By Mollee Francisco
Johnny Holm still remembers one of the first times he saw his daughter Jordan perform on stage. She was in ninth grade, singing pop star Mandy Moore’s remake of Carole King’s “I Feel the Earth Move.”
“She was so bad,” he said. “But she sure took the stage well.”
Today, 18-year-old Jordan is a lot better. As a singer in her father’s popular touring band, she had to step it up to even be considered for the job.
“It was so incredibly nerve-wracking,” she said.
Like everyone else, when the position for a female singer in the Johnny Holm Band opened up last year, Jordan had to audition.
“I had it tougher,” she said.
“I didn’t want to be soft,” explained Johnny. “Or give her special treatment.”
Ultimately, Jordan proved she was the right woman for the job.
“I took a leap of faith,” said Johnny, a Chaska resident. “She’s a great addition to the band.”
Locals can see the Holm family’s talents on display this Halloween as the Johnny Holm Band performs at Champps in Eden Prairie.
Just like dad
The mere notion that Jordan wanted to be in dad’s band, initially threw the 30-year music veteran for a loop.
“I never really envisioned it,” he said.
Jordan, on the other hand, had been dreaming of the stage from a young age as she watched her father perform countless times, often from the front row.
“It’s in my blood,” she said.
So after three years of singing lessons, Jordan finished up at Chaska High School and embarked on her music career.
“I didn’t take the ACTs or the SATs,” she said. “The school thing isn’t for me. This is.”
Jordan officially joined the six-member Johnny Holm Band in June 2006, as the band jumped into their busiest time of year, performing as many as six nights a week.
Jordan has had a lot to adjust to as she took to a life spent largely on the road.
“There’s a lot of time in the van with the guys,” she said. “I’m definitely more of a guy now.”
“I worried about that,” said Johnny. “But then I just resigned to the fact that we’re a band on the road. Luckily, Jordan doesn’t have any hang ups.”
“It’s a lot of work,” she said. “You miss home, but it’s totally worth it.”
Both Jordan and Johnny now have a piece of home with them on the road. But how do the two balance family and business relationships?
“It’s a difficult situation,” said Johnny. “I have to be a boss and a dad.”
“We get in big fights,” admitted Jordan. “He tries to critique me, but I always get mad.”
Star-quality
As Jordan learns to accept constructive criticism, she dreams of a singing career of her own.
With the attitude reminiscent of a young Madonna and the fashion sense to match, Jordan declares her desire to “conquer” pop and country music. She looks up to musicians like Faith Hill, Britney Spears, Steven Tyler and Beyonce who may have different musical styles, but manage to appeal to a broad horizon of fans.
However, Jordan can still admire the career that her father has carved out for himself.
“To do what he does, to have the career that he has is just amazing,” she said. “He could have had more, gone the fame route, but he chose not to.”
For Jordan, there is no better training for creating a crowd-pleasing performance, than that of what her dad is giving her.
“The best lesson is just to watch him,” she said. “He reads a crowd so well.” Jordan explained that their band has no song list. The songs are chosen by Johnny on the fly, based on crowd mood.
“He has signs for each song,” she said. “It’s his own sign language.”
And a skill that Jordan is picking up on. She admitted that she often tries to guess what song he’ll choose next.
“And I get them right!” she exclaimed excitedly.
That’s not the only skill she’s developing. Her voice has also dramatically improved. “It went from wimpy to womanly,” she said. “I love it.”
When the topic of Jordan’s future career comes up, Johnny is nothing but supportive of her desire to some day strike out on her own.
“I’m supporting her the best I can,” he said.
Jordan is now busy writing her own songs and knows right where to go when she needs a musical ear to give an honest opinion. Dad is more than willing to help shape a chorus or work the kinks out of a verse.
Those lessons are easy. But the lessons he hopes to impart on his daughter are a bit tougher.
“Be humble, remain thankful and be yourself,” he advised.
At least one of those lessons has already sunk in, though. When asked where her favorite place to play is, Jordan quickly responds “anywhere in North Dakota.”
“They’re a really, really appreciative crowd,” she said.
After 15 months in the business, Jordan is still confident she made the right decision to follow in her father’s footsteps.
“It’s exciting,” she said. “I love it more and more every day.”
Johnny Holm Band
Wednesday, Oct. 31
Champps, 8010 Glen Lane, Eden Prairie
9 p.m.–midnight
