It Takes Two

Many musicians go the solo route. Some take their place in a band. But for some, it’s when they find the right musical partner that their career really blossoms. Such is the case of the January Berry Band, based around the guitar work of John January and the vocals of Linda Berry. Though considered a blues band, their music can cover a lot of ground, taking in elements of funk, classic rock, and more, for a sound that’s built to keep a dance floor packed.

Both January and Berry have had thriving music careers, but it’s when they teamed up, both as musicians and romantic partners in 2015 that they started to truly reach the public’s attention. Their album, Chemistry 101 was nominated for a 2018 San Diego Music Award, with a new collection in the works and a slew of club dates ahead with their band, which includes Mel Hintz on drums, Brian Bannock on bass, and Doug White on keyboards.

“Yes, we are called a blues act,” Berry said. “But I think we are much more than that. It’s hard to categorize us. The blues is our first love, though. All of our music is filled with soul and most of it is “blues-based.” Like many blues artists, we do a lot of covers, but we like to pick lesser-known songs and put our own patina on them. The songs we pick or write reflect the diverse musical styles that influenced us growing up.’