In 1996 Matt Larsen, Danny Jaramillo, Eric Meisner, and Kris Steinwart were involved in a band project called Dunderhead. Kris left and Dunderhead brought in Billy Mabin for a little while. They did some rock, and then changed gears to a shortlived project called The Buckshot Boys, playing country music. Danny didn't like country music and quit, and the band ended. Matt was then recruited by a Wanted, a country band, to play bass.

In Spring 1997, old friend Phil Kearney moved back to Scottsbluff and started writing songs with Eric Meisner and Danny Jaramillo. Matt Larsen also contributed. Disputes between Danny and Phil led Danny to pursue other ventures. Matt concentrated his time with Wanted. In Summer of 1997, Wanted asked Eric Meisner to be their drummer temporarily. Even still, behind the scenes, Phil and Eric continued working on their songwriting project.

By the end of that summer, Eric and Phil's project got a name, "Blue Z" and an album's worth of songs. Danny and Phil tried to put aside their differences, later brought in Danny's older brother Robbie Jaramillo, and Blue Z was formed. Blue Z was a corroboration of talent to showcase Phil Kearney, Eric Meisner, and the others' songwriting and musical talent.

Blue Z released two full-length albums of original material, Heartland and Eve. Heartland is a folk-pop oriented album, while Eve focuses on a well-balanced mix of pop, rock, blues, and spiritual sound. Both CD's contain fun and serious music, the difference being Heartland's more amateurish and fun sound, versus a much more professional sound on Eve. Nonetheless, the talent of all the members shines through on both.

Blue Z split up fall of 1998. Danny and Robbie Jaramillo, Eric Meisner, and Matt Larsen formed "Super User" at the tail end of Blue Z's existence. Phil Kearney concentrated on a solo effort during this time.

In 2001, Eric Meisner and Phil Kearney formed the Insect Politics project. Also around this time, Phil got married. Him and Eric continued working on the Insect Politics project, along with Phil's wife. Many songs were written during this time.

Phil and his wife went their separate ways a year later, and Insect Politics fizzled within two.

Matt Larsen was married and gave up his full-time music career to concentrate on his family, although occasionally he would play with his friend Brian Lafler's band Sundust. Eric Meisner was married fall of 2004.

I have not heard anything from or about Phil Kearney since 2004.

This web site features the music of Phil Kearney and Blue Z from 1997 to 2002.