Jason Paulson Band

“This ain’t about being pretty.” That’s the first thing Jason will tell you about why he does what he does.

This is, after all, what Jason is all about – real American music for real American folks; gristly guys and fiery girls with honest jobs and authentic lives. And if that’s not glamorous enough, consider catchy-as-hell, heartfelt songs about love, family, broken relationships, breaking relationships, good times, bad times and, well … just plain old boozin’ it up.

From beer and whiskey laments to barnburner anthems, Allman’s to Waylon, Springsteen to Cash; Jason embodies the very essence of American roots music. Take a dash of soulful Southern harmony, a pinch of razor-sharp musicianship, and a heaping helping of Northwoods grit and you’ve got one of the highest demand headliners on the upper-Midwest live circuit – and he’s maintained a fiercely loyal following, playing thousands of shows for the last 10 years.

How, precisely, does that happen? “We started out just wanting to play anywhere, with just a few friends,” says Paulson. “Off the bat, we never shied away from throwing cover songs in side-by-side with our originals. We were proud to choose unique but instantly recognizable songs, then just worked hard to put our own stylistic stamp on them.” That lack of pretension quickly helped them to form and enjoy undeniable rapport with a wide range of audiences, and enthusiastic support for their original material followed naturally, hand-in-hand. Jason has always aimed to eliminate the line between band and fan, lending a real family feel to the shows; a camaraderie sensed on both sides.

Since he started, Jason has self-released two full-length CDs (accompanied always by rowdy, full-to-capacity release parties) with his band Grayson, toured throughout the Midwest to the tune of 160 shows on average per year, and shared the stage with dozens of national acts, including The BoDeans, Gin Blossoms, Montgomery Gentry, Sheryl Crow and Tom Petty. In 2004, they were named “New Artist of the Year” by Billboard, which included their song, "Shine", on a nationally-distributed compilation. Featured frequently on TV and radio, 2008 also saw Jason as a finalist on NBC’s “Nashville Star” as well as winning title of the Cities '97 Basilica Block Party “Best Band in Minnesota”.

Since going solo Jason has released one full length album (American Dream) and one EP Dreaming about tomorrow, with another LP coming in November. Their most recent single “I’m On The Run” has been entering the charts with good reviews, and the video for the single hit 100,000 views—on Youtube—in the first two weeks. Long-time fans haven’t missed a step, and fresh ears are perking up. With their collective musical accomplishments, Jason Paulson and his Friends are sure to keep feet stomping and libations flowing for as long as a hard earned night-on-the-town can endure!

Watch out for your gut. That’s where they aim to hit you.

-Jon James