* En anglais uniquement
Singer/songwriter/guitarist
Brother JT (aka John Terlesky) combines classic psychedelic pop elements with unique and often spiritual lyrics, and has produced a large and striking body of work, most recorded in his own home studio. While his solo efforts are usually low-key affairs, he often teams up with
Vibrolux for a louder, more rock-oriented version of the
Brother JT sound. Terlesky played in Philadelphia's garage rock group
Original Sins from the mid-'80s to the mid-'90s, and
Vibrolux includes members of other local, psychedelically inspired groups, such as Art Difuria of
the Photon Band (who also worked with
Kurt Heasley of
the Lilys).
Brother JT's debut album,
Music for the Other Head, appeared in 1996 and introduced his acid-tinged, eclectic sound; later that year,
Rainy Day Fun was released by Drunken Fish Records, the onetime home of fellow sonic trippers
Bardo Pond. Come on Down, also released by Drunken Fish, came out in 1997, as did the
Brother JT/
Vibrolux album Doomsday Rock, which Terlesky released on his own Bedlam label. The year 1998 saw the release of Holy Ghost Stories as well as an appearance at the space/psych rock festival Terrastock II, and the following year, the live album Dosed & Confused: Live '94-'97 and Way to Go arrived.
JT continued to make bluesy, trippy music that defied easy classification into the 2000s: Badman released 2002's Maybe We Should Take Some More?, which was recorded in Philadelphia's Living Room studio, while
Drag City issued that year's Spirituals. Terlesky collaborated with producer
Dan McKinney for 2003's almost straightforward Hang in There, Baby, while 2004's Off Blue moved in an even gentler, largely acoustic direction.
JT returned in 2007 with Third Ear Candy, which had a title that fit its playful, funky, psychedelic vibe.
Jelly Roll Gospel followed in 2008, followed by four more records for
Ouroboros including Any Stort in a Porm (2010), Non Compos Mantis (2011), and Smash Crack-Up Pop and This Mud's for You (both 2012). The Svelteness of Boogietude, which was released in May of 2013, appeared on Thrill Jockey. A limited-edition cassette-only release, Lo Bias High Noise, was issued by Summersteps Records in 2014, while he teamed up with
Ouroboros to drop On High in 2015.
Brother JT ambled back to Thrill Jockey for 2018's Tornado Juice (the title was derived from Terlesky's name for LSD), which was recorded at Magic Door Studio in Montclair, New Jersey, with additional overdubs performed on
JT's digital recording setup. ~ Heather Phares