Although the band didn’t form until after the eviction of Occupy Portland, the beginning of the band was apparent at the Occupy Encampment. Sam Gustafson and Justin James Bridges met at Occupy Portland and became good friends at the camp, waking up in the morning to play whatever songs came to mind, & developing a sound together. They unknowingly started the spark that would later ignite in to a 10 piece jam band, settle, and reform as the 5 piece, multi-genre, good time known as Patchwork Family Band. All 5 members of PFB play multiple instruments adding to the diversity, along with a unique, but strangely familiar, eclectic sound.
Patchwork Family Band was formed out of the ashes of Occupy Portland. On November 13, 2011, (N13) Justin James Bridges was acting as the interpreter for the deaf for the General Assembly Meeting taking place in Chapman Square (downtown Portland, Oregon), when the police moved in to evict the encampment. Justin was assaulted by the police, an act that left him unable to use his right arm and right leg and confined him to a wheelchair. Luckily, he regained use of his thumb on Christmas Eve and was able to start picking again. After six and a half months, Justin regained use of his right arm and hand, allowing him to start returning to his previous speed-picking style.
Since the formation of the band in early January 2012, they have played in Oregon (Portland, Eugene, & Salem), Washington (Seattle), California (Eureka, San Francisco, & Santa Cruz), & Texas (Austin, Houston, San Marcos, & Galveston). With no sign of slowing down, keep an eye out for Patchwork Family Band to come to your town.
Patchwork Family is:
Jaimason – drums
Mermaid – flute, harmonica, guitar, vocals
Sam Gustafson – guitar, vocals
Renaissance – bass, vocals
Justin James Bridges – guitar, vocals
[...] on Tuesday. On the other hand, I'm sure glad we made a point to see The Patchwork Family Band! Justin James Bridges has quite a story about how the band got together. The Patchwork Family Band Hang On For The Ride, Track 2, Track 3, Grocery Man, Track 5, Track 6, [...]
To my new friends from the Patchwork Family,
This is Michael One Road just comming to you to thank you for inviting me to come jam with you. I felt like I was gonna bust if I didn’t get up on a stage and play some music again.I really have missed a lot over the last few years with my own devistating illnesses and personal nightmares.I’ve been unhappy for a long ass time so I decided to take some good friends advise and go help out at Hempfest.It woke my spirit back up and kicking it with Justin has really helped me more than he will know.Its been a while and I’m a little rusty but twards the end of the show I just felt so comfortable with these guys that I was actually able to cut loose again.Thanks guys I needed that and I look forward to doing more shows and playing music with you.Its just that part of who we are that brings out that feeling we share amongst each other on stage ane our audience feels that comming from us.That’s what makes it special and that’s why I think its so awesome to play tunes with you. I have a lot of my own music Id like to share with you and I can sing too so don’t be strangers cause there is a lot musically we can do together as well as politically because I am involved in Native politics.Occupied supported me and what I had to say in Tacoma last Feb.and A.I.M. supported occupiedat the Richland event. Yep, I was there.I continue to support my people but its a much broader view we all need to take together because its not about race anymore.The people that have only have what they do because they have already taken what we have. Now they want our children so they can be made to serve their children.We now outnumber them by hundreds of thousands and it grows every day.That’s why its time to step up to the plate and tell them what’s up.I’m not afraid to get up on a stage and tell it how it is.OK, Ill step off the soapbox now just listen to what I have said to you and think about it for a while then give me a call.267-467-3796.Alright bros, Michael….