Category: Uncategorized

Will Johnson with Monsters of Folk and other stuff.

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We were about to write an update about all the stuff Will is doing over the next few months but Austin Powell from the Austin Chronicle wrote one for us!

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Off the Record
BY AUSTIN POWELL

Some Kind of Monster
Will Johnson is the Swiss Army knife of indie rock. During rare downtime between his bands Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, the prolific local songwriter is taking a backseat to the Monsters of Folk – Bright Eyes’ Conor Oberst and Mike Mogis, M. Ward, and Jim James of My Morning Jacket – on a national and European tour, following the release of the quartet’s eponymous debut Tuesday. “I play [drums] as much as I’m allowed on recordings, but it’s been a little while since I’ve played live,” says Johnson, who last gigged behind the kit with Jandek in July 2007. His return coincides with the November release of Jason Molina & Will Johnson (Secretly Canadian), his debut collaboration with the Magnolia Electric Co. frontman, which Johnson describes as “a pretty subdued listen.” Here’s the real bombshell, though. Alongside Jim James and Anders Parker, Johnson is also taking part in Jay Farrar’s version of Mermaid Avenue, recording original music based on unpublished Woody Guthrie lyrics at the behest of his daughter, Nora Guthrie. While no details have been confirmed as far as a release date or label, the album, which was recorded in New York in March, is currently in the mixing stage. “Jay sent me a priority mail package full of the lyrics, and I opened it at 4:30 in the afternoon,” Johnson recalls. “Within 17 minutes, I had already documented this one called ‘Chorine My Sheba Queen’ to the recording machine. That speaks far more about the song than anything I did. The lyrics struck me in a way that the music sounded automatic. It made such sense to my soul and my spirit. It’s got an empty and regretful tone but in a very beautiful way. I just latched onto it.”

Counting the Scars

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We are honored to share footage of Rockestra performing “Counting the Scars” at their Good Records performance in Dallas on Aug. 30th.  Rockestra is a Rock n Roll Youth Orchestra that contains vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keys, synths, strings, horns, etc ages 12-17. Here’s a hearty salute to them and their lovely version of this song.

Matt Pence & Will Johnson Photo + Art Show

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Matt Pence and Will Johnson are having an art show at Good Records in Dallas on Sunday, August 16th. 7-9pm.

It’s a joint exhibition that will include Matt’s photography and Will’s baseball paintings.

There may well be some music involved with the whole thing, too.

Stop on down. It’s free!

Good Records
1808 Lower Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75206
(214)752-4663

Will Johnson Art
Matt Pence Photos

Will Johnson at Salt Creek County Screening

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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 Walter Bennett

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jay-bennett-peaceJay, 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

House Show and Centro-matic for Life winners!

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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.