This is fine.
Long time ATH favorite Will Johnson had his session with the Woxy crew posted on their blog site a couple days ago. Mr. Johnson plays 4 songs, including this gem “Almost Let You In” from his 2009 effort with Jason Molina. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, this guy has one of the best and most unique voices in the business today.
Download: Will Johnson – Almost Let You In (live) [MP3]
| Date | 1/27/10 |
|---|---|
| Location | Antones |
| Doors | 8pm |
| Tickets | Sold Out |
The super duo of Death Cab for Cutie front man Ben Gibbard and Son Volt leading man Jay Farrar are stopping into town at Antone’s on Wednesday. The recently formed group are touring in support of their Big Sur inspired colaborative project. One of our favorite songwriters Will Johnson will also be on hand to open things up.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/Ben+Gibbard+and+Jay+Farrar+-+California+Zephyr.mp3]Download: Ben Gibbard & Jay Farrar – California Zephyr [MP3]
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You had to know this was coming; you had to know that a combination of these two men could lead you to nothing but greatness. Jason Molina and Will Johnson live two separate lives. One man, Jason, fronts Magnolia Electric Co, while the other hangs out in Texas and fronts Centromatic, not to mention his own solo stuff under the name, surprisingly, Will Johnson. United, they have risen above their individual prowess and united to make a conglomerate of sad-bastard music that surpasses most everything else that came our way this year, in regards to that particular genre at least.
When you first hear “Twenty Cycles to the Ground” you immediately feel the comfort of home. Will Johnson‘s voice always sounds like your aged father singing on the back porch with his acoustic guitar in his hand. At the same time, the warmth of Molina accents the throatier moments from Johnson. Such a natural harmonization could not be imagined in this mind.
And for the larger part of this album, you encounter such beautiful moments time and time again. “Almost Let You In” sees the two gents casually trading vocal duties over gentle piano structures and simple strumming of acoustic elements. There is such a clarity in the music that can only come from its simplicity, leading the listeners to the height of audial enlightenment; such as it is when the two combine near the end of the song, just as the piano begins to carry you away.
You are not very likely to find anything overtly beautiful and fanciful in this album. It seems steeped in a sense of melancholy, which is mostly due to the instrumentation. Yet, despite the down-trodden mood simulated by the instrumentation, nothing is as enchanting as Will Johnson walking quietly through his songs, with throaty vocals intact, pushing you to the edge of your bed, grasping, no, hanging, on every last syllable that he emits. The light in this album comes largely from Molina, however.
Take, for example, “The Lily and The Brakeman,” one of the songs that only goes to Molina. There is a different emotional appeal in his vocal delivery, and as it yanks on your heartstrings, it also seems to soothe you just a bit more than his counterpart. This is precisely why this album is such a wonderful collection of songs. There exists a perfect juxtaposition between the warble of Johnson and the calm delivery of Molina, both captivating, and both working together in unison. Together, they’ve created an album that seems born of the past, only to live in the current landscape.
Not a moment on this album is really discardable; not a one. Perhaps the off moments will be off-putting to casual listeners, but once you immerse yourself in the waters of Molina & Johnson, you’ll feel as if you’ve been washed in one of the most masterful collaborations. Do yourself a favor and get lost in the world of these two, as you’re likely to never want to leave.
[audio:https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/10/almostletyouin.mp3]Download: Molina & Johnson – Almost Let You In [MP3]
Not long ago we dropped a new track on you from the Will Johnson (Centro-matic) & Jason Molina (Magnolia Electirc Company) collaborative project. Now, just a week away from the release, we have another new track to get you excited for the release. This one’s called “Almost Let You In” and will appear on the duos self-titled debut album out Nov. 3rd on Secretly Canadian. This one is just as quietly beautiful as the first.
Download: Molina & Johnson – Almost Let You In [MP3]
Unless you’ve been living under a rock for a while, you’ve heard that Will Johnson of Centro-matic and Jason Molina of Magnolia Electric Co. have teamed up for a collaborative release. So after much anticipation, the duo has a single ready and we couldn’t be more pleased with the results. You can pick up Molina & Johnson Nov. 3rd via Secretly Canadian.
Download: Molina And Johnson – Twenty Cycles To The Ground [MP3]
| Date | 9/12/09 |
|---|---|
| Location | Space 12 |
| Doors | 7pm |
| Tickets | $12 From Undertow |
We here at ATH are long time fans of Will Johnson and his work in and out of Denton band Centro-matic. We say this because Will is making another stop in Austin at Space 12 on Saturday night and we think you should check it out. If you aren’t familiar with Space 12, it’s a non profit community center on the east side focusing on bringing the arts to the east side. Opening support will be provided by Liz Durrett.
[audio: https://austintownhall.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/will-johnson-closing-down-my-house.mp3]Download: Will Johnson – Closing Down My House [MP3]
Centro-matic and Will Johnson get all kinds of coverage on this site so we will of course be alerting you every time the Denton, TX band makes it through town. Friday evening Will and the boys will be making a stop at the Parish downtown along with Monahans and locals Future Cloud and Radar. The Parish should be an ideal venue to see such an underrated and talented band. Doors are at 8pm/music at 9. Tickets can be bought online now for $14.
Download: Centro-matic – Flashed and Cables [MP3]
Famous Centro-matic front man Will Johnson is making another solo stop in Austin at the Mohawk on Thursday night. Tickets for the show can be bought now for $8. Music is set to start around 10pm with a set by Cory Branan followed by The Monahans. If you want to get an idea of what goes on in Will’s head, check out a recent interview we posted with him during Fun Fun Fun Fest.
Download: Centro-matic – Flashed and Cables [MP3]
Our second installment of Funx3 Festival interviews features veteran front man Will Johnson of Denton based band Centro-matic. Will and I discuss all his projects and how the Cardinals can make it to the World Series next year. Follow the jump to read the entire interview with this incredible and highly underrated song writer.
Ah the tough decisions you must make living in Austin… If you aren’t a supporter of TV on the Radio, you’ve got another choice this stacked Thursday night. Magnolia Electric Co. will be making a stop at the Mohawk in Austin on Thursday as part of their rare tour of the US this fall. Another favorite artist of ours, Will Johnson (Centro-Matic), will be opening things up for the Stockholm band around 9:30 or 10. You can buy tickets now for only $8 or I’m sure you can get one at the door.
