Joel T Johnson profile picture

Joel T Johnson

Little is known about people who dont take surveys

About Me

Singer/bassist Joel T Johnson makes his innovative approach to the bass and music itself sound natural; like his style was a interpretation of some forgotten grass roots movement.
The naked bass in the hands of Joel T Johnson has a voice of unexpected character and personality. A range of primal anger to childlike bliss.
His work may not be as original as some credit him with though. Johnson owes a great deal to a obscure 20th century musical anomally, the Reverend Alabacious T. Bartholomew.

Read more about the Reverend here


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My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 2/3/2005
Band Website: CLICK 4 JOELS WEBSITE" CLICK 4 JOELS WEBSITE
Band Members:

Joel T Johnson
Bass
Vocals
Percussion


Influences:

Dave Weckl, Ani DeFranco, Jeff Buckley, Igor Stravinski, The Blue Nile, The White Stripes, Primus, Rachmaninoff, Yes, Tony Levin, Jeff Buckley, Pat Methany, Eric Johnson, Roscoe Beck, Genesis, God Damn Electric Bill, James Taylor, Robert Johnson, The Tower of Power, XTC, Jim Schreck, Stewart Copeland, Junior Brown, Coltrane, The Chameleons, The Bomb Squad, Stevie Wonder, Elliot Smith, Iona, Steve Gadd, Tears for Fears, Miles, Radio Head, Ricky Lee Jones, The Ramones, Ry Cooder, Steve Miller, Thomas Dolby, U.K., Willie Dixon, Alan Holdsworth, Danny Gatton, The Dixie Dregs, Parliament, Hans Zimmer, Paul Simon, Adrian Belew, Joe Jackson, George Sessum, Cat Power, Animatronics, Annie Wells, Rush, The Chameleons, David Gray, Merle Haggert, Robben Ford, Keb Mo, John, Paul George and Ringo, David Torn, Michael Hedges, David Gilmore, Jimi, Beth Orton, Tal Wilkenfeld, Kings X, Jaco, Bootsy, Mingus, and Victor. ELP, Bill Clements, Tibetan Monks, Talking Heads, Ralph Stanely, Depeche Mode, The Sugar Cubes, Miche' and the Anglos, Bobby McFerrin, The Postal Service, Danny Elfman, Thomas Newman, King Crimson, Johnny Cash, Muddy Waters, Elizabeth Cotten, Pete Townsend, SRV... -Oh wait till I get started.


Sounds Like: The idea of "solo bass" conjures up the image of a "bass solo"; cool but awkward and graciously brief. Certainly not what you'd want to listen to for a whole eveining.
Joel's approach, or series of approaches, takes the bass down a new and unique avenue. He strikes the strings with a hybrid of a Pete Townsend-attack and Victor Wooten-multi-fingered, flamenco making the bass, at times, a clanking roaring juggnaut, at others a sweet delta prayer.
His percussive, harmonic and melodic playing turns the bass into an orchestra. A rich baritone voice crones and wails his own roots narratives and blues laments over a driving and intense bass guitar machine.
Add to this innovative Rock-Americana Johnson's ability to create and manipulate live loops of bass percussion and vocals and at times his performance can sound like a back-country rave.
Record Label: WINDpOWER
Type of Label: None

My Blog

99. Who, Me?

To call it an insane day would be disrespectful to those who really had one: like the staff of an ICU that had multiple 'code blues' while short-staffed, those digging for survivors in the rubble of s...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 02:45:00 PST

98 My Life of Crime

We arrived at Audra's parents' house last night with our third and final car load of items for the garage sale taking place this weekend. We will not be home for another three weeks or so. Our cats wi...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:15:00 PST

97 Slots in the key of C

The music is back.I am writing this from the dressing room of the Pala Casino in Pala, California. In fact, the band is doing their sound check right now a few yards away. I have my wireless ear monit...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Sun, 25 Nov 2007 05:59:00 PST

96 Thanks

It's as predictable as a brawl in a country bar and as corny as the outhouse pit at the Iowa State Fair: I am doing a blog for Thanksgiving on what I'm thankful for.I think it's important frankly and ...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 02:58:00 PST

95 Advertising Space for Freaks of the Future

Business has a continual challenge getting their message out to people. Each generation that comes off the Diz-ney assembly line is more jaded and numb to the efforts of marketing and advertising than...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:19:00 PST

94 Theres Oil In Them Thar Waters Part III

The boat ride out to Oil Platform Grace was much smoother than the ride back the previous evening. I almost felt silly for my fears and sickness the night before as the boat glided through the glassy ...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Wed, 21 Nov 2007 05:59:00 PST

93 Theres Oil in Them Thar Waters Part II

93 There's Oil in Them Thar Waters Part II As soon as were on-board Oil Platform Grace we were given a tour which included informal safety training and the basic rules.-Hardhats were to...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Tue, 20 Nov 2007 07:05:00 PST

92 Theres Oil in Them Thar Waters Part I

Almost two years ago I got a phone call from a video utility guy I occasionally work with that started something like this:   "Hey Joel, how are you doing? I got a possible utility gig for you b...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Mon, 19 Nov 2007 05:03:00 PST

91 Hey! I Didnt get a "Parump" Outta That Guy

We're getting spoiled.  We drove Dee Dee (the bus) to Parump, Nevada Last night. I felt like I had barely settled into the bus when we arrived. Anything less that a ten hour trip seems like a wa...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Fri, 16 Nov 2007 03:34:00 PST

90 No Window Pain, No Gain

I finally get it. All this time I thought the Windows/PC environment sucked ass--oh and believe me it does--but I have recently discovered the deep geneous behind it all.It's been ages since Chopin, a...
Posted by Joel T Johnson on Thu, 15 Nov 2007 01:27:00 PST