About Us
Who we are
The Jury is a Twin Cities blues rock band built to move a crowd. Original songs and covers, picked and played to fill the dance floor, not just the set list.
Bassist Brad Beneke and keyboardist Gary Johnson spent three years building this band from the ground up. They found their voice in K.A. Mick, a songwriter who moves between blues, rock, and country without missing a beat. Lead guitarist Kelly Coyle and drummer Scott Brundieck rounded out the lineup, and the band found its sound. The Jury hit the stage in early 2025, and the dance floor has not emptied since.
Summer 2026 brought a change. Gary retired, and Joe "The Mechanic" Wheeler stepped in. Joe built a name as a solo artist before joining The Jury, and he brought his guitar and his voice with him. Two lead vocalists now trade lines onstage, and the sound has grown sharper for it.
Catch a show. Bring your dancing shoes.
The Musicians
K.A. Mick
Lead Vocals & Songwriting
K.A. Mick is an American musician, songwriter, playwright, poet, essayist, and teacher whose work blends lyrical storytelling with social insight and musical range. As the frontman of his blues rock band, Mick has crafted an array of danceable covers and original songs over his impressive 25-year career.
Mick has published dozens of original songs that span traditional blues, folk, Americana, and country, in addition to blues-rock, rock, and jazz. His solo album, Requiem for the Masters of Mankind, is available on major streaming platforms like Apple Music, Spotify, and Pandora.
Beginning his musical journey in high school, Mick sang in a rock band alongside his good friend Joe Hadar. This enduring musical partnership has continued through special performances over the decades. Eight years ago, Mick founded The Jury, a blues rock band that has evolved through various lineups into a powerful poetic force renowned for its emotionally charged performances and original material.
Mick's songs have garnered notable airplay and features on NPR, Iowa Public Radio (IPR), KFMG Radio Live, Five Alive (ABC Morning Show), and Grinnell College Today College Radio. His singles, including
Brad Beneke
Brad started his first band at 15 with The Brymstones, where he played keyboards. In his 20s, he became a full-time professional with the regional blues rock band Pope County as lead guitarist. He moved to L.A., living in San Pedro and performing with various cover and original songs bands that included danceable covers, ranging from impromptu performances in parks to gigs at the world famous Troubadour. Back in Minnesota, he joined forces with Gary Johnson to build The Jury.
Kelly Coyle
Lead Guitar
Kelly has played with a bunch of people since moving to Mankato a decade ago and even more before that. He has a deep passion for creating music, especially with electronic live looping—a technique he embraced as soon as the equipment became available in the 90s. This focus on innovative sound creation primarily remained private until the pandemic, when he launched a project to record an improvisation a day, producing videos for many of these and sharing them on YouTube. Throughout his career, Kelly has collaborated with various ensembles, including Billy Curmano's New X Art Ensemble and the Endtime Quartet. He also enjoyed a long stint with Dick Kimmel, performed original songs in a country music trio called the Donner Party, and worked with singer-songwriter Angie Anderson. Additionally, he was involved in the traditional jazz band Sarah and the Houligans, as well as a blues rock band known for their danceable covers and unique contributions to the local music scene.
Joe ("The Mechanic") Wheeler
Vocals & Guitar
Joe is a Minnesota-based musician, mechanic, and small-business owner. When he’s not turning wrenches at Wheelock Automotive, you’ll usually find him with a guitar in his hands. Performing as Joe the Mechanic, Joe brings a down-to-earth mix of country, rock, and Americana to the stage, shaped by years of writing, recording, and playing live. Above everything else, he’s a husband, family man, and hardworking guy who’s built a life around the things he loves—music, cars, and connecting with people.
Scott Brundieck
Scott bought his first old, beat-up Ludwig drum set at the age of 13 with money he earned from a paper route. His first official band, Seroyan, won the high school talent show, launching him into a world of playing in various original songs and cover bands across genres like pop, blues, country, rock, and speed metal. Notable collaborations included working with Gaylen Paris & The Critical Mass, Cutthroat, and [Insert Band Name Here], a Glenn Kragness project. After a 20-year hiatus to raise a family, Scott is returning to the music scene with The Jury. He is revitalized by their incredible talent, creativity, and personality, thriving in the blues rock band format. He loves to play danceable covers and original songs that get people moving on the dance floor.