Justin Erion is a rarity in the world of rock n’ roll: A raspy swooner that is more attuned to emotional waves of indie singer-songwriters than rock musicians.
“People affect me greatly,” says Erion, “To the point where I sometimes even need to put up a boundary. Songwriting lets me release all of this frustration and energy, and process it.”
‘Look Good’ by Jack OatsJustin Erion” />Justin Erion
‘Look Good’ by Jack Oats
Erion leads a band called Jack Oats, a quartet that evolved from a solo project and features lead guitarist Mike Ryan, bassist Brian Rizzardi and drummer Aaron Strichartz. This weekend, they’re releasing a new single called “Look Good.”
Erion adopted the stage name five years ago for his solo performances, playing off the figure of speech “Jack Of All Trades.” Two years ago, he released an E.P. of melodic Americana-folk songs, the first release as Jack Oats. Since then, the band has taken his arrangements and shifted it towards high energy rock ‘n’ roll.
“Connor Oberst’s album, ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning,’ literally saved my life. I’ve dealt with depression all my life, and while those songs and those lyrics are sad, you can commiserate with them, it’s like, you feel like you’re not isolated.” — Justin Erion, singer
A suburban upbringing
Erion revels in the escapism of songwriting, as well as the exhilaration of performing with a full rock band.
He grew up between Plymouth and Canton, with a father who worked as an auto engineer at Ford. His mother was a Spanish teacher at Agape Christian Academy, where Erion attended until 8th grade.
He was in love with the written word by age 9, even to the point of collecting thesauruses. He started out as a poet, in high school he would take notes on lessons in the first half of a notebook but record poetry in the back half of it.
“When the homework would meet the poetry in the middle, I’d have to get a new notebook,” he says. It wasn’t long before those notebooks, half-filled with song-like poetry, were stacking up in his room.
While he’s largely self-taught on guitar, he has classical training as a saxophonist, which he’s been playing since fourth grade.
“Each song can mean something different to someone else,” says Erion. “I might know exactly what they’re about, but if anyone asks me, I always prefer to just ask them, like what does it mean to you?”
“I can take my sadness and turn it into something someone can hear and they can realize that they’re not alone.” — Justin Erion, singer
Sentimental turn
From there, Erion bounced between the active music scenes of Ann Arbor and Detroit. His mom would drive him to all-ages shows before he had his license, back in 2006, where he became acquainted with several musicians that influenced and encouraged his development. He cut his teeth doing open-mic night performances at the Plymouth Coffee Bean. He eventually settled just north of Detroit, in Ferndale.
Erion says that his gateway into songwriting was down the expressive avenue of folk music, referencing indie rock band Bright Eyes.
“Connor Oberst’s album, ‘I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning,’ literally saved my life,” he says. “I’ve dealt with depression all my life, and while those songs and those lyrics are sad, you can commiserate with them, it’s like, you feel like you’re not isolated.”
It’s that feeling that he wants to bring to his music.
“I can take my sadness and turn it into something someone can hear and they can realize that they’re not alone,” Erion says.
Jack Oats have a few new recordings that you’ll probably be hearing later this year. Erion, as we said, is at no lack for more songs and lyrics, as those proverbial notebooks of his are continually being filled up.
Jack Oats are performing at the Hidden Gate on Division St., in Eastern Market, Saturday at 9 pm, joined by Valerie The Vulture. Admission is $10.