Armadillo Jump

Armadillo Jump takes the music they love and adds a spin to it that has a big dose of rockin' rhythm and blues included. They have a way of keeping your toe tapping and bottom wiggling! The passion and energy they pour into the music recipe makes it come across as something that's fresh and crisp - like a big head of iceberg lettuce that plays rhythm and blues! When you take that and add in a little Texas blues attitude and a splash of Bayou style hot sauce you have a show that's unmistakably jumping!

Armadillo Jump (AJ) was born out of the passion for rocking blues by Guitar Johnny Coburn and his good buddy and harp player Pete Berglund. We loved local bands like Lamont Cranston and the Hoopsnakes and blues rockers like J. Geils. We wanted to put our own spin on that kind of music. Late in 2001 we started recruiting some like minded players including original bass player Phil Haire and drummer Scott Skaja. The final piece of the original lineup puzzle was vocal powerhouse Monica Louise!

The band has been playing in Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin for the last 17 years. You may have seen us one time or another at many Twin Cities clubs or at festivals such as Tuesday Night Blues, Blues on the Chippewa, Blues on the Red, Hambone Blues, Bicycles Blues & BBQ, Taste of MN, Smokin' in Steele and other events. Over that time the line up has changed from time to time (including the untimely loss of our good friend Pete). The band now consists of original members Guitar Johnny and Monica Louise, plus Mike Brisson on bass, Jim Meier on drums and Rose Duffy on sax.

AJ is fronted by Minnesota's original southside girl Monica Louise. She adds the vocal power that grabs your attention from the first note and has you begging for more (if you know what's good for you)! Her style reflects influences such as Susan Tedeschi, Bonnie Raitt, Marcia Ball and Shemekia Copeland.

Guitar Johnny Coburn grew up listening to blues players like Johnny Winter and the three Kings - Albert, Freddie and BB. He learned that the great players don't overpower the rest of the band, they become part of the band and the music. He has tried to stay true to that throughout his musical career.

Mike Brisson holds down the bottom for the band and keeps the groove going. Mike hails from White Bear Lake and has a long list of prior bands on his resume. When AJ does not have a show to play you can see Mike from time to time sitting in with other Twin Cities music acts.

Jim Meier is based out of Hudson and does more things in his spare time that most people do full time. In addition to drumming for AJ and working his day job, he also builds custom golf carts, has his own mechanic shop with a paint booth and has a picture framing business. Plus he holds down the drum chair every Monday night at a local blues jam in Apple Valley MN and gigs with other groups when AJ does not have a show.

Rose Duffy is our sax player. A lady of several talents. she has recently become an author and is currently working on distributing a children's book that she wrote. Over the years Rose has found a way go get on stage and play her sax for a song or two with a number of artists who have come through the Twin Cities!