Justincase
Encyclopedia
Justincase is an American alternative
-pop
band
from Charlotte
, North Carolina
, best known for their 2002 single "Don't Cry for Us", which was co-written by Michelle Branch
, who was one of the band's early champions. Consisting of teen siblings Hannah, Justin, and Nick Tosco, the band was signed to Maverick Records
. Justin is lead vocalist and guitarist as well as principal songwriter. Nick plays drums, and Hannah is on bass.
music scene and also taught guitar, while their mother, Holly Tosco, worked as a piano teacher. Justin was five years old when he wrote his first song, which was about baseball. The trio began playing gigs together before all were in junior high school. Their first concert was at their middle school's talent show in 1998.
The Toscos met Michelle Branch
before her debut on Maverick Records, becoming friends over the Internet before meeting in Las Vegas
for a music convention in 2000. Justincase was signed to Maverick Records
in late 2001 with the help of Branch.
The band released its self-titled debut album on October 29, 2002. The album included several collaborations with Michelle Branch — including the lead single, "Don't Cry for Us" — who promoted the album on MTV's
Total Request Live
. Other media appearances included the radio show Open House Party
and Nickelodeon
's TV show All That
. After their first music video
was shown on MTV, Wal-Mart
agreed to sponsor a short tour to further promote the album. The band played several solo shows, and also opened for Nick Carter
on his Backstreet Boy tour. Billboard
writer David Menconi called Justincase an "act to watch," describing the group as "three clean-cut teenage siblings" whose music is "steeped in classic-rock verities." Newsday
critic Kevin Amorim called the band's music "rootsy feel-good Hooters
-esque rock (hey, at least it wasn't emo)." Guitar-maker Ibanez
published a series of ads featuring the band.
Despite heavy promotion, the album lagged commercially. Lackluster sales numbers caused Maverick to drop the band in 2003, and they have been unable to secure another recording contract. The band is on a self-described "indefinite hiatus" while its members attend college and play the occasional local show. Lead singer Justin Tosco is also performing with Policy, another local band. Justin recently spent one month in Kenya with the program SFS.
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
-pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
band
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
from Charlotte
Charlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
, North Carolina
North Carolina
North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. The state borders South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west and Virginia to the north. North Carolina contains 100 counties. Its capital is Raleigh, and its largest city is Charlotte...
, best known for their 2002 single "Don't Cry for Us", which was co-written by Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
, who was one of the band's early champions. Consisting of teen siblings Hannah, Justin, and Nick Tosco, the band was signed to Maverick Records
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...
. Justin is lead vocalist and guitarist as well as principal songwriter. Nick plays drums, and Hannah is on bass.
History
Band members Justin (the oldest, born 1983), Nick, and Hannah (the youngest) Tosco grew up in a musical household. Their father, John, worked in the CharlotteCharlotte, North Carolina
Charlotte is the largest city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the seat of Mecklenburg County. In 2010, Charlotte's population according to the US Census Bureau was 731,424, making it the 17th largest city in the United States based on population. The Charlotte metropolitan area had a 2009...
music scene and also taught guitar, while their mother, Holly Tosco, worked as a piano teacher. Justin was five years old when he wrote his first song, which was about baseball. The trio began playing gigs together before all were in junior high school. Their first concert was at their middle school's talent show in 1998.
The Toscos met Michelle Branch
Michelle Branch
Michelle Jacquet DeSevren Branch is an American singer-songwriter, guitarist and actress. During the early 2000s, she released two top-selling albums, The Spirit Room and Hotel Paper, and was subsequently nominated for the Grammy Award for Best New Artist in 2003...
before her debut on Maverick Records, becoming friends over the Internet before meeting in Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
for a music convention in 2000. Justincase was signed to Maverick Records
Maverick Records
Maverick Recording Company is an American record label owned and operated by Warner Music Group, and distributed through Warner Bros. Records.-Company history:...
in late 2001 with the help of Branch.
The band released its self-titled debut album on October 29, 2002. The album included several collaborations with Michelle Branch — including the lead single, "Don't Cry for Us" — who promoted the album on MTV's
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
Total Request Live
Total Request Live
Total Request Live is a television series on MTV that featured popular music videos. TRL was MTV's prime outlet for music videos as the network continues to concentrate on reality-based programming. In addition to music videos, TRL featured daily guests...
. Other media appearances included the radio show Open House Party
Open House Party
Open House Party is an American radio show hosted on Saturday nights by John Garabedian that promotes itself as "the biggest party on the planet". It focuses on playing contemporary hit radio music, also known as Top 40. The show differentiates itself from most Top 40 stations because it plays a...
and Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon (TV channel)
Nickelodeon, often simply called Nick and originally named Pinwheel, is an American children's channel owned by MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom International. The channel is primarily aimed at children ages 7–17, with the exception of their weekday morning program block aimed at preschoolers...
's TV show All That
All That
All That is an American live-action, sketch comedy-variety show that aired on the Nickelodeon cable television network featuring short comedic sketches and weekly musical guests. The theme song for All That was performed by TLC...
. After their first music video
Music video
A music video or song video is a short film integrating a song and imagery, produced for promotional or artistic purposes. Modern music videos are primarily made and used as a marketing device intended to promote the sale of music recordings...
was shown on MTV, Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. , branded as Walmart since 2008 and Wal-Mart before then, is an American public multinational corporation that runs chains of large discount department stores and warehouse stores. The company is the world's 18th largest public corporation, according to the Forbes Global 2000...
agreed to sponsor a short tour to further promote the album. The band played several solo shows, and also opened for Nick Carter
Nick Carter (musician)
Nickolas Gene "Nick" Carter is an American singer-songwriter, dancer, musician, entertainer and actor. He is best known as a member of the pop group, Backstreet Boys. He went on to release a solo album called Now Or Never during their hiatus. He has made occasional television appearances and...
on his Backstreet Boy tour. Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
writer David Menconi called Justincase an "act to watch," describing the group as "three clean-cut teenage siblings" whose music is "steeped in classic-rock verities." Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
critic Kevin Amorim called the band's music "rootsy feel-good Hooters
The Hooters
The Hooters is an American rock band from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. By combining a mix of rock and roll, reggae, ska and folk music, The Hooters first gained major commercial success in the United States in the mid 1980s due to heavy radio and MTV airplay of several songs including "All You...
-esque rock (hey, at least it wasn't emo)." Guitar-maker Ibanez
Ibanez
is a Japanese guitar brand owned by Hoshino Gakki. Based in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan, Hoshino Gakki were one of the first Japanese musical instrument companies to gain a significant foothold in import guitar sales in the United States and Europe, as well as the first brand of guitars to mass produce...
published a series of ads featuring the band.
Despite heavy promotion, the album lagged commercially. Lackluster sales numbers caused Maverick to drop the band in 2003, and they have been unable to secure another recording contract. The band is on a self-described "indefinite hiatus" while its members attend college and play the occasional local show. Lead singer Justin Tosco is also performing with Policy, another local band. Justin recently spent one month in Kenya with the program SFS.