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justincase
Three siblings ready to rock
By Kristi Singer
Star-News Correspondent
October 25, 2002
Just in case you haven't heard, there's a new band of brothers (and one sister) in town -- Charlotte-based Maverick recording artists justincase.
The three-piece alternative rock/pop band consists of Justin Tosco on guitars and vocals, brother Nick on drums and sister Hannah on bass. The band isn't new to the Charlotte area (the trio's been playing together for four years at recognized gigs such as the Center CityFest and WEND's End of Summer Weenie Roast), but what is new to the talented teens is appearing on MTV's TRL and hearing their first single, Don't Cry For Us, on the radio.
"I don't think it's really hit us yet," Nick, 17, said. "When we first saw our video on the TRL premiere, that was pretty jaw-dropping to hear Carson (Daly, the show's host) say 'Here's justincase in a new video.' "
The video for Don't Cry For Us, a song Justin wrote in reaction to the Sept. 11 attacks, was filmed in Los Angeles.
Hannah said making the video was "unbelievable" and similar to the MTV series Making the Video.
"There were all these people there – a person to do hair, a person to do make-up, and we had a trailer and it was really incredible," she said.
Justin, 19, and Hannah, 16, both saw their video when Michelle Branch (who co-wrote the song) debuted it on Total Request Live. Nick saw it while he was flipping through the channels and it came upon MTV's All Things Rock.
While the rest of the world watches the band's rise to fame, its members are so busy that they almost "don't see it," Nick said.
"It's weird, because when you're doing all this stuff, you're away from it all. But we remember when Michelle (Branch) was starting out we were like, 'Oh my gosh, she's so famous, I cannot believe all this.' I'm sure she was the same way. Every now and then there's little comings of realizing how cool it is," Nick, said.
The Tosco kids met the then-unsigned Ms. Branch, now known for her singles Everywhere, All You Wanted and her latest radio hit, Goodbye to You, at the Las Vegas EAT'M Music Conference in June of 2000.
"We had a good idea of what was going to happen because we've been friends with Michelle, and we've seen everything that she's been through. But we couldn't fully grasp what it is. Still, I think every now and then we have to step back and take it in," Hannah said.
As if that's not enough excitement, the band is releasing its major label debut this Tuesday on Madonna's label, Maverick Records. The album includes 11 original tracks penned by Justin. The band began recording its self-titled CD earlier this year in Los Angeles.
Of their experiences so far, the Tosco siblings said some of the "coolest" things they've done include opening up for Duncan Sheik at the Gibson Guitar Factory in Memphis and performing with Ms. Branch overseas.
According to the band's Web site, www.justincasefans.com, the band will be hitting the road on a tour of Wal-Mart stores starting Wednesday.
While some artists eventually want to hide from the public, justincase is soaking up the spotlight as it continues to brighten.
"I think some people do get to that point when fame is a little bit much for them," Justin said. But right now it's exciting. It's cool that our music is getting out there and that people have heard our song."
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