Johnny on the Kickstarter!

Lefty Lucy Kills it on Pig Island

The Trocadero simply wasn't ready for our new hit, "Cocaine Sandwich". But we gave it to them, and sent them out on the hip ship. My duet with Martha seemed to go a bit matrimonial, when I read her my poem with Rumi Kitchen and an entire choir presiding. You can see other photos, taken by John Huber here.

For Martha Graham Cracker

Oh Martha
I have been dreaming of your chesthair
And your hair on your upper arms
And your lower back
And legs
I feel you can engulf me
With your siren song
Will I crash into your rocks, Martha?
Will I?
Tomorrow night we meet once more
Our spheres collide
Our Venn Diagrams will gently bump eachother
In the lights, among the people
We will hold court, Martha
I will not breathe a word to Vickie Fastlane
Of our clandestine public encounter
She would not understand our love.

World Cafe 1/20

What a treat it was to return to World Cafe Live downstairs. The Sons of Thunder caught a flame. Rumi Kitchen sent a cosmic echo through the crowd, while The Truth testified in the truest of fashion.

The Six Lady Dancers made their triumphant return to the stage, busting out of The Cocaine Sandwich, our newest single, and a rendition of "Baby I'm a Star".

Vickie Fastlane made an appearance as well, reprising Heart's "Alone".
She stops my heart from beating.

Lisa Shaffer took these spectacular photos. For the complete gallery the night's photos and her amazing work, go to www.skylerbug.com.

Pig Iron Benefit

This Friday, Johnny and the Sons of Thunder will be rocking the Troc in honor and support of Pig Iron Theatre Company. I hope that Martha Graham Cracker and I can get a second alone together backstage to rekindle old feelings. She makes me feel so emotional.

Johnny is Back

After a long hiatus due to strenuous legal battles regarding PURR, PULL, REIGN, I am finally returning to the stage. Johnny and the Immaculate Sons on Thunder will be playing all of their hits in concert at World Cafe Live.

We will be featuring Dennis Diamond, Practitioner of Illusion, and my second cousin Raymond Charles II.

Also in tow will be the apples of my eye, the SIX LADY DANCERS.

I am hoping for a special appearance by Vickie Fastlane, my incredible lover. We have not seen each other since the close of PURR, PULL, REIGN. She could have called at least...

Vickie Fastlane

Here is some footage from our June 12th cabaret at Connie's Ric Rac. Vickie and I are so in love right now.

Cabaret Classic

Greatest Hits

Remembering them again.

Purr, Pull, Reign Benefit

On August 19, the people gathered to shower me in the month before the birth of Purr, Pull, Reign.

Downstairs at World Cafe Live, Lefty Lucy's birthplace, it seemed to be the appropriate setting for my maternal send-off.

It was a night for the ages. The Sons of Thunder were in rare form, with the addition of my two back-up singers, The Truth. We had some amazing guests including Tribe of Fools, the always intruding and inherently rude Dickie Fastlane, The Lefty Lucy Dancers, and my big-time crush and living legend, Martha Graham Cracker with her Cabaret.

The sparks were flying between us in our first meeting on stage. I am the meat and potatoes, and she is a spicy, yet fanciful fruit salad. Together we made a delicious meal. More photos to come!

Setlist:
Theme
Party in my Pants
Hit it
Chairman Mao
Shalamon

The Truth and the Half-Truth

• When Doves Cry
  

Bored
Push That Rock

Dickie Fastlane

• Be Afraid
  

The Beautiful Ones

Martha Graham Cracker Cabaret:

• Don't Cry for me Argentina

• Computer Blue

• Darling Nikki

• Nothing Compares 2 U (w/Johnny)

Jagged Little Teeth/ The Golden Handshake
Love is the Message
Cat/Rat/Dog
More Than Words/ Take me with U (w/ Martha)
Encore:
Sensual (But Not Sexual)
I Would Die 4 U

Purr Pull Work Out!

Fitness is a cornerstone.

My 6 lady dancers have really whipped me into shape. And now you too can bring them home, metaphorically speaking.

Email me: johnny@johnnyshowcase.com to get a copy for only $10.

Workin' It Out

Probability Study For the Show

As I've mentioned Rumi Kitchen has been helping me out a lot lately with some legal issues regarding Purr, Pull, Reign my upcoming pro gig for this year's Fringe Festival.

Today he put together a couple of charts that were very illuminating for me and I wanted to share them both with all of you.

Remember...

I've been on a bit of a hiatus here on the blog. A lot of emotions these days with the divorce.

I thought I'd look back and see how far I've come in my feelings. This was Easter:





Actually things haven't changed much as I look at this.

Oh the sweet lilac agony.

Oh Vickie Fastlane--
How do I get you alone?
Shall I gather like dew out your window in the morning?
Shall I purr in the sunlight as you pull me to your royal reign?

Animals of my Emotions IV: Mystical Dragon

For Chris Wrenn, a major donor

Season blossoms
Do you feel it all around you?
Wicked awesomes
Do you want to let it mount you?
It is now that I think of you, oh Mystic Dragon
I long to view you, bathing by a waterfall or meadow's brook,
When you don't think anyone is watching
Like Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
And I am Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio,
Averting my maiden eyes when discovered
Mystic Dragon, in the throws of summer
Breathing the fire that melted winter
Breathing life into the citrus plants of all my
Inner emotional desires
Dragon, I have pictures of you
Ones you can't recall or don't seem to remember
I am up in a tower, and you are my protector
I send my flowing locks down
To weigh upon your scales (play on words)
And then, I see a single tear
Trickling down the eye of you, dragon
And I see that you are crying...
And I say why, why, why are you crying, Dragon?
Is it because you are the ancestor of the Lizard
And they are significantly less interesting by comparison?
Is it because your flamey breath has been forever unflamed?
Your scales scaled down? Your giant razor claws
Dullened to thorny bits of nothingness in the ether?
Dragon you are safe with me.
I will be your knight in shining armor
Together we will fly through the wilderness of morning
My armor nestled between your dorsal spines
Then you clean me with your forked tongue
And your fire...
And your fire...

I've got lumps in my artistic soup...

I have recently been spending a lot of time reading in my new car. It helps me clear the mind. Since Bonnie took the Taurus I am leasing an 85 corrola with option to buy. Getting away from the business of our humdrum lives is important for artists. Today I was reading Another Helping of Chicken Soup for the Artist's Soul. I really want to take myself to the next level. To be a star. But I find myself wicked indecisive. You know?

Anyway, I was reading this book and found that Rumi Kitchen, my spiritual adviser, happened to contribute to this particular edition. What he wrote really touched me. I wanted to share with you my online community of friends:

What is art?
by Rumi Kitchen

Art is pretty much whatever anybody says it is, and an artist is similarly anybody who says he is one. This leaves any definition of "artist" and "art" so vague as to be meaningless. Does the act of creation, be it ever so humble or idiosyncratic, suffice to allow one to lift the laurel of "artist" to his brow? Anybody can call himself anything, but the test is whether or not you actually are qualified. A plumber would not dare to call himself a plumber unless he were qualified in the opinion of others to do plumbing, and had experience and credentials to prove it, and actually got paid good money for his work. You can't just call yourself a college professor or medical doctor and expect anyone to take you seriously. You need to have something to back it up. The term "artist," unlike "electrician," or "dog trainer," neither conveys qualification, nor is it specific enough to shed much light on what a person may actually do.












I stopped reading at that point. A policeman informed me that I can't park my car at Target after hours.

A Haiku:

If you could plant doubt,
Would you germinate it first
In a paper towel?

New York City, winter 2008

Dearest Michael,
You are my greatest influence. You taught me to sing with all of my heart. Your sound is tattooed to my soul. I am forever thankful for your song. "And when the groove is dead and gone You know that love survives, So we can rock forever, on" Thank you. Purr, Pull, Reign will be in your honor.

Love, Johnny