I got to know Johann primarily by talking about music that we both liked and things that we would recommend. Something that struck me about these conversations was the complete lack of pretentiousness that a lot of people have about music – even if they don’t realize it. It’s not their fault entirely. Music is often marketed to the masses as part in parcel of a style, fashion, look, or other affiliation. Even subgenres and subcultures are susceptible to the arbitrary exclusion, sometimes distain for, musical elements that fall outside the parameters they subscribe to. While this is clearly a leftover from 20th century music marketing, classism, maybe more that pinch of racism, perhaps a squeeze of agism, some salt, pepper, chili powder…. (Hold on, I’m mixing up my notes here) all those tendencies used to shape and manipulate us into being good and predictable citizen consumers. Anyway, I kind of think that a lot of us are actively pushing that aside now. Guilty pleasures need not be guilty. Enjoy what you enjoy and you don’t owe a damn soul an excuse for it. This is how “Yo” would speak about music. And emphatically. This is a pensive, yet extraverted, 6’6″ dude getting excited talking about changing time signatures in Alice In Chains songs and the best versions of Neil Young songs. I mean, we’ve even got tickets for Kesha and the Scissor Sisters this summer!
So a year or two (or three?) ago, Johann was talking about some of his own music that he’d recorded more recently. He had talked about being a long-time musician before and clearly knew a thing or two, but he hadn’t played live since I’d met him and apparently some previous recording situations went a little outside of plans and intensions. He sent over some jams and some works in progress and they were really good. I don’t even think any of those are on the album, but when he said he had more, I told him, “I want to hear them.” or “Release that shit!” or something to that effect. While he seems to start from a more traditional, American songwriting place, it is clear in it’s unique vibe that the aforementioned diversity of interests shone through.
Which brings us to now – or thereabout. The first single, “Doing the Best That I Can,” is already out on all the convenient little music streaming apps. There was a bit of a mix-up on the release for this one and the single does not have the pedal steel on it. No matter, the album version will have the swirling, intoxicating pedal steel of Mark Van Allen on this song and a few others. The album comes out on May 2 with an album release show on May 4th at Buvez in Athens, GA, featuring the amazing Jumping Through Fiery Hoops (Jeff Fox solo show) and the notorious The Shut-Ups.
We’ll tell you more about the album soon. Be good, y’all!
-Andrew Steck, Potato Peeler at AR
