8-30-08, 1:35 pm

A jazz version of Rage Against the Machine, Minnesota-based Junkyard Empire blends jazz instrumentals, hip hop, and socially consciously lyrics to create a fresh sound. Composed of a group of talented musicians, artists, writers, and activists, this new Midwestern band has something to say.

During a telephone interview this week to discuss the release of their newest album, 'Rise of the Wretched,' band leader and keyboard/trombone player Christopher Cox hinted that the band's current incarnation wasn't always their plan. 'We started as an instrumental, you could say, acid jazz improv type of group, kind of avant-garde,' he recalled.

But they soon discovered that they all had a similar interest in hip hop, Cox said. They liked artists like Public Enemy, Mod Def, and a lot of local hip hop groups. 'We thought, man, it sure would be nice to get deeper into hip hop and merge it with jazz,' he said.

And, Cox added, the band also wanted to make sure protest music was a central part of what they did, 'more than anything speak truth to power.' Cox cited fellow Minnesota native Bob Dylan as an influence.

So the band began its search for the second Gil Scott Heron, as Cox described it, and ended up with the new lead vocalist, rapper Brihanu (aka Brian Lozenski). 'He just blew our minds,' Cox said about Brihanu's first audition. 'We were swinging. We realized then we had something going on, and the rest is history.' He not only raps well, he writes lyrics and melodies, Cox said of the talented front man.

The band also features guitarist Bryan Berry, a University of Minnesota engineering student who makes his own guitars. Dan Choma plays bass and creates the cover art for the band's albums. Drummer Graham O'Brien, whom Cox brags is the best in the Twin Cities, rounds out the group. Cox and Brihanu share writing duties.

'Rise of the Wretched' is set to be released as part of the band's involvement in next week's anti-Republican National Convention marches in Minneapolis. Groups will gather September 1st at the state capital at 11 am and join in a protest against the harmful policies of Bush, Cheney and the Republicans, Cox said. He added that the poor people's contingent of the march falls into the tradition of the old labor day rallies when separate brigades of unions would get together and march for a particular cause.

September 2nd, the band will be performing at the Black Dog Block Party in Lowertown St. Paul at around 3 pm and will be giving away copies of their new album, 'Rise of the Wretched.' They'll be on after bands like Boots Riley and the Coup, among others.

September 4th, Junkyard Empire will be at another anti-RNC march scheduled for 3:30 pm as part of an antiwar march to the Xcel Energy Center. Later that evening the band is headlining the Goodbye RNC Party at Trocaderos in downtown Minneapolis.

'As a band we like to participate in various political activities beyond the music,' Cox said. 'The absolutely inconceivable gap between the rich and poor in this country is something we always seem to come back to.'

'Poverty issues are almost always at the heart of anything you can talk about,' he pointed out. The band's new album, 'Rise of the Wretched,' speaks directly to this but also to the fact that the people can rise up and say, 'I'm done with that.'

On being compared to Rage Against the Machine, Cox chuckled and said that there may be something to that, but Junkyard Empire doesn't really just like to inspire riots and anger at their performances. 'We all love Rage Against the Machine,' Cox said. Rage is also playing at some of the anti-RNC activities next week.

'One thing that is different about us is that we spend a lot of blood, sweat, and tears writing music that doesn't just point out was is so messed up about the government and what is so messed up about American society, we try hard to get the message out in a positive way and we call for people to rise up not to just be angry,' Cox stated. 'Anger plays a role, but it has to be directed towards making the world a better place.'

Listen to and download some of Junkyard Empire's sounds at their MySpace page here.

--Reach Joel Wendland at