forgo traditional folks and blues styles to give way to jazzier, complex switches and grooves. While most other math-rock bands veer towards writing longer running songs, Just Neighbors has managed to package elements of ‘math rock,’ into tighter, shorter-running tracks.
The 5-piece band consists of guitarists Dan Lohr, and Justice Diamond, with Jack Yankopolus on drums, Jarrett Haines on keys, and Brookes Hammer holding down the bass. Hailing from all coasts of Florida, the post-rock/math-rock band came to fruition this past year; supplying the local scene with a much needed boost of energetic, live music. Just Neighbors formed when friends, Dan and Justice met Jack and Jarrett through local block parties. They started to solidify their ideas in the summer of 2015.
With most of the band being third-year students at UF, we can expect plenty of tunes from these balanced musicians within the next year.
Check out their free, self-titled album here.
Head to High Dive on Saturday, March 26 to see them play. Doors open at 9 p.m. and tickets can be purchased through TicketFly here.
