“O was a big proponent of not being in a cover band,” Joseph said, chuckling. More specifically, O was in the audience at both tribute shows - not on stage. “He came and saw us practice for them and he was at both Petty tribute shows we did at the Casbah.” “O loved Tom Petty’s music,” Joseph said. Another big thing I learned from him is how to use space as a musical instrument.”īringing things full circle, O plays bass on “The Most,” a standout song on “miniaturized.” He also provides harmony vocals on the album’s title track. The way they played always had a sway, a musical push and pull, that they did flawlessly. He and The Heartbreakers had a chemistry. I have to credit taking apart and learning all those Petty songs with inspiring the musical form of these (miniaturized) songs. “There’s indie-rock mixed in, but it isn’t as apparent. “These songs are different than what I’d written before - less angular and less riff-y - with more pop-rock-leaning sensibilities,” Joseph said. He pared them down to 14 for the “miniaturized” album and is justifiably proud of the results. He experienced a creative burst during the 2020 pandemic shutdown, which began just two months after the second of the Petty tribute concerts at the Casbah. Those qualities had a direct cause-and-effect impact on the music Joseph created for miniaturized’s accomplished debut album. All his songs have meaning and substance, and he was so consistent. “I’d never really covered anybody’s songs before - I just wrote my own stupid music - and learning to do Petty’s music really reset my mentality as a songwriter. But it wasn’t until I had to learn to play and sing his songs that I realized the depth and complexity of them. “He was a troubadour, a storyteller who could pull you into them in three minutes. “I know every word of every Petty song,” Joseph said. Three months later, Joseph was on stage at the Casbah leading some of San Diego’s finest talents at a MusiCares fundraising concert billed simply as “Petty.” Preparing for the show was an eye- and ear-opening experience for him.

2, 2017, just two weeks after he and The Heartbreakers performed in San Diego for the final time at that year’s KAABOO Festival in Del Mar. He put out great music throughout his career and stayed true to his ethos.” “Tom is one of the greatest songwriters America has ever had. “There are artists we all like who can’t be denied - Dylan, Bowie, Iggy Pop - and Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers are in that echelon,” Joseph said. But they are all versatile players with broad tastes. Most of the San Diego musicians who performed at the two Petty tributes - like those on miniaturized’s album - started off playing punk and indie-rock as teenagers and share that foundation. (Sandy Huffaker/The San Diego Union Tribune) I’ve recommended them to a few musicians I know.” They were very generous and kind, and it’s good to know they are there. I felt embarrassed to reach out for help and MusiCares didn’t make me feel embarrassed at all. “I lost my house and was having a really rough time, financially, and MusiCares helped me for a year to pay my utility bills and car payments so that I was able to stabilize,” Joseph recalled. Joseph is one of the thousands of artists who has been helped by MusiCares, which in early 2017 honored Petty at its annual Person of the Year all-star gala dinner concert. The second, held in January 2020, featured some of the same performers and a cameo by Ron Blair, the original bassist in Petty’s band, The Heartbreakers.īoth Casbah shows were benefits for MusiCares, a Grammy Awards-related nonprofit organization that provides medical and financial aid for musicians in need.

The first was in January 2018 and featured guest spots by an array of top San Diego artists. Joseph formed miniaturized after heading a pair of Petty tribute shows, both of which were held at the Casbah. The band’s current performing lineup teams Joseph with Prescott on drums, his brother, Carl Prescott, on horns, Dan McNay on bass and Greg Friedman guitar, keyboards and backing vocals.Īll of them are accomplished players with several decades of experience. It also features some of leading San Diego talents, including drummers Chris Prescott and Mario Rubalcaba, and bassist Chris Torres and Brian Desjean. and Pavement to Marshall Crenshaw, Suzanne Vega and Wilco.Ī skilled multi-instrumentalist, Easter performs on every song on the album, as does lead singer and guitarist Joseph.

It was produced by Mitch Easter, whose many other credits range from R.E.M. Known as “TJ” to his friends, Joseph wrote all 14 songs on the “miniaturized” album.

Legend revo a colors