Daily Inspiration: Meet Brian Person

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brian Person.

Hi Brian, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
The Martini Shot started in 2000 while our lead singer, Andy Clementi, was attending Adams State University in Alamosa. At the time, he was running weekly jam sessions at a local pub called St. Ives. Andy and original trumpet player, Kevin Moreman, pulled together friends from the music department with a simple goal: build a band made up of the best musicians they knew — and it had to include horns.

Our first rehearsal was at a local middle school. We played our first shows at a small bar called Weekends and eventually became the Wednesday-night house band. After graduating, Andy moved to Pueblo, and the group continued to evolve.

By 2003, the six-piece format that still defines our band today had essentially taken shape. The current lineup — Andy Clementi, Brook Mead, Rob Smith, Greg Trujillo, Stephen Falsetto, and myself — grew into that structure over the following years. Stephen officially joined in 2013, but his connection to the band goes back much further, having been a student of both Rob and our former guitarist, Ryan Walter. Many of us are current or former music teachers, which has shaped everything from the way we rehearse to how deeply we value community, education, and collaboration.

Over the years, we’ve developed our signature horn-infused “Martini Shot flavor,” blending original music with energetic, reimagined covers inspired by Barenaked Ladies, Reel Big Fish, Foo Fighters, 311, and other bands we grew up with. We’ve headlined festivals, shared the stage with artists like Eddie Money, Blue Öyster Cult, Foghat, Firefall, Pure Prairie League, and Great White, and performed almost everywhere in Southern Colorado.

And in June 2025, we hit one of our biggest milestones yet — performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre for Denver Film’s Film on the Rocks. After 25 years, we’re still best friends who love making music together, driven by the same spirit we started with: connection, community, storytelling, and having the most fun possible on stage.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
For the most part, our road has been smooth. A lot of that has to do with our lasting friendship, our common goals, and the way each member is treated as an equal contributor — creatively and financially. Everyone gets paid the same, no matter their role.

Outside of the normal struggles all bands face (getting gigs, staying motivated, staying current, balancing family and careers), we’ve recently hit a couple of major bumps.

As we were coming out of the COVID pandemic and bands were easing back into a normal performance rhythm, our longtime guitarist, Ryan “Sizzle Pizzle” Walter, stepped away after 20 years. It was one of the hardest emotional moments we’ve ever faced as a group. Losing someone who helped shape our sound and identity shook all of us. Thankfully, Stephen — who was playing sax at the time and had been a former student of Ryan — stepped into the guitar role and helped us move forward.

Last summer, our drummer Greg experienced a major heart incident right as we were heading into our busiest stretch of the season. Through the incredible Colorado Springs music community, Erik Schroeder from the local band Soapdish stepped in and covered shows for us. Greg’s recovery went well, and he’s back with us now — stronger and rockin’ more than ever.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
The Martini Shot is a high-energy, horn-driven party band blending rock, pop, ska, and modern horn writing. We’ve released four original projects and built a reputation for taking familiar songs and reinventing them with our own twist — a sound that tends to land as “instantly fun” with that signature Martini Shot flavor.

What we’re known for…

Horn-infused arrangements

High-energy live performances

Reimagined covers that feel fresh, current, and fun

Original music rooted in humor, honesty, and storytelling

A 25-year run as one of Southern Colorado’s most active festival bands

Strong ties to local schools, community music programs, and youth music education

Staying Fresh. We continually update our setlist to reflect modern trends while keeping our horn-driven sound at the center.

What sets us apart…

Longevity + friendship. Most bands last a couple of years — we’ve stayed together for twenty-five.

DIY creativity. We write, record, arrange, produce, design artwork, and handle our own video and audio production in-house.

Educator roots. Many members are current or former music teachers, which shapes everything from how we rehearse to how we connect with audiences.

The “Martini Shot” experience. Our shows feel like a celebration — rooted in nostalgia, community, and a genuine sense of fun.

What we’re most proud of…

Staying a local Colorado band for 25 years — maintaining friendships, creativity, and a packed performance schedule over two and a half decades.

Performing at Red Rocks Amphitheatre in 2025 — a dream we talked about for years.

And beyond the stage…

We also produce a behind-the-scenes podcast, Confessions of a Wedding Band, where we share stories from our early years, talk about our original music, and give listeners a look at life inside a long-running local band.

Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Many of us are former or current teachers. Stephen was actually a student of both Rob (sax) and Ryan (former guitar player) long before he ever joined the band.

People are often surprised to learn that The Martini Shot is almost entirely self-produced. Every album we’ve released — the writing, tracking, mixing, artwork, and even the studio setups — has been created by the band. Our guitarist, Stephen, is an audio engineer, and our drummer, Greg, is a seasoned recording engineer, so we’ve always built everything from the ground up.

And despite the name, “The Martini Shot” has nothing to do with alcohol. It’s a film term for the final shot of the day — a symbolic celebration of wrapping something meaningful. It still fits who we are 25 years later.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://martinishotband.com
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/martinishotband
• Facebook: https://facebook.com/martinishotband
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@martinishotband
• Other: https://tiktok.com/@martinishotband

Image Credits
Lepik Photography