Local Music Review: Justin Trawick -- No Two Shows are Exactly the Same

Justin Trawick is a local DC/Arlington-based singer-songwriter.  His music is self-described as Urban Folk Rock. It has a bit of funk, country, rock, country, and folk.  There’s the influence of blues (he’s got a lot of songs heartbreak…what are these girls doing to him?!!) and bluegrass.  But his live shows are each unique experiences, with the inclusion of special guests who he seems to treat like an old college friend who happens to be visiting in town.

I first caught Justin Trawick’s full piece band at the Hamilton, the latest addition to my list of favorite DC-area music venues.  First of all, Justin can really sing.  The lyrics are amazingly deep.  And the musicians in his band are multi-talented.  His drummer, Ben Tufts, did a fantastic drum solo, but then left his drum set to break out a performance on the washboard.  This night, the band also had two special guests on stage, Flex Mathews, a fast thinking, fast talking DC-area master Freestyle rapper, and another performer on a percussion box called a Cajon (courtesy of observation and Wikipedia, you too can learn something new every day). 

This past weekend, I attended Justin Trawick’s SOLD-OUT Birthday Show at IOTA, another laid back music venue that I always complain about not going enough to.  High energy Flex Mathews was back, but so were a special guest saxophonist and an amazing french hornist.  Now, what does hip hop have to do with jazz and an instrument you probably haven’t seen since high school?  Yes, exactly -- and yet, Justin Trawick makes it completely work. 

At the ripe age of 30, Justin Trawick appeals to many ages.  He’s lived long enough to experience muses for his song-writing; and he’s young enough to throw down a good jam.  I never feel too old or too young at his shows.  And I’m never the only person dancing either.  There’ll be some jumping, feet-tapping, swaying, and sometimes even a waltz (seriously, there wasn’t enough room at the Hamilton on the impromptu dance floor for all of the couples who broke out for a grand waltz).

There are some performers who sound better in the studio than they do in person -- so you buy their CD and sing in your car.  There are some performers who do a better live performance than they sound on CD -- so you buy a concert ticket and party in person.  And then there are some performers like Justin Trawick who you’ll dance to in person and clean house to while listening to his latest CD.

I picked up his latest CD “You & I” so I could listen to his storytelling a lot more coherently than I’ve been capable of while dancing on the floor with a beer in hand.  It is a live performance recording so you get Justin’s story-telling and band banter that you would get on-stage.  The CD is a chill soundtrack that gives you the great impression that Justin is just Justin. 

So support a local talent who is clearly doing what he loves the most before he breaks out to be so big you can’t catch him (aka another DMB pre-1993).  Attend a Justin Trawick show.  Buy a CD.  And don’t forget to wish Justin a Happy Belated Birthday!