We Want to Come to You.

Do you live outside of Philly, and want to see Johnny live in your town? Want to feel the mystical magnetism of Rumi kitchen, and be swept into the vacuous vacuum of the Truth? Do you want to dance like a splashing puddle to the precipitous sounds of the Sons of Thunder? Let us know! Let your local venue, or college know that there is a yearning for pure entertainment in your area that only Johnny can fulfill. Also tell them to book us. We will also do private parties and events. I have my own PA,too.. so... you know...just sayin'... we can come anywhere....

Release: The Secret Weapon

On October 21st, we had the long awaited release party for our debut album, Love is the Message! It was held in the brilliant up-and-coming venue, Underground Arts, and in addition to the 150 people in attendance, 450 people around the world were watching a live webcast. I could feel their power. We played the entire album, plus many many more. This party went all night... But I've been doing lots of cardio at Sweat South Philly, so no problem...









I sang all the hits.


The Truth made the nasty happen, and everybody new it.


My ex-girlfriend, Vickie Fastlane stopped by for an unexpected visit. I wasn't expecting her, or that she would be expecting herself. It's not mine, by the way. I wonder if I'm sad or not.


We also introduced an very promising, up-and-coming young artist named Marvin. I owed his sister quite a bit of money from when I stayed in her apartment while she was doing her karaoke residency in Japan. It started that we were dating, but then we weren't, and there were some expenses I soon had to cover. Anyway, Marvin is very talented young man, very interested in space travel, and we are talking about producing an EP.

Rumi Kitchen and Kitchen sang an emotional rendition of Cat, Rat, Dog, in response to Occupy West Warwick.



The night was incredible. The Six Lady Dancers even called to arms at the encore, which errupted into a massive dance party. Thank you to Gary Reuben, Mike Thatcher, Mike Cristaldi for all of their hard work. Thanks to the beautiful Kathy Kruger for taking these great photos. See the rest of her photos here!

Don't have the record yet? Get it here!

10/21 Setlist
Intro
chairman mao
baby come over
hit it
Let’s make a better world (Dr John)
screwdriver
alone (Heart) w/ vickie fastlane
push that rock

break (w/ a set by Marvin)

Golden hand shake/ hip ship
the whales
through the years (Kenny Rogers)
take me with u (Prince) w/ Vickie Fastlane
shalaman
fingernail
james sugg
Cat/Rat/Dog

encore
idioteque (radiohead)
woman, you my woman
sensual
cocaine
Love is the message

The Night of the Double Gig

October 28 was a killer night for Johnny and the Sons of Thunder. We started at 10:30 at the killah new venue, Milkboy Philly, sharing the bill with sex goddess and sometimes girlfriend, Miss Martha Graham Cracker. (photos by Kathy Kruger)

We were also blessed to reunite with G, our super funky bass player who moved back to New England last year. The crowd was killer, and about 90% of them had never seen us before. It was an overwhelming success, and Milkboy has already asked us to return. Another date is in the works! Stayed tuned...

Milkboy set list

chairman mao
party in my pants
baby come over
hit it
Let’s make a better world (dr john)
screwdriver (i'm sorry, michael)
golden hand shake/hip ship
the whales
shalaman
sensual, pts 1 &2
cocaine sandwich
love is the message

After our set, there was no time for a duet with my sweet Martha, or even a drink of Milkboy's famous boy-milk... We gathered up our gear, and blew across town to 21st and Washington, where our good friends The Beserker Residents were throwing their 7th Annual Halloween 'Splosion, where we were a super secret surprise guest. We showed up, set up, and tore it up.
Drummer Joey Getzani had a Swedish chef flavor happening, and I slipped into something more comfortable, my late night pink. We played an even longer set for the party people, adding favorites like "Woman you My woman" and a surprisingly proficient, previously unrehearsed Ghostbusters Theme which I introduced as Riders on the Storm. The miserable weather didn't stop this crowd from having an incredible time... You need us to rock your party? This band is for hire.





These people had the halloween 'sploding all over them...

Ryan Carniaux "Reflections of the Persevering Spirit"

There are great musicians, and then there are great musicians who are really saying something. That is the case with the group of intrepid musicians that circle the orb of trumpeter Ryan Carniaux. Ryan and I played together back in Rhode Island at Quidnessett Country Club. He would bring the house down during my duets with local chantreuse Maria Day, who was responsible for writing the classic Ocean State offical song, "Rhode Island, It's for Me". And although I stiffed him for a significant sum of money at Chan's Eggroll and Jazz Series in Woonsockett, we have remained very good friends to this date.

Ryan has since moved to Koln, Germany where he has toured all over Europe with kinetic genius drummer Samuel Duhsler and lush piano prodigy Mike Roeloffs. He has also become the go to sideman for many of the heavy hitter American players that tour overseas.

Ryan also blessed Love is the Message with his sound, blowing his ass off on both the title track and Fingernail Clipping of the Moon.

Released within the same week as Love is the Message, Ryan has birthed his own child into the world. On October 28, Ryan will release Reflections of a Persevering Spirit. I got a sneak preview, of course. It is a sweeping, moody record that explores the dynamism of human experience. Ryan leads the group from peaceful reverence to volcanic eruption, with emotional depth found in few artists. Now available on iTunes!

Dig Ryan Carniaux

#Occupy West Warwick

It has been an incredible 3 weeks of world events. Here in Rhode Island, protestors have taken up residence outside Chipotle on Rt 2, Warwick. It used to be a Bickfords, a fine family restaurant which thrived on the bustling business of major until replaced by Chipotle in 2009. Protestors aren't leaving until their voices are heard, and Bickfords is given another chance to thrive, now that a Trader Joe's was build across Rt 2. Before there was only a Jamiel's shoe world and Papa Gino's, and Strawberry's Records and Tapes had long been run out of business. If you were headed towards the Warwick Mall, it was much easier to stop at Papa Ginos on the right, than cross busy Rt. 2 and turn into Bickfords on the left. Unless you turned around at the light, but then you had to go into the Kids 'R' Us/ Boating World parking lot, which was depressing and a general pain in the rear end.

Anyway, I've spent some time with these people. And they are angry and hurt. But the burrito making team at Chipotles is hurt as well. They are frustrated that the protestors are doing number two in their bathroom, and asking for cups for water, yet filling them up with Orange Slice. They say they have a historic claim to this lot, and it's hard to know who to believe.

I dedicate this song to this conflict. I will also be playing it at our CD Release...

Tickets Now On Sale for CD Release!!

Tickets are hot to trot for the much anticipated CD Release Party at Underground Arts.

Pre-ordered tickets are $11...$15 at the door... Purchase here!


Make sure you check out JOHNNY'S VIP LOVE LOUNGE... $40 tickets include autographed CD and poster, preferential seating and treatment, and your first drink free!

Johnny and the Sons of Thunder are hard at work, rehearsing the hits. Underground Arts is in transition to becoming a premiere Philadelphia Arts venue... We're gonna do it for the people...

Have you rated LOVE IS THE MESSAGE on itunes? Let the people know how you feel...find it here.

Late Nite Cabaret!

No kidding, folks. We closed the Fringe with a bang. It was a fantastic party at the Arts Underground. Here are some pictures, courtesy of Clayton A. Sweeney:







See more photos here, and check out Intersections Gallery.

We love Underground Arts so much, that we are going to have our "Love is the Message" CD release there October 21st. Stay tuned for details....

Set List 9/17

idioteque
woman you my woman
party in my pants
hip ship
the list
hit it
marla's song (the whales)
little red corvette
james sugg

encore:
sensual, pts 1&2
paper planes/ cocaine sandwich
love is the message

Love is the Message is Now on iTUNES!!

Look out for details on a CD Release party in October! The physical copy is going to be so physical, and so beautiful. But til then, you can find it here!

Fringe Closing Night!

We are celebrating closing night of the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival. It will be hosted by Madi Distefano, and also featuring the Peek-A-Boo Review. Come see me bare my soul, and then see them bare their everything elses... It's free!

Come dance with us!

Coming so incredibly soon...

Art by Carpe Diem Construction Co.

Photo by Harvey J. Wallbanger

Some Chris' Pics

We couldn't have posed these two if we tried.




Rumi and the Truth petition Mr. Shalaman.



Cut that cocaine sandwich in half.



All photos by Nancy Drew

Lady M Fundraiser

Yesterday we rocked happy hour at Chris' Jazz Cafe to raise money for our dear. friends at Swim Pony Performing Arts, who are bringing their star studded Lady M to the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival this year. Thanks to our many friends who came to hang out and drink.



Here is some footage of "Love is the Message", the title track from our upcoming record. I particularly enjoy my tummy pumps in the first verse.

I Shall Be Released

Henry and the Bat

I am back at Waterfront Studios, doing the final overdubs, mix and master for "Love is the Message". It's great to be back with Rachel and Henry, and by the end of today, we will have finished an amazing album.

Last night we had a an unwanted visitor. A bat had gotten in, and was trying to record up in the sanctuary.

Henry, his wife Tina, and Rachel Alina burst into action. Within seconds, they had a plan of attack. Here is Henry's part of the plan. It involved a swiffer.

Click here to view in You Tube.

Judgement Day

Well, Judgement Day came and went. My deepest regret to anyone who euthanized your fish or bunnies in anticipation of the rapture.

I realized that I never posted pictures from the Judgement Day Dance Party. It went beyond our expectations. We were frankly surprised at first by the sheer number of people left behind by the Lord.

Here are some great pictures by host Jamie Moffett. It was an amazing crowd...




They were so hungry for some sort of spiritual direction, so I led them in a mystical dance....










Rumi and the Half-Truth get on the Hip Ship


















Noami Salaami on the keys
















Check out my killer energy gloves. You want some sexy gloves like these?

PS Some of the drink money went to benefit this!

We want to play in your home! Book us for house concerts at johnny@johnnyshowcase.com

Happy Birthday, Prince

This one's for you...
From our 2009 Fringe Festival Odyssey Purr, Pull, Reign.

Don't be mad.

Cocaine Sandwich- Behind the Scenes

The lead vocals for Cocaine Sandwich was one of the last things we tracked in Hudson. The Sons of Thunder had all left, and Rumi and I were tuckered from ten days of straight 12 hour workdays. I was feeling good and funky, but it turns out that my "s"- sounds were plum exhausted. Click here to view full size.

(The Making of) Push That Rock

I'm still recovering from my two weeks in Hudson. I returned to South Philly, eager to reconnect with my neighbors, only to find that one of them had freshly vomited on the sidewalk directly outside my house. But Dotty was so happy to see me, I really didn't mind.

Many people are asking me about my experience in the studio, so I compiled a video about the making of one of the hits from my upcoming debut album, "Love is the Message".



View full size on You Tube HERE.

Wade in the Waterfront

It's been a week straight of eating, sleeping, and drinking nothing but "Love is the Message". We start at about 11am, after some coffee, and go well into the night. Most of the tracking has taken place in this gorgeous old sanctuary. Photos by Noami Salami





Workin' it out with Rumi Kitchen



In the control room, giving a listen



Co-Producer Henry Hirsch



Some of Henry's credentials...



Co-producer Rachel Alina Russell

Waterfront Studios

It's been an incredible ride so far, recording our album "Love is the Message".

Check it out!