Editorial Reviews
About the Artist
There is so much music out there that can be classified in so many ways in the "alternative" realm. Some enjoy using terms like "Emo" "Indie Rock" "Pop Punk", or whatever the "genre du jour" is these days. It is rare, however, to find musicians that gel in a way that is consistent with these trends, and at the same time, one that is departing and evolving into a distinct sound that is musically and lyrically deceiving and complex.
Dozens of writers and bands have influenced Johnny Action Figure's style "The Shins, Hey Mercedes, The Get Up Kids, and Elliot Smith, among many others. "I don't know if I'm in any position to call it unclassifiable, but we've always tried to avoid any direct influence," says Brendan Fullam, co-writer of the band's music. "I don't think that we're playing some groundbreaking genre of music, but I think our music is a little bit harder to classify than some."
Johnny Action Figure was born in 1999 when Chris Sheehan and Brendan Fullam started playing as 14-year-old best friends, rounding out the lineup soon after with bassist Kevin Grubb and drummer John Ravert. They began playing various parties and underground basement shows in their hometown. But unlike other bands their age, Johnny Action Figure played mostly original songs.
The songs were good, and the band quickly grew to love performing in front of an audience. Soon, Johnny Action Figure was sought after by a number of all age's venues around their hometown of Reading, Pennsylvania. Around this time, one of their songs was featured on the CD compilation of teen artists called "A Generation Unleashed," another was featured on the comp "Gimme the Medicine" on DRP Records, and a third was chosen by one of Pennsylvania's leading rock radio stations, 105.7 "the X," for their "Under the Radar" compilation.
At 16, Johnny Action Figure recorded and self-released two 8-song demos, the second of which was known to their fans as "Distance to the Sun". Along the way, their demos caught the attention of legendary producer/A&R vet Gary Katz (Steely Dan, et. al.) putting the band on the radar of more than a few major labels while the band focused and performed countless shows around Pennsylvania, opening for indie bands like Something Corporate, the Get Up Kids, Wilco, Senses Fail, The Clarks and Brantdson.
Released on 19 North Records, Johnny Action Figure's self-titled debut album was recorded over several months at two separate studios with three separate producers, Stavely "Cheek" Andrews, Frank Fields (Anthrophobia) and Mike Radka. There are 13 songs, including "Victory," which speaks to the weariness of persistence; "Magnesium," with its heavy groove-rhythm; the aggressive drum and guitar work on "Bay State," and the indirect lyric of "Thursday" which is open for wide interpretation.
Johnny Action Figure will be on the road this summer in support of the new album and back in the studio after that.
"Emo?" "Indie Rock?" "Pop Punk?" Interpret the new Johnny Action Figure album anyway you like, it's all good with them. They just want you to listen.
Product Description
Emo? Indie Rock? Pop Punk? Interpret Johnny Action Figure anyway you like, the songs are driving, intelligent, memorable and deceivingly complex. This is a band you need to know about.
Johnny Action Figure,Johnny Action Figure,19 North Records,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
Popular Music:
Recommended Music:
Real Sound of Amsterdam [Import]
A Different Kind of Crazy [Import]