How Hard's A Johnstone?

Band: The Johnstones

Country: Canada!

Notable Album: Word Is Bond

Favourite Track: "Action"

Well well well - today not marks letter "J" for the blog, but also the FIRST Canadian band on here! The Johnstones hail from Ajax, Ontario, and are known best for their outrageous performances that go along with pretty ridiculous songs.

Julien, master keyboardist and trombonist

This was in Burlington at the Red Rooster, January 2011

Today's blog is a little different, because I'm promoting the album more than the band - since Word Is Bond, The Johnstones have lost their ska-punk edge and play a raw-ish pop-punk-with-horns style of music. Although it isn't bad music, knowing them for a few years as a ska-punk band makes it hard to accept the material from the Sex EP and onwards. I think I listen to 2 tracks from Sex and 3 from Can't Be Trusted - but I love most of the songs off Word Is Bond! One thing that has always impressed me about these guys is the musical diversity of the members. Changing vocal styles from rapping to singing to chanting in no time flat, Julien changing from keys to trombone sometimes in the same song, and Ryan singing, rapping, and drumming all at the same time (only the best musicians can do this), these guys make their music their own simply by the way they present it.

"Action" is by far my favourite track on this album, but it's followed closely by "Gone For A Long Time" and "Living In The Gutter." "Action" is the quintessential ska-punk track, featuring quick upstrokes, a wicked walking bass line, and horns everywhere! I bought Word Is Bond at SCENEfest back in 2007 and I was blown away by this song, and it was even better seeing it live the same night! all 3 tracks named above are wicked, and anyone who is new to the Johnstones will love them, and all the old fans will already know and (hopefully) love them!

Pick up the album here, and stay tuned for letter "K" tomorrow!