Austin Sound

Here’s a nice little scoop from the Chronicle’s music news column this morning: Will Johnson, who seems to, as always, have his hands in too many projects to count, has been helping out Jay Farrar along with Anders Parker and Jim James to create a new album of Woody Guthrie tunes in the vein of Wilco and Billy Bragg’s Mermaid Avenue. Like its predecessor, this album was created from unpublished Guthrie lyrics that his daughter entrusted to Farrar and Co. (she must be some kind of crazy Uncle Tupelo fan or something) to arrange and record. It was recorded back in March and is currently being mixed, but that seems to be about as far as they’ve gotten, with no word reported on when it might be released. Johnson, meanwhile, just continues to roll on, inspiring kids to depression with Centro-matic and South San Gabriel, and indulging in some kind of unfortunate artistic infatuation with baseball. Will, stick to the tunes, buddy, as much as the world really does need a painting exonerating Bill Buckner, you’re just a better songwriter. In more Johnson news though, because there is always more, he will also be touring with the Monsters of Folk, backing up Jim James, Conor Oberst, and M. Ward on drums, and in November will be releasing his inventingly titled collaboration with Jason Molina, Jason Molina & Will Johnson. We reckon that should keep all the Johnston fanatics drooling for a while.

After 12 years and 12(ish) albums, Centro-matic/ South San Gabriel remain mainstays of Texas music. In that time they’ve found acceptance beyond the Lone Star State – namely SSG in Europe – but they’ve always been very much a “Texas” band, having danced the “Denton-Austin-Houston Three Step” thousands of times, and never having strayed far away from home for long. With such feelings of familiarity and community, listening to the new double-album, Dual Hawks, is a lot like heading over to the neighbor’s place to check out his new grill while he cooks a few juicy ‘gers.

1/23/08
In our interview with Will Johnson last fall, the ever-prolific songwriter mentioned that he was working on a split, double-album for Centro-matic and South San Gabriel. The epic undertaking has apparently finished up and will see release this spring. Titled Dual Hawks, the album will be released on Misra here in the US.

Johnson is hoping to keep the price low for fans, but for those wanting to splurge, there will also reportedly be a limited edition version with special packaging. We have no idea what “special packaging” might entail, but the last time that was offered to us, we fled the Rainbow Cattle Company in horror.

Crouched in the closet of his parent’s guest bedroom as the rest of his family sleeps, Will Johnson quietly strums an acoustic guitar, overcome with a sudden vision.

The song soon took on a life of its own, becoming the animus for South San Gabriel’s The Carlton Chronicles: Not Until the Operation’s Through. The record essentially tells the story of Carlton, a terminally ill house cat who attempts to break away from the hand that feeds him, only to realize that his fantasy of fleeing doesn’t change the reality of his aging and sickness.

2/12/07
Just back from a nice little European jaunt with Micah P. Hinson and Nick Phelps, Will Johnson has of course wasted no time getting started on his next endeavor. What will it be? More solo work? Some South San Gabriel? Perhaps some much hoped-for recording with the Undertow Orchestra? Let’s spin the Will Johnson Wheel of Song and see what comes up!

Oh my, it looks like we’ve landed on Centro-matic! Johnson just announced that Centro-matic will be releasing a new EP this spring called Operation Motorcide. The track listing appears to be as interesting, and disturbing, as the title:

1. All This Fresh Mutiny
2. Atlanta
3. Operation Motorcide
4. A Celebrated Grime