Exclaim Magazine Feruary 2006
Johnny V's House Rent Party Band ***!!!Mark of
Distinction!!!***
Agnostically Eclectic: Slidequette
and Other Such-A-Muchisms
(Blow Your Top) www.johnnyv.org
Some records are beyond reproach and this is one of them. The criminally under-heralded Johnny V , a contender once again for the 2005 Maple Blues' Guitarist of the Year, proves a force to be reckoned with and Agnostically Eclectic (his 4th solo record) is the most payback you'll ever realize for your CD dollar. Jam-packed with adrenalized blues'n'boogie, the Calgary-based blues commando underlines his richly diverse musical pedigree with a supercharged trip across 17 songs covering favourite topics: from sex to suicide bombers, cheatin' to cowpunching, Allah to alimony, real life, with a twist. First and foremost, this is a labour of love to the late, great King Biscuit Boy and The V-Meister goes the extra mile by including an aggressive petition to nominate Richard Newell to his rightful place in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame, his high-octane "Return of Richard's Biscuit", a touching farewell. A truly eclectic tapestry of blues, rock, jazz, R'n'B, skronk, funk and boundless boogie gushes from the dark corners of Johnny 's soul, his passionate guitar-playing annointed with heavenly tone, while his ability to arrange runs circles around anything else you're used to listening to ("Branding by Midnight!"). His warm, whiskey-cured howl is the perfect foil to the smooth refinement of his 12-cylinder sound, permitting his lyrics to be heard and appreciated. The best tracks are originals ("Suicide Bomber Blues ". "Sprinklerhead") but the covers ("Baby, Please Don't Go", "Stop") become his own. Spin "Tartaria", a brilliant instrumental epic that marries eastern music to Stax-tough R'n'B, incorporating a million mind-bending soundbytes (Man from U.N.C.L.E?) and do your world and music collection a big favour.
Eric Thom
Clcik Here For English Translation.
Johnny V' s House Rent Party Band -
''Agonostically Eclectic''
Mladen LonËar -
Mike
etvrtak, 29. Rujan 2005.
Johnny V je kanadski bluzer koji veÊ dugi niz godina
samozatajno radi i djeluje,no vrlo malo ljudi je Ëulo za njegov
band Johnny V's House Rent Party
Band, koji su ove godine izdali album
"Agonostically
Eclectic''
za Blow Your Top
Productions. Kada govorimo o
kanadskom bluzu odmah nas sve asocira na Jeff Healey-a,no
istovremeno na kanadskom tlu perzistira i djeluje veliki broj zaista
kvalitetnih bluz glazbenika. Jedan od ponajboljih nezavisnih bluzera
je upravo Johnny
V,koji do sada ima nekoliko izdanih
albuma. Puno veÊi broj albuma je onih na kojima
Johnny V svira,kao gostujuÊi glazbenik mnogim poznatim bluz
glazbenicima.Tu je svakako vaæno istaknuti i njegov rad na
produkcijskim poslovima oko snimanja albuma sa mladim i još
nedovoljno afirmiranim bendovima. Johnny V inaËe slovi
kao jedan od zaista rijetkih bluz glazbenika, koji nesebiËno
radi na promociji bluza kao glazbenog izriËaja. Album
"Agonostically Eclectic''
jedinstveni primjer kako se to radi
jer uz izvrsne bluz teme ovog albuma, Johnny V posveÊuje ovaj album ocu kanadskog bluza
Richard Newell aka "King Biscuit
Boy''(09.03.1944. - 05.01.2003.), te podræava i promovira peticiju koju potpisuje svako
tko nabavi njegov album i samim time pridonosi da
Richard Newell uđe u CANADIAN MUSIC HALL
OF FAME, stoga svi koji to æele
mogu svoj glas podrške poslati na slijedeÊu adresu:
Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and
Sciences Suite 501, 355 King Street W. Toronto,Ontario,Canada M5V 1
J6. Naravno, nije ovo jedino što
treba istaknuti, album "Agonostically
Eclectic''sadræi 17 skladbi,
koje prezentiraju razne vrste bluza od cajun utjecaja preko jump
bluza do izvrsne boogie teme posveÊene upravo ocu kanadskog
bluza Richard Newell aka "King Biscuit
Boy'', radi se skladbi
''The Return Of Richard's
Biscuit'' koja otvara album. Tu
svakako æelim još istaknuti nekoliko skladbi sa albuma
"Agonostically
Eclectic'' poput (" Green's Blues'',"Let's Do It'',"Baby Please Don't Go'',
It's Dangerous To Be A Husband'' i skladbu "Living On The
Outside''), gdje moæete
Ëuti kako to uz Johnny
V's House Rent Party Band pjeva
izvrsni i legendarni Sonny
Rhodes. Naravno u Europi
Johnny V's House Rent Party
Band još uvijek nema promotora niti
distributera za njihove albume, no nadam se da Êe se to uskoro
promijeniti, jer teško je zaobiÊi, ignorirati i ne prepoznati
takvu kvalitetu.
Više o bandu moæete saznati na www.johnnyv.org
PREPORUKA:
NaruËite i nabavite ovaj album, sigurno neÊete
poæaliti.
Yours bluesy
Mladen LonËar -Mike
Big Hugs and Much Love to Mr. and Mrs. Vulic for Translating this article from Croatian to English....
That which every blues collector looks for are rare recordings, be it from the studio, or just a "jam-session", or from a third source, until in your hands you find an overdue album with 17 tracks, which are an absolute mix of all blues styles, that is indeed something special. No, I won't delay you anymore, already for you I'm proudly introducing a rarity of which many could only dream of, namely it's about an album that was released with 500 issues, and carries the title "Johnny V's Official Limited Edition Bootleg cd #2" and of course the musician is the excellent Canadian blueser Johnny V. To come into ownership of this type of rare album, you would first establish immediate respect for Johnny, for not being not even a bit simple. However, being in the computer age where everything is possible and everything is accessible, and that's the way it is and our clean formal respect, evolves into something that we can call our friends about. Accordingly Johnny sent me this album accompanied with indeed a big surprise and enthusiasm, and for a long time I could not get accustomed to the fact that I had something so valuable.
This album "Johnny V's Official Limited Edition Bootleg CD #2" gives a sectional view of exquisite blues "furki", of a Canadian Blueser who has lived through a period of many years, and this is a man who has played with, Dr John, Otis Rush, Amos Garrett, Sonny Rhodes, BB King, John Hammond, Delbert McClinton, Pinetop Perkins, Eddy Clearwater, Frankie Lee, Larry Davis, Mighty Joe Young, and Johnny Clyde Copeland. Since this website, with the existing review of his latest album, this time everyone will enjoy who the real Johnny V is.
Johnny V is an original, unique, and special blues orientated musician who has been on the blues scene for over 30 years. His fiery guitar style from which he throws 1000 effective riffs, passages and fragments and in addition to that is his particular vocal, Johnny V just intoxicates you with his distinctive blues feeling.
Listening to his blues you can hear many well known influencing tones, however Johnny is very much unique and his own. Johnny V absolutely does not imitate or copy anyone. Johnny V is a one and only.
John Hammond had said, and I quote "Johnny V is a hard working guy who really plays the blues" end quote.
Few knew that over the years he played with Eddy "The Chief" Clearwater, and that he performed like he was a member of Billy Branch "The Son of Blues". To date he has received indeed numerous awards and really it would be pointless to list them all, however it has to be said there isn't a blues award in Canada that he has not received. It ought to be emphasized that he went to Greece in Athens in order to appear with Louisana Red, another item that need be highlighted is his 4-month sojourn in the Ukraine, that was obtained by a grant in Calgary working with The Johnny V Trio to promote the CD-"Mustard and Relics".
Johnny V sedulously works with young players, and works the same with those that have blues in their heart and soul. Johnny V is a musician that will always help you, advise you, and set you in the right direction.
Album "Johnny V's Official Limited Edition Bootleg cd #2" as I've already mentioned contains 17 compositions that vary from classic over to jump blues to modern electric Chicago Blues.
Johnny V is the true maestro, when involved in the presentation of blues.
Certainly you will find it hard to pick up this album, however it's never needlessly trying to execute via:
Johnny V's Webhouse: http://www.johnnyv.org
Johnny V's E-Mail: jam@spots.ab.ca
Online CD purchases at http://www.megatunes.com
RECOMMENDATION:
If there is a minimal possibility try to purchase this album. After a few listens you won't be sorry not even for one penny that you put forth to acquire your copy of the album "Johnny V's Official Limited Edition Bootleg cd #2" indeed an exceptional blueser from Calgary Canada and that is Johnny VÉ never forget this name!!!
Yours bluesy,
Mladen Loncar &endash; Mike.
Tornto Blues Society
Mapleblues Magazine
September 2005
John's Blues Picks
Johnny V's House Party Band "Agonostically Eclectic" Blow Your Top BYTP1562
He does not record a lot but when he does, the blues community sits up and takes notice. Only a very few have this combination of talent, knowledge and commitment. One of Johnny's closest musical partnerships was with the late King Biscuit Boy and he was on board for a recent, aborted album, some songs from which turned up on the Mustard and Relics CD. Johnny has taken a big role in efforts to acknowledge Richard Newell's contribution to the Canadian music scene and this CD comes with a petition you are asked to sign and mail in to request Newell's induction into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. This is a bit of a preamble for the CD's opening and strongest track, "The Return of Richard's Biscuit", a tour de force of a song and one of the strongest performances you're ever likely to hear. Over that patented Biscuit boogie, Johnny V and crew, musically and lyrically, give you all the evidence you need. After this the album alternates original songs and tributes to blues men with only slightly less energy and commitment. The tributes are to those less well-known but with excellent songs: Cousin Joe (Pleasant Joseph), a New Orleans piano player, is first up with a couple, then Jimmy McCracklin, Big Joe Williams and John Lee (Sonny Boy) Williamson. Johnny V's take on Jerry Ragovoy's "Stop" takes us out of strictly blues but is one of the CD's highlights. "New Louisiana Blues" is another, a stomping travelogue of a blues with a great horn chart. Sonny Rhodes takes the vocal on "Living On The Outside", an excellent new soul blues. Being Johnny V, he doesn't simply interpret other people's songs, he re-arranges them to suit his needs and "Joe's Mercy Killing", incorporates "Mercy, Mercy, Mercy" by Joe Zawinul and music by Quincy Jones. It's one of several songs he's decided to record here after many years on the set list. With its free jazz tenor sax solo from Mike Clark, it's also one of three here that deviate from a `standard' blues CD. "Suicide Bomber Blues" is some thoughts on this topic over a rather nice blues groove and "Tartaria" is a straight-ahead jazz piece co-written with pianist Bob Erlandson and arranged here for this band. Fortunately, if you don't feel adventurous, you can program your player around these and still have a normal-length playlist. The House Party Band deserves recognition for their work behind Johnny and his guitars: Chris Byrne, bass; Duris Maxwell, drums; Peter Fischer, piano, Brock Gillis, B3; Sherman `Tank' Doucette, harp; and Mike Clark & Paul Ashwell, horns. An album this good just has to be in your library. Get yours at www.megatunes.com, it's a Calgary CD store with a web site, or visit www.johnnyv.org. By the way, Johnny V writes that the title is a combination of the words agony + antagonist + agnostic and was inspired by the "Word Fugitive" in The Atlantic Weekly. As further food for thought while listening, he has subtitled the album "Slidequette and Other Such-A-Muchisms"
John Valenteyn, jvalenteyn8724@rogers.com
Blueheart Archive and E Jazz News
Johnny V's House Rent Party Band
'Agnostically Eclectic - Slidequette and Other Such-A-Mushisms' - Blow Your Top Productions
Reach deep into your pockets and try and pull out some blue gold about Canadian Blues artists! You'll look in your hand and find only a few musicians that truly represent Canada on the world Blues scene. Ya, I know you'll see Downchild, King Biscuit Boy, the Whiteley brothers, to name a few, but you can't deny that Johnny V will be in your palm. Not only has Johnny had the incredible opportunity to play and record with most Blues artists here in "The Great White North" but he has also played with many of his mentors in the Blues world.
Please stop me! I can talk about Johnny for hours, so let's get into his latest release. I won't get into the title, as there's a note with the CD to explain his reason of why! On the heels of his previous recordings, "Roosters and Hens", "Terra Firma Boogie", "If My Daddy Could See Me Now", "Blues Party" (with the Latvian Blues Band) and "Mustard And Relics"' comes 17 great tunes on this new album that features, once again, Johnny's great lyrics, tasteful guitar lines and one of the most powerful voices in the Blues. And backing all of his talent, some of the finest musicians that you'll ever hear, V's House Rent Party Band with Duris Maxwell on Drums and liner notes, Chris Byrne on Bass, Brock Gillis on Hammond B3, Pete Fischer on Piano, Sherman Doucette on Harmonica, Sonny Rhodes as a special guest vocalist, Mike Clark on Sax, Paul Ashwell on Trombone and Tuba, and Karen Fowlie supplying her vocals to The New Swan Sewertones.
If there was ever a tune that could embed you into the grooves of an album, the opening track, "The Return Of Richard's Biscuit" will hit ya in the head like a frozen puck! It's a tribute to Johnny's close friend and mentor Richard Newell (AKA King Biscuit Boy). It's an amalgamation of the great boogies he learned about from Richard with Johnny's slide guitar and story telling that will take you back to the magic times they shared together. The song's main theme is a variation on "Feeling Good", recorded for the Memphis label Sun Records by Junior Parker in 1952. The first transition is into a boogie by another Sun artist Dr. Isaiah Ross with examples of his early 50's tunes, "Doctor Ross Boogie", "The Boogie Disease" and "Polly Put The Kettle On", which were all leased to Chess Records. Then the band drops out and in comes the V layin' down John Lee Hooker's first boogie styles from the late 40's and he even throws in a little Arthur "Guitar Boogie" Smith just to set the record straight. At close to eleven minutes in length, this track can only be described as a vibratin', pulsatin', oscillatin', agitatin', circulatin', gyratin', palpitatin', leg breakin', hip-shakin', back bacon boogie 'till the break of day!!!
Up next are two Cousin Joe (Pleasant Joseph) compositions back to back. "My Tight Woman" from 1946 features V's stingin' guitar riffs in a killer arrangement with a full blowin' horn section. The slow acoustic Blues that follows will surly haunt you with it's lyrics and remind all the fellas that it's just as "Dangerous To Be A Husband" today as it was in '47.
Johnny's instrumental "Branding By Moonlight" is a catchy little dance number featuring "The Mighty Scorned Horns" blowing a section solo. The Boss Brass will eat their hearts out after hearing this one.
One of my favourite songs done by Jimmy McCracklin was "Let's Do It" in '59 (the flip side of his hit "Georgia Slop") and Johnny takes us on a musical journey back in history to another time and place with this one. Excellent solo by saxman Mike Clark.
"Green's Blues" is Johnny's dedication to Houston guitarist Clarence Green and V shows us a whole new side of his playing on this one. The Hammond B3 and the Trombone section really set the mood for JV's acoustic guitar playing to take us away.
Johnny's a big fan of Howard Tate who's an inspirational soul singer from the 1960s. V does a great version of Howard's 1967 tune "Stop" which is penned by the incredible lyricist Jerry Ragavoy.
A tune about Louisiana just had to be included in the mix and JV's song "New Louisiana Blues" tells all about him and his wife checking out the scene down there.
JV's composition "Joe's Mercy Killing" is a clever instrumental that blends mordant humour with excellent musicianship. Clark's solos are reminiscent of free jazz innovator Ornette Coleman.
Blues legend Sonny Rhodes just happened to be in Calgary when Johnny was recording and dropped by the studio to hang out with his old friend. It didn't take much coaxing for Sonny to take over the vocal chair on the soulful, and oh so meaningful Johnny V original, "Living On The Outside".
Looking for a Blues song that speaks about today's reality? Listen to Johnny's lyrics and slide solo in "Suicide Bomber Blues" and see if you ain't thinking a little different after this one.
After that hard reality lesson Johnny gets you back up again with another original penned by him and Bob Erlandson who taught Lenny Breau theory. The tune is a jazz influenced instrumental called "Tataria" and features a 5 over 4 transition based on Tartar rhythms and even has Duris chanting east Indian tabla grooves.
And if you're a fan of those Blues classics, you're sure to enjoy Johnny's half time groove on Big Joe Williams' 1935 standard, "Baby Please Don't Go", followed by his cover of John Lee Williamson's (Sonny Boy Williamson #1) 1937 Blues hit "Good Morning Little Schoolgirl". V recorded the latter playing an electric twelve-string slide guitar, a first for him. Leave it to Johnny to come up with a fresh approach to these blues standards. Very nice!
I know Johnny's a huge fan of Louisiana born singer/songwriter Ron Davies (not to be confused with Ray Davies of The Kinks) and V steps a little outside the Blues playground to perform "It Ain't Easy". The tune features "The New Swan Sewertones" on background vocals.
We're very close to the end of this great album when out of nowhere Johnny hits you with a jazz inspired instrumental called "Sprinklehead". Johnny told he penned this one after analyzing the time signatures of park sprinklers and writing grooves around them. Paul Ashwell's Trombone solo really captures the essence of the tune and Johnny's liner notes that say "I'll never go near Lysol again", and I don't blame him.
All great things must to come to an end, so with the sounds of "Last Date" playin' in the background and your partner in your arms, it's time for that last slow dance with your date!
To be straight-forward about this CD, at close to seventy-five minutes of playin' time, there's a mood for every moment in our musical lives.
What I've written about Johnny's new CD can be easily summed up with a few simple words borrowed from the comments, posted on many Blues sites, by another Blues friend and fan Sluggo when he said "Whoop-ass Boogie". After one listen, that says it all! I just know in my blue heart that Johnny's latest release will definitely get major radio play here in Canada as well as the Blues scene worldwide . I'll even go so far as to say that Johnny V will be considered for, or receive many Blues awards for this excellent Blues offering. Let's hope what I believe is right.
"Highly Recommended" is a common statement used in the strange world of reviewers, well to hell with proprieties, and conventions, if you're lookin' for pure gold in the Blues, with some change, always count on Johnny V Mills to deliver!
I say "GET IT!" - Eddy B
Please note: Inside every CD you'll receive a petition from Johnny to have Richard "King Biscuit Boy" Newell enrolled in the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. I'm with Johnny on this and we're counting on you to show your support by filling it in and mailing it to the address on the back of the petition. Way to go Johnny and thanks for taking the time and effort for all his fans and friends. Biscuit deserves it!
To get a copy of the CD and download the petition for King Biscuit Boy, check out Johnny V's website: www.johnnyv.org
Sail on...
Eddy B (Brake)
Phone: (416) 921 0313
E-Mail: #1 blueheartarchive@sympatico.ca #2 eddy@blueheartarchive.com
Website: http://www.blueheartarchive.com
So much Blues, so little time
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