A Big Musical Boost

Jumpstart a dance band with a full catalog of tunes

By Jeff Walker Features Editor

San Marcos — Mike Murillo isn’t a regular viewer of “Bridezillas.”

But the Jumpstart frontman was flipping through channels recently when he settled on the trashy cable show following greedy, blood-thirsty brides to be. It was during that particular episode that he first heard the Black eyed Peas’ song “I Got a Feeling.”

He liked what he heard and his band worked it up for their next gig. It’s been part of their regular rotation since.

“Songs we perform come from all different sources,” Murillo said.

Jumpstart is a nine-piece dance band that performs at weddings, cocktail parties or corporate functions. And they really do play a little bit of everything, with a current playlist in excess of 200 songs. But the important thing, Murillo says, is playing music people can dance to.

“We like to cover as much of the various kinds of dance music as possible, and that includes repertoire from 1930s swing to Salsa/Latin to country to the trendy music today,” Murillo said. “I try to capture what I think are popular songs that people recognize and want to hear, but also those that are good dance songs.”

Jumpstart will headline the Summer in the Park concert at 8 p.m. tonight at San Marcos Plaza Park. Rain site is the San Marcos Activity Center.

Murillo, a Seguin native and Southwest Texas State University graduate, grew up around all kinds of music,   from country tunes and German polkas on the radio, to the Big Band era tunes his father played growing up. His sister introduced him to the Beatles.

“To be in a band like this, you have to be familiar with all types of music,” Murillo said. “I often hear country bands say they also play rock music, and they sound just like a country band playing rock. And vice versa. If people aren’t familiar with the styles they won’t capture the feeling of the musical style and it won’t come across as believable.”

After enrolling at Southwest Texas he met Jim Hall, the stage band director at the university. Before long he was taking private lessons from Hall and performing regularly with the Texas State Jazz Band.

He graduated in 1975 and played in several garage bands, playing jazz rock fusion in the vein of Al Di Meola and Steely Dan. It was a lot of work and it never really caught on, so in 1985 Murillo dropped the music.

“And then I got restless. I’d go out jogging or something and hear people in the neighborhood rehearsing, and I started inviting myself to come sit in and listen and play,” Murillo said. “Eventually I decided I wanted to play music, and I don’t want to get too serious. I don’t want a big record contract, I just want to play.”

So he put an ad in the Austin Chronicle looking for musicians who had real jobs and wanted to play part time. The response was huge, and Murillo has been performing since.

Fellow members of the band include drummer Bruce Wayne — aka Batman — who grew up in San Marcos and also attended Southwest Texas State; San Marcos High School graduate Joe Pacheco; and San Marcos native LeRoy Rodriguez. The nine-piece band includes a full brass section, male and female vocalists, keyboards and a full rhythm section.

The band rehearses once a week, but Murillo says if he finds a song he wants to play, he’ll buy a copy of it on iTunes, send it to his bandmates and ask them to work up their part individually. The band rehearses the song as a whole at soundcheck.

And the styles they’re likely to perform? Just about anything goes.

“We’ve played country, Tejano, jazz, and then there’s always rock, Motown, soul and funk,” Murillo said. “Generally, we’re a dance band on a broad spectrum.”

JUMPSTART HEATS UP THE SUMMER NIGHT!

The 24^th annual Summer Concert Series in San Marcos, TX was impassioned by the “hot” variety in musical entertainment by JUMPSTART.    JUMPSTART is a incredible variety dance band from Austin, Tx.   They played something for everyone.  From young to seasoned, everyone in the park was swaying, swinging, foot-stomping, and crooning to the music. 

JUMPSTART will perform Thursday, July 22, 2010 at the San Marcos Parks and Recreation “Summer Concerts In the Park” series.  The band will take the stage at 8:00 p.m. and conclude their set at 9:30 p.m.  Berry Bynum is set to open at 7:30 p.m.

It has been two years since JUMPSTART, the Austin based variety dance band, has performed for this event.  They have made a reputation for themselves as a premier wedding band, being featured on such wedding sites and The Knot.com and The Wedding Channel. 

While the band has made their impact in the wedding circuit, they have also entertained at many corporate events.  The basic reason is because of JUMPSTART’s vast repertoire.   Their playlist stretches miles and miles of Texas!  Simply, they perform dance music from the 30’s to Today!   They perform country dance hits, jazz standards, sound-track ballads, Latin salsa & cumbias, soul, funk, basically, you name it – JUMPSTART plays it!  See them perform all these styles of music in one of their few public appearances.

Austin, Texas, the musical capitol of the world is also known for many of its eclectic public events.  These eclectic events include, but certainly are not limited to, such parties as Spamorama, Eeyore’s Birthday, the Capitol 10,000 and many others.  Coming this May 2010 will be the first official Global Worming event.

Yes, it is not a typo.  The event is called “Global Worming”.  The public event is the concept of J.P. Hogan of J.P.’s Java in Austin, Tx.  Among J.P.’s many talents is his talent to capture the public interest in a fun and inspired idea to promote his hard working friends – the earthworms.  J.P. says he uses earthworms in his garden to assist with aeration and composting.  “They work hard” he says and “I appreciate the results they give me”.  So, what better way to honor the earthworm than with a tribute dedicated specifically to these “Nightcrawlers”.

The date of the first official Global Worming event is May 7, 2010 at J.P.’s  Java, 2803 San Jacinto – outdoors on the deck.  Go to this link for a map and details:  www.jpsjava.com

The fun starts at 6:00 p.m.  Dance music will be by Austin’s best wedding and event band and unofficial dance band of the University of Texas – JUMPSTART.  You can be sure JUMPSTART will be offering up a great mix of dance music from country to funk to Motown to rock and salsa!  JP will be offering up a great venue, beer, wine, food and of course, his famous java!  Be an early bird and catch-the-worm; that is to say, the Global Worming experience!

Don’t miss the first annual Global Worming Event!