Texas USA
July 25 – Oakford, IL
Hill Prairie Winery
Will Johnson and Thamus Rhounds will be performing songs in a unique and remote environment. This will be a multi-media event including a screening of the final cut of “Salt Creek County”. Many of the cast and crew will be on hand. Activities begin around 7pm. $10.00 suggested donation.
Further information, directions, etc. here:
www.hillprairiewinery.com
www.downstateproductions.com
Jay, Edward, Paul, Scott and I all got together for our first rehearsal in Jay’s Arlington Heights basement on Sunday, June 23, 2002. Some of us were just meeting for the first time, and others of us had long running friendships. The syrupy Chicago summer afternoons had well arrived, and we only had a couple of days to get ready for the first trek in support of “The Palace at 4am”. The room was a sweatbox, a mesmirizing musical laboratory of guitars, keyboards, amplifiers and curiosities. Tools, master tapes, coffee cans full of god knows what. In all, I quickly found we were surrounded by artifacts of constant pursuit, souvenirs and useful belongings from Jay’s long running and undamageable relationship with music. Felt like I could have hidden away in there behind, between, inside of something, and it might’ve been hours before anyone found me. The musician/fan factor split me down the middle viciously. It felt sensible and familiar, but in some ways I was just flat out geeked, suppressing the holy-shit! levels once every couple hours. I was playing drums with a musician that I’d respected from afar, that had played in bands I’d loved, and now was making his own unbelievably good creative path with his best friend. I championed Jay and Edward’s energy out of the gates, revelling in the momentum. Scott and I were right off the plane, worn and temperamental from the crowded meat grinders of D/FW and O’Hare, but, safe to say, honored to be thrown feet first into the experience. We were suddenly at camp. We rehearsed up more than a record’s worth of material over two and a half short days, and for two midsummer weeks afterward toured happily until our faces hurt from the laughter, the learning and newfound friendships. We were comfortable and confident in one another, and we played really, really long shows right out of the gates. Risks were taken, and we spent a good bit of time right on the fenceline that separated pulling it all off and total musical collapse. Some songs were played for the first time right there onstage, which became more often the rule rather than the exception. Sometimes we fell, and sometimes we held to our brief, sweaty and slightly smelly tradition of Shirtless Loadout. It wasn’t perfect, but it was damn sure spirited and inspired. I was where I wanted to be, doing exactly what I wanted to do with the people I wanted to do it with.
There were three frenzied, but all-too-short tours with Jay and Edward over those next four months. The extended stories from those tours will have to find their own space and conduit for some other time. What we quickly found out was that it was always moving forward with Jay, with a tireless energy so often mixed with little sleep, but always, always with love. It didn’t matter if it was music or mathematics or a riddle or a lengthy van ride analysis of a complex joke. There were moments when the music, and even the type of friendship we shared felt chaotic, like it might transform or inexplicably fade, but it never did. The phone calls and encouraging voicemails rolled on afterward. The cdr’s exchanged and detailed song notes all continued over time, all with the undertone of hopefully playing, recording together again one day. It always felt as if the bridge had seen no water pass. To say it was like a rollercoaster is too easy. Thinking back, it was more like a musical tightwire act from which we were all somehow safe from falling. As we all got to know each other over the course of those tours, I quickly found comfort in the fact that once you were a friend with Jay, you were always a friend. I saw it happen with total strangers. Often. There was a consistent glow of beauty and melody in everything I saw him take on, and more than that, an undying foundation of caring and love for those around him. In the end, there was always time for others. And there was always a kind word. And more times than not, a bear hug to follow.
Rest your heavy head, friend. We will miss your voice, your friendship, and your music. We will miss your big, big heart.
Love you.
-will johnson
We are happy to announce the winners of the Will Johnson House show and “Centro-matic for Life” prizes.
Colleen Dieter won the “Centro-matic for Life” prize package that includes every Centro-matic, South San Gabriel and Will Johnson solo album, past and future and two free tickets to any show anytime.
Carrie Wells won the Will Johnson House Show and will be enjoying Will J. solo jams with her friends sometime in the next few weeks.
Thank you all for entering! It was a fun batch of shows.
Centro-matic will be doing one tour in 2009 and these are the dates. Don’t miss your chance to see the band this year.
Enter to win a Will Johnson house show or “Centro-matic for Life!” at the shows.
PRIZE #1
Will Johnson House Show: He’ll come to your house and play a show for you and up to 20 friends. We’ll figure out a mutually agreeable date sometime in 2009 for this to happen.
PRIZE #2
“Centro-matic For Life”: Every Centro-matic, South San Gabriel and Will Johnson album past and future and two free tickets to any show anytime for life! (does not apply for festivals where we don’t control the ticketing).
You must fill out an entry form at show to enter the contest.
Thu 05/07 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
Fri 05/08 – Springfield, MO – Randy Bacon Studio
Sat 05/09 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
Mon 05/11 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s
Tue 05/12 – Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar
Wed 05/13 – Dekalb, IL – The House Cafe
Fri 05/15 – Austin, TX – The Parish
Musician and painter, Will Johnson, to Showcase original baseball folk art paintings.
Get an insight into baseball’s unsung heroes with “Disguised Combat, Long Haul, No Steroids: Ed. I†painting exhibition to open at The Record Ranch Gallery inside Cactus Music, 2110 Portsmouth, on April 18th. All works were created in-between Will’s busy touring and recording schedule with his bands Centro-Matic and South San Gabriel.
“We at Cactus have long been fans of Will’s recorded work and it is very exciting to host an exhibit of Will’s paintings as our first musician-as-artist show.†says Quinn Bishop, managing partner of Cactus Music and The Record Ranch Gallery. “At the record store, we routinely champion the lesser known people that have made tremendous contributions to music. This philosophy applies so well to America’s favorite pastime as seen in Will’s show. We are pleased to include this opening as part of our Record Store Day schedule of events.â€
The exhibition of paintings features Negro League giants Satchel Paige and Cool Papa Bell, Alta Weiss who was the first female professional player, innovative managers Branch Rickey and John McGraw, house-hold names such as Hank Aaron Willie Mays, Roberto Clemente and Jackie Robinson plus other figures who made remarkable contributions to their sport and have unique stories. These works have not been exhibited prior to this show.
“I keep the medium simple: just acrylic paint on old floor scraps, MDF board, glass or whatever might be hanging around my house or storage room. I’m not trained at this, and I wouldn’t call these pieces high art necessarily, but I at least try to celebrate the importance and uniqueness of these pioneers, unsung heroes and American curiosities. I try to focus on the transmission of history through simple tribute. It’s a way of paying respect, a way getting to know the game I love even better.†– Will Johnson.
A reception with the musician and painter, which is open to the public, will be held from 7 – 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 18th. The evening also will include a special live musical performance by Will Johnson who will be previewing compositions from his upcoming album. The reception will close Cactus Music’s Record Store Day festivities. Refreshments will be provided by The St. Arnold Brewing Company.
The exhibition is free and runs through May, 2009.
About Will Johnson (in his own words)
My name is Will. I drive a small pickup, am not presently on any medication, write songs, and play in two bands with some friends that I love a lot. I’ve worked jobs on a farm, in maintenance and janitorial work, in comic book distribution, in a record store, in restaurants, teaching, delivering cars, transporting equipment, renting out tuxedos, making sandwiches, and cleaning up radioactive and mercury-contaminated waste. I love baseball. I have always loved baseball.
About Cactus Music and The Record Ranch Gallery
Cactus Music, the Bayou City’s premier music store, re-opened in a new storefront in November 2007 to the delight of Houston’s music fans. The new 5,800 square foot location at 2110 Portsmouth and S. Shepherd continues a 30-year history of offering an extensive selection of recorded music, hard-to-find DVDs and music-related gifts and products. Cactus Music also showcases local, regional and national talent on its stage with weekly in-store performances. “These events provide a special opportunity to experience an intimate musical performance, and meet-and-greet with the artists,†says Quinn Bishop, managing partner. Located inside the new Cactus Music is The Record Ranch, an 1,800 square-foot store and art gallery offering a unique shopping experience for vinyl customers. In addition to thousands of new and used records, The Record Ranch Gallery presents exhibits featuring music-related artwork. “We have dedicated this space for artists to exhibit their music-related work and believe it also enhances the experience for our customers,†says Bishop. Cactus Music is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and Noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call 713.526.9272
Press Contact:
Record Ranch Gallery
Cristina Acuna
713-526-9272
http://www.willjohnsonart.com
Will Johnson solo in Europe.
21/04/09 – venue tba – Gijon (ES)
22/04/09 – La Lata de Bombillas – Zaragoza (ES)
23/04/09 – La (2) De apolo – Barcelona (ES)
24/04/09 – Teatre d’Artà – Artà – Mallorca (ES)
25/04/09 – Teatre Lloseta – Mallorca (ES) (+ Clem Snide)
26/04/09 – Jimmy Jazz – Vitoria (ES)
30/04/09 – Burger Weeshuis Festival – Deventer (NL)
01/05/09 – Den Hemel – Scherpenheuvel-Zichem (B)
02/05/09 – Belle Vue Cafe – Brussel (B)
03/05/09 – Bar Mondial – Antwerp (B)
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Centro-matic only tour of 2009!
05/07 – Dallas, TX – Granada Theater
05/08 – Springfield, MO – Randy Bacon Studio
05/09 – St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
05/11 – Chicago, IL – Schuba’s Tavern
05/12 – Minneapolis, MN – 400 Bar
05/13 – Dekalb, IL – The House Cafe
05/15 – Austin, TX – The Parish
Monahans will be along for all these dates. Please come out and say hello.
# # #
All dates subject to change (although we’ve only canceled 1 show in 12+ years). Please check with the venues about age requirements and advance tickets before making a long trip.
Will Johnson will be playing solo shows in February. Please come out and say hello if you can.
Thursday, February 5 – Austin, TX – The Mowhawk
with Monahans and Cory Branan
Friday, February 6 – Dallas, TX – Double Wide
with Cory Branan
Saturday, February 7 – Denton, TX – Dan’s Silverleaf
with Cory Branan
Will was a special guest at My Morning Jacket’s New Year’s Eve show at Madison Square Garden.
Centro-matic will take over as the Roots In Residence every Sunday in January. Each week on The Loft’s ‘Your Roots Are Showing’, you’ll get to hear songs from Centro-matic’s live performance recorded at the Sirius XM Washington, DC studios.
Centro-matic’s appearances on Your Roots Are Showing will premier each Sunday in January (4th, 11th, 18th, 25th) at 6PM EST. Encores on Thursday at 2PMEST and Saturday at 4AM EST.
The Loft can be heard on Sirius XM Satellite Radio at Sirius 29 and XM 50.
Centro-matic will be answering questions live on Twitter from the first stop of their tour at the Granada Theatre in Dallas, TX. Please join us Thursday, May 7th from 7pm to 8pm (central time).