About Me
Home is where the heart is, and for Madcap, that isn’t a house, an apartment or even their tour van - it is in the meaning they derive from writing and recording music, as well in listening to the artists they love. Honesty, passion, faith and persistence are the cornerstones of Madcap’s philosophy, and they show an amazing ability to instill those beliefs in songs about love, rebellion, and personal struggle. Madcap began playing punk rock in the style of their idols in bands like The Jam, Buzzcocks and the Clash, but as they have grown, they began incorporating ideas drawn from studying the music of rock artists like Elvis Costello, Bruce Springsteen and U2. "I was listening to some of my favorite bands and thinking about the process of making each album so different from the one before, but always creating classic songs. I wanted to take our band from the simpler power chords of punk into rock songs with more depth." Johnny explained.Madcap settled into a rehearsal space to write, emerging with a collection of songs that would become "Under Suspicion," drawing from 80’s rock, reggae, dub and punk. "Under Suspicion" is a reggae tinged tune with an Elvis Costello vibe, while "Keep Dancin’ " is an organ-laced rocker about perseverance, and having fun instead of giving up. "Lovesick" is a heartbreaking love song with an 80’s dance groove that showcases Johnny’s vocals. "We used a vintage Fairchild compressor for the vocals, which was great, but a little bittersweet because the artist who had used it last was Johnny Cash. I love the way it gives the vocals a little bit of an older sound," Johnny explained. "Youth Explosion" is a catchy anthem about rebelling against the ruling class. "I was talking to this businessman once, and he kept telling me that I needed to conform or there is no way I could succeed. It’s just a big fuck you to anyone who judges others by the way they dress!" laughed Johnny.
The stellar horns of Catch 22 enhanced "Searching For Ground" and friend Rami Jaffee of the Wallflowers contributed outstanding organ to "Keep Dancin," "Somewhere In The City" and "Under Suspicion." Enhanced features were filmed during the recording sessions - look for a photo gallery, Madcap mini-documentary about the making of the album, and a bonus song live in the studio called "Jimmy The Saint."Where hip-hop might be the sound of the streets in the rap world, Madcap are the sound of the streets for the rock world. Under Suspicion" hits the streets on February 24th, 2004. This album will appeal to fans of The Clash, The Ramones, and The Jam as well as fans of Bruce Springsteen, Tom Petty and Elvis Costello. Madcap has toured extensively, playing the entire Warped Tour in 2001 and supporting bands like Mest, Simple Plan and Catch 22. They will be pounding the pavement throughout 2004 in support of "Under Suspicion."
