the next Fuel/Friends house concert: Will Johnson (of Centro-matic)!
My next Fuel/Friends house concert is one week from today!
On Wednesday night, April 24, Will Johnson is finally coming to play after a long time planning. Will is a Texan songwriter who fronts Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, making smoldering, understated music for the last twenty years. He’s also collaborated on some of my favorite side projects in recent years: with Jim James and Jay Farrar on that tremendous Woody Guthrie album New Multitudes last year, as a part of Monsters of Folk (with Conor Oberst, Jim James, and M. Ward), and on the smoky duo album with Jason Molina (of Magnolia Electric Company, who recently passed away).
There is something in Will’s honest voice and way of phrasing that makes me persistently uncomfortable (in a way I very much like); it’s a red-hot ember held real close to the skin. I’m so looking forward to an evening of just close listening to him and his guitar.
I have been completely riveted by Will’s music ever since I first saw this song that my friend Dainon recorded years ago in the radio station studios where he worked:
“And we tried innocence and we tried formaldehyde / in the end you were left with the string and I, the kite” — ooof. That’s still one of the most powerful songs I’ve personally ever heard about a marriage ending.
I, The Kite (live on KRCL) – Will Johnson
Last year, his record Scorpion was this sun-scorched, potent slow-burner of densely woven wonder, and I think I listened to the track “You Will Be Here, Mine” on repeat for months. It is so full of wonderful hesitancies and fumbling that make it even sweeter when everything finally hits its stride in that song.
TWO OTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT WILL:
1. He just announced a collaborative project with (Fuel/Friends two-time house show alum) David Bazan, called Overseas:
2. Will loves baseball (a man after my own heart) and makes acclaimed paintings about it. Wonderful.
YOU MUST BUY ADVANCE TICKETS FOR THIS SHOW.
Do it now, as other cities (see below) have sold out!
Name: Heather Browne
Oh Heather, you and all those present are in for such a treat. When living in Brighton, UK, I promoted several South San Gabriel shows as well as one Centro-matic gig and a solo performance from Will. He is awesome live, and one of the loveliest guys you could meet, to boot.
David — April 17, 2013 @ 8:49 am
What an amazing concert. Will Johnson is an amazing songwriter and and amazing voice.
Brad — April 17, 2013 @ 3:19 pm
I’m beaming myself over there next week. Let’s hope that Star Trek technology is finally perfected in time for my plan.
Dainon — April 18, 2013 @ 9:27 am
Hi Heather- I’ve been a fan of your blog for some time now. Thanks for all your musical insight. — I’ve had the honor of hosting Will twice now here in STL and he is not only an incredibly talented singer/songwriter, he is the sweetest guy you’ll ever meet. Have a great show!
Annie-san — April 18, 2013 @ 10:05 am
Saw him last night in Cheyenne…Amazing.
Scott — April 23, 2013 @ 2:57 pm