|
Juno plays a clean sounding lead guitar and has the amazing ability to jump, dance, flip, skip and run while doing it. You may look onstage and see three players. . .where’s Juno? Oh, here he comes through the packed room, thrilling the fans just because he walked by them and smiled as he played, never missing a note. He jumps back on stage and blends back into the set as if he never left it. When he, Travis and Joey play a song, leaning and moving in the same direction as they play, electricity shoots through the crowd. Juno's been known to join Donnie's drum solos and before you know it, the whole crowd is tapping on everything, following along
Juno has been playing guitar since he was 13. Maybe the moving around to music was instilled in him by his parents when he was younger and mom, Pam, would put on their favorite songs by Pink Floyd, Queen, Kenny Rogers, etc. and they'd listen to old 33's as they cleaned up the house. Juno says he still does that to this day
He didn't say if his dad, Barry, joined in the housecleaning ritual, but he did say "Dad" had a huge album collection that included those same artists. When Juno started his tape collection, one of his favorites was Rick Springfield who Juno played air guitar to in those days. He says music was always on at his house and especially remembers old 45's at Christmas time that made the holidays so special
Holidays are sometimes hard for musicians since their calendar isn't the same as most. . .during a family celebration at Thanksgiving, 4th of July, birthdays and anniversaries, musicians always have to leave that gig early, and that is what Juno said was worst about the music business
Recording artists that inspire Juno the most include Eric Clapton and Paul McCartney because he said, "They can do it all; they write, they play, they sing, and do it all very very well."
Juno believes in education for sure, and was accepted into pharmacy school, but at the same time the band began to progress to the stage where it pulled at Juno's heartstrings and when that happens, Juno stays true to himself. He enjoys the time spent with youngsters at area schools where Gabby Johnson plays, and they always ask him about music and what they need to do to be like him. When he plays that guitar on stage and makes those moves, the students go wild. He tells them if they want to get into music to get people together and play and write music even if they don't play gigs yet. He thinks forming a band is a lesson in itself
He also told them, "Music is more than learning to play the guitar or piano or any instrument." He compared it to learning a foreign language, like Spanish which Juno speaks fluently. He says it's also about the culture and the people and the history where the language is spoken. That's how learning to play an instrument is; you learn more than just that
His favorite music to play is the old foot stompin' rock n roll like ZZTop, old Clapton, etc. Fans seem to get into it and that makes the gig, Juno says. "The moment when everything is on, everyone is into it. . .it just clicks and feels so good it can make you want to scream," he explained. This is obvious when you watch him. He's in another world
When asked if he would let his own child go into the music business, he didn't hesitate to say a great big, "Yes!" He would enjoy sharing that part of his life with a child of his own, giving advice, relaying to him or her how it feels to write a song for the joy of accomplishment. He compared it to landscaping. "You design a yard, work hard at it, then just stand back in awe and feel the beauty of it." That's the feeling I get from completing a song
It's tough when a musician has had a bad day, feels grumpy and knows he still has to get out there and look like it's all good. Juno said that rarely happens, but once you get up there and start playing, the soul of it sets in and God takes over putting you in that zone that is difficult to explain
 Juno Avent Guitarist |
