New Jersey Stage Issue 73 | Page 7

Brislin grew up in Somerset County, graduating from Somerville’s Immaculata High School in 1991. Long-time Jersey music fans may remember Brislin from his solo work or his band Spiraling, which toured in support of They Might Be Giants, Violent Femmes, and OK Go. He joined Kansas in February 2019 as the band was celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Point of Know Return album. In a world in which many kids dream of playing lead guitar, Brislin says he grew up playing piano mainly because there was one in his house. The music he was listening to was split between guitar-laden acts like Led Zeppelin and Foreigner and music with great keyboard players such as Yes and Emerson, Lake & Palmer. With a lot of progressive rock and 70s rock and roll playing in his house, it’s no wonder that helped shape his career. “That was my introduction to the concept of a band - a team of musicians getting together to play music and each of them having a spe- Watch the video for “Point Of Know Return” by Kansas NJ STAGE - ISSUE 73 INDEX NEXT ARTICLE 7