Behind the Band with Just Fine
By Alfonso Rangel
Just fine is an Emo Punk band that’s been slowly but surely moving their way up in San Antonios’ DIY music scene. From playing in living rooms, to local bars, to big stages, Just Fine has been making a huge impact on the local scene. I recently got a chance to sit down with Damien (Guitar/Vocals), Joel (Bass/Vocals), and Miguel (Guitar) to talk about where they’ve come from and how they got to where they are now.
How did you guys meet?
Damien: We all met in High School. Joel was a grade lower than us but he always hung out with us.
Miguel: We became friends through playing guitar and music. This was back in the iPod days and we would share music with each other.
Joel: Me and Damien always connected through music. I would ask him to put music on my iPod and show me some new stuff. Then Miguel was in college but we ended up seeing each other at a show and reconnected. From there we decided to all jam together and that’s where it started.
What band or bands got ya’ll into music?
Joel: When I first started singing and started to realize that I wanted to sing it was because of “The Backstreet Boys”. But the band that really did it for me was “A Day To Remember”. I remember the first time I listened to “A Day To Remember” and first started to get into them was when I realized that I wanted to do this.
Damien: Aside from 90’s grunge music, probably “Blink-182”. I just wanted to be a pop punk kid.
Miguel: My first exposure to the pop punk wave was “The Wonder Years”. I’ve just happened to stick with them throughout everything from their early stuff to where they’re at now and their progression.
What has the journey been like going from playing inside homes and bars to opening up for “Queen of Jeans”?
Damien: Fun and hard work.
Joel: The “Queen of Jeans” show was the one that was really eye-opening. A lot of the shows that we’ve played have been Damien getting into the trenches and messaging people and finding out who’s coming, and even going as far as getting bigger bands to play here. He was always the one taking care of bands and getting the venue, but when the “Queen of Jeans” show happened and they were the ones that reached out to us it was like “Oh man, people are starting to notice us”. All the work we’ve been putting in the past two years have gotten people to notice us more than what we originally thought they would.
What have been some of the necessary steps you’ve had to take to get this far?
Damien: Just constantly hitting people up to play shows. It’s hard work. DIY is hard but it’s fun. You just have to reach out to people and let them know what you’re doing and what you want to do.
Joel: Even just letting people know that you’re available. Even if you don’t play the show just get your name out there. And it doesn’t matter if you’re playing for a show with a crowd of two people or two-hundred people you give it your all. No matter how hard the day was or how many people showed up you play the show like you want to be there.
What are your goals for 2020?
Damien: Everyone wants us to tour so we definitely need to get on that. I want to play more all ages shows, so we could get more people to listen to us. We want to play bigger shows and even out of state shows.
Joel: Right now we’re working on new material and we want to find faster ways to put out new songs, but also good quality songs at a steady rate. I’ve had so many people ask us about songs we play live but don’t have recorded and we want to get those songs out there. And finally get on Spotify.
Miguel: Keep writing new material. The whole writing process is a big piece for reaching new people, and getting good quality music to people. I want to continue to work on stuff that we’re happy with and stuff that people want to listen to.
If you could put on your own festival who’s the band you’d want to play with?
Joel: For me I’d do it a little selfishly. Like who could I get on that I could do guest vocals with. Probably like “Counterparts” and “Knocked loose”, so I could get up there a scream some parts with them.
Miguel: I’m gonna say “I’m Glad It’s You”, I would love to see them.
Damien: Definitely “Taking Back Sunday”. What has been your favorite show so far? Damien: For me, it would be the first time we played with “Riley” and “Ulcers” because now we’re really good friends with them. But also the show we played at Paper Tiger with “Queen of Jeans”. Just hearing everyone singing our songs back to us, I really didn’t even have to sing my parts.
Joel: Both times we played Paper Tiger, just because of the crowd we pulled and hearing everyone singing was really cool. Miguel: It’s the same for me, both Paper Tiger shows.
Any advice for musicians or bands just starting out?
Damien: Just keep reaching out and trying to book shows. Make good connections with people. Support you scene.
Miguel: Kindness goes a long way. Be involved with everyone around you and stop looking at other bands as competition. Go to shows, even if you’re not playing. Be involved in the scene.
Joel: Like Miguel said, just show everyone kindness. Make those connections and treat people well. Show respect and love for others music. People are going to remember that.