JP Gastor of Clutch To Drum on New Five Horse Johnson Album
A recent Facebook status update from Small Stone Records had this to say:
We have some very big news… Five Horse Johnson will begin recording their new album with J. Robbins (remember Jawbox) tweaking the knobs at his studio sometime in March. Also, JP from Clutch will behind the drum kit on said recordings. The plan is to have the album finished by June, but it is Five Horse Johnson after all, so you never really know for sure.
JP drummed on the band’s 2006 release, The Mystery Spot.
Small Stone Records Updates
We are very busy getting new albums released, pimped, worked, and the 2012 SXSW hype maching going on. Here is a quick run down of what have been up to over the last few weeks.
First, Last Rays Of The Dying Sun, the
debut full length from New Jersey’s Infernal Overdrive is now in stock and ready for you all. We were hoping to also have the I.O. band at SXSW this year, but it looks like it is not in the cards for them this time around. In the meantime, You will be able to catch Infernal Overdrive on a stage near you next month if you happen live along the Eastern Seaboard of the US. (more…)
Review – Henry’s Funeral Show – Donkey Jacket
Alive Naturalsound sure knows how to find good bands and scoop them up. Henry’s Funeral Shoe is no exception. Donkey Jacket, due out in October, is their sophomore release. You wouldn’t be able to tell though as I don’t think the guys have ever heard of a “sophomore slump”.
Henry’s Funeral Shoe is the brain child of brothers Aled and Brennig Clifford. This 2 piece duo from South Wales knows how to get things done. Donkey Jacket starts off with a rip roaring guitar of Aled on “Be Your Own Invention” which upon first listen, starts off sounding a little like “La Grange’ by ZZ Top. “Love Is A Fever” (which can be heard below) is another blues based rock song. “Bottom To Top” is a more mellower song featuring acoustic guitar and is a more old style country music. “Anvil & Chains” roughs it up a bit and features some harmonica. It has that true delta blues vibe to it and even sounds like it could be a Five Horse Johnson song. “Dog Scratched Ear” has a nice mellow, catchy, even bass line. It really takes off and (more…)
Small Stone Showcase Update
Small Stone Records have given an update to their showcase happening in Chicago on Saturday October 1st.
Friday October 1st @ the Double Door: Confirmed line up: Suplecs, Lo-Pan, Gozu, Freedom Hawk, Backwoods Payback… and the 6th band will either be Halfway To Gone or Five Horse Johnson.
Stay tuned from more info as it happens.
Small Stone Planning on 2 Showcases This Year
Straight from their Facebook wall:
We are busy planning two Small Stone Showcase Events for you In September/ October of 2011.
On September, 23rd and 24th we will be taking over the Kung Fu Necktie in Philadelphia, PA as a part of the Philadelphia Film and Music Festival… And, on September, 30th and October, 1st will be heading on over to the Double Door in Chicago, IL
We do not have a final line up confimed yet, but each city will get a combination of 12 of the following acts from the list below: (more…)
Five Horse Johnson Back From Hiatus?
Well it would appear to seem so after Small Stone made this little blurb on their Facebook page:
Five Horse Johnson will be performing June 8th at the Sweden Rock Festival in Sövesborg, SE… You can also expect FHJ to be heading into the studio later this year to record a new album.
There’s no word like the labels word. These guys have been quiet for quite some time. It’ll be good to have them back.
The Soda Shop Needs Help
As Jake posted on Facebook a few days ago, we’re looking for help. Him and I focus a lot on the rock side of things and we tend to neglegt the doom and sludge portion. Because of that we’re looking for a contributor or two to help add give those two other genres a little bit more exposure. Here is what we’re looking for:
Some writing experience preferred but not required. Please submit a few samples of your work. Samples may be cut and paste into an email, a URL or any other form.
We’re looking for people passionate about the doom and sludge genres of music. If you don’t absolutley love doom and sludge then still feel free to submit but keep in mind that doom and sludge is out top priority.
Must have both a Facebook and WordPress account. Knowledge of both also required. No HTML experience required but it certainly doesn’t hurt.
Contributors will be required to review doom and sludge albums and post the reviews on The Soda Shop blog and post links on The Soda Shop Facebook page. Whenever possible, post about doom and sludge related news onto the blog and Facebook page. Keep in mind, this is more or less done in your spare time. You put in what time you can and contribute as much as you can. We aren’t looking for someone that’s going to post something once every few months, please don’t bother if you’re that type.
Now this doesn’t pay money. We’re all as broke as the next person. We can pay you by giving you our thanks and from time to time, free music. Look at it as more of a way to unleash some of your creative side. We’re not as big as Rolling Stone so we don’t see they type of traffic and submissions they do. Perhaps with your help though we can get there.
After all that your still interested, well send an email to bill.goodman@thesodashop.us with your name and samples.
Small Stone Recordings New Releases
Small Stone Recordings’ website has been updated recently with some tbd releases for their artists. The next 18 months or so will be an interesting one. That list is as follows:
- All Time High
TBD 2011 - Black Sleep of Kali
Our Slow Decay 2010 - Blackwolfgoat
Dragonwizardsleeve 2010 - Cropduster
TBD 2010 - Dixie Witch
TBD 2010 - Gideon Smith & The Dixie Damned
TBD 2011 - H1N1
TBD 2011 - Ironweed
TBD 2011 - Lo-Pan
TBD 2011 - Lo-Pan
Sasquanaut – (Remixed & Remastered) 2011 - Red Giant
Dysfunctional Majesty 2010 - Roadsaw
TBD 2010 - Sun Gods In Exile
TBD 2011 - Suplecs
TBD 2011 - Tia Carrera
TBD 2010
A bunch of these are no brainers however absent (but once present) from the list are new albums by both Five Horse Johnson and Brain Police. Both bands once had a 2010 as a time frame. Have we seen the last of these two great bands? Brain Police hasn’t updated their Myspace page since April 30th, 2009. It was a post about videos. This interesting tidbit was also in that same blog:
We are still working on our upcoming fifth studio album but to selebrate the summer we will be breaking out of our HQ.
Also no one has logged on to the account since February of this year.
Five Horse Johnson hasn’t updated their blog since December 30th, 2008. They were supposed to be releasing a greatest hits album for Australia and start working on their next release. No one has logged onto the site since April 20th, 2010. Eric’s personal blog, also posted on 12-30-08 had this to say
On the Five Horse Johnson front: We are furiously tinkering away in the rock factory trying to squeeze out tunes for the new and the BEST FHJ album (or at least the newest) to date. Still not sure of a title, but it’ll be announced soon. The songs are coming together in solid fashion. It’s the fist time having Phil involved in the writing of a full albums worth of rock, so expect loads of zany and snazzy guitar shenanigans!
There is some rumblings in Australia about the “little ol band from Toledo” so we have put together a greatest hits package for OZ called “Sweetwater Gasoline”. It includes about 12 of the shiniest gems from the FHJ catalog. It wasn’t easy to pick and choose, be we whittled it down to which ones we think the fans/we like the best. Hopefully we can get down to Australia soon and embarrass our country in full Five Horse style!
Could it be that bands are abandoning Myspace? Last month I did a an article on Myspace vs Bandcamp. I’m noticing less and less blog postings by bands. Myspace can be a good source of news and information from bands but if no one is using it then why bother.Remember too, neither band has made public if the bands are still together or not, they could be taking an extended break. Until we hear from them directly we can only wonder.
Anyway, Small Stone (as well as other labels) has quite a bit lined up to keep our ears and minds happy with or without Five Horse Johnson and Brain Police.
The Soda Shop 