Hello hello hello. It's a pleasure to have you at this brand new site. We're so happy about it. I hope you enjoy yourself, wander around, take off your shoes, turn on the radio, have a cold one (the opener is that magnet on the fridge), and say hi before you go.
From all of us that are Imaginary Johnny.
What's new.
Tour Update
Posted on May 7 2008, 8:01
 ere's how it's shaping up:
May 29 / The Delancey / New York, NY
May 30 / College Perk / College Park, MD
May 31 / TBA
Jun 1 / The Camel / Richmond, VA
Jun 2 / The Cave / Chapel Hill, NC
Jun 3 / Caledonia Lounge / Athens, GA
Jun 3 / TBA
Jun 5 / The Bluebird / Saint Louis, MO
Jun 6 / Record Bar / Kansas City, MO
Jun 7 / TBA
Jun 8 / The Turf Club / Saint Paul, MN
Jun 9 / Mr. Roberts / Madison, WI
Jun 10 / TBA / Chicago, IL
Jun 13 / Dubland Underground / Rochester, NY
Hope to see you there.
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Tour Update.
Posted on Apr 2 2008, 18:18
 es, a tour! We're putting the finishing touches on the schedule, ironing out the details, etc. After a performance in NYC on May 29th, we'll be on the road from May 30-June 14. What is confirmed is up on our MySpace page, and I'll be getting the dates up on this site slowly but surely. Essentially we're doing a big circle. If anyone has a big car to loan us, you know, let me know.
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Only Chimneys Available for Pre-Order
Posted on Mar 24 2008, 10:24
 e're closing in on the April 8 release date. The record is now available for pre-order through Amazon.
Or, come see us live and grab a copy at the venue.
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An interview.
Posted on Mar 11 2008, 9:10
 an at Radio Crystal Blue was a thorough Interviewer. It's all down here.
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[ Read all news. ]
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As the name suggests, Imaginary Johnny is not so much a band as an ever-evolving musical idea.
Conceived in Kansas City, born in Seattle and matured on the stoops (and crappy practice spaces) of Brooklyn, Imaginary Johnny's roots are deep and diverse. The rock-anthem friendly radio of the Midwest, the twang and blues roots of KC, Seattle's alt-country and Americana scene, New York's rougher-around-the-edges rock - it's all evident in Imaginary Johnny's third release, Only Chimneys.
Only Chimneys showcases IJ's longest-standing and most cohesive lineup yet: Adam Sylvia on guitar, Ismail Lawal on drums, and songwriter Stuart Wolferman on vocals and keys. Together, they paint a broad landscape, with private meditations one moment that erupt into defiant anthems the next. Sylvia's guitar playfully weaves in and out of the main melodic thread - subtle but unmistakable. Lawal's drumming is similarly restrained; a veteran of ensembles ranging from Brian Jackson to Ladybug Mecca, Lawal is as lyrical and expansive with his drum kit as Wolferman is vocally.
Longtime fans will recognize the distinctive imagistic songwriting and mix of pop styles, and will discover a warmth and cohesiveness that signals a departure of sorts. There is a newfound fullness to IJ's sound, with brass, strings and a full choir of sorts. Only Chimneys is no less personal than the recordings that preceded it, but it is also epic, taking on larger socio-political themes. |
Tour Update
Posted on May 7 2008, 8:01
ere's how it's shaping up:
May 29 / The Delancey / New York, NY
May 30 / College Perk / College Park, MD
May 31 / TBA
Jun 1 / The Camel / Richmond, VA
Jun 2 / The Cave / Chapel Hill, NC
Jun 3 / Caledonia Lounge / Athens, GA
Jun 3 / TBA
Jun 5 / The Bluebird / Saint Louis, MO
Jun 6 / Record Bar / Kansas City, MO
Jun 7 / TBA
Jun 8 / The Turf Club / Saint Paul, MN
Jun 9 / Mr. Roberts / Madison, WI
Jun 10 / TBA / Chicago, IL
Jun 13 / Dubland Underground / Rochester, NY
Hope to see you there.
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Tour Update.
Posted on Apr 2 2008, 18:18
es, a tour! We're putting the finishing touches on the schedule, ironing out the details, etc. After a performance in NYC on May 29th, we'll be on the road from May 30-June 14. What is confirmed is up on our MySpace page, and I'll be getting the dates up on this site slowly but surely. Essentially we're doing a big circle. If anyone has a big car to loan us, you know, let me know.
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Only Chimneys Available for Pre-Order
Posted on Mar 24 2008, 10:24
e're closing in on the April 8 release date. The record is now available for pre-order through Amazon.
Or, come see us live and grab a copy at the venue.
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An interview.
Posted on Mar 11 2008, 9:10
an at Radio Crystal Blue was a thorough Interviewer. It's all down here.
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Ismail at the Blue Note
Posted on Feb 22 2008, 14:28
 ur elusive drummer, Ismail Lawal, made his Blue Note debut this week playing with Brian Jackson. We're very proud.
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[ Read older news. ]
Reading older news. [ Read fresher news. ]
Our Grammy nominated producer.
Posted on Oct 25 2007, 21:09
ur very own Joel Hamilton, who mixed "Painting Over the Dirt" and produced (and mixed) "Only Chimneys", has been nominated for a Grammy in three categories:
Soulive's "No Place Like Soul", R&B Album of the year;
Talib Kweli's "Eardrum", Album of the Year;
TV compilation CD from "HOUSE m.d." with Elvis Costello.
Spread the news.
We are real proud!
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My little reaction to a Sasha Frere-Jones article
Posted on Oct 23 2007, 15:06
 've been meaning to write something, anything, as a sort of response to the Sasha Frere-Jones piece in the New Yorker (Oct. 22). Luckily for me, Nico Muhly beat me to it (you have to scroll down a bit to get to it as Nico doesn't seem to sleep).
Read it (and even listen to an accompanying podcast). Admittedly, due to its context - the New Yorker is a serious magazine that expects to be taken seriously - the article irritated me more than it should have. Had this been some dumb blog, I'd have smiled awkwardly and moved on.
The basic premise is that indie rock has lost its connection with rock's black-American foundation. What does this even mean? SFJ seems to think that it means there is not enough bass and kick-snare (with appropriate syncopation) in today's indie scene. He uses bands like Arcade Fire, Wilco, Pavement, and the Decemberists to make his point. Of course, he doesn't mention loads of other bands with indie cred that may be counter to his point (Beck, the White Stripes, and TV on the Radio come immediately to mind). He also doesn't mention that there has always been rock that doesn't, well, rock. And most importantly, who cares?! What is the point of this thesis and why oh why should we simplify what is arguably the greatest American form of expression into black and white? So you don't like sensitive lyrics and elaborate orchestral arrangements - that's fine, but what does that really have to do with race?
All this did get me thinking though. And, like Nico says, that is a good thing. Talking, thinking, and even venting. It seems more important today than ever to speak from your own voice. In this age of blogs and a billion little songs at your fingertip, audiences smell dishonesty. This has made for a million different genres for those billion little songs. To me, that is very exciting.
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A bassist at last
Posted on Oct 22 2007, 13:58
 t long last, we're playing with a bassist. Marc Alan Goodman, a true jack of all trades, has joined us, and, well, it's really nice to have those low down frequencies.
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Only Chimneys mixed and mastered
Posted on Oct 22 2007, 12:47
'm pleased to report that the new record, Only Chimneys, is mixed and mastered. Producer Joel Hamilton did the mixing at Studio G, while Chad Clark at Silver Sonya mastered.
It's tentatively scheduled for a late February release. The first three tracks can be heard on the IJ.com radio -- right here on this page. Let us know what you think.
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Benefit CD for Callum Robbins
Posted on Oct 22 2007, 12:46
J has a track on a recently released benefit compilation, For Callum. It's a wonderful collection of songs. We're proud to be a part of it and grateful to those who organized the project. Please read below for information about Callum.
2 CDs = $15.00 + $2.00 for postage. Available from Catlick Records. All proceeds go to Callum Robbins' care fund.
TRACK LISTING:
1. All the Way Rider - Luxembourg
2. Arcwelder - The Hope (demo)
3. Careers In Modeling - Acorn
4. Chad - English Girl
5. Channels - Cast Away
6. E. Fowlkes Sextet - Rory Corrigan
7. Engine 88 - Get Off
8. Engine Down - Your Suit
9. Eternals - Rawar Style
10. Gordonovich - Au Revoir (Char's Garden)
11. David Grubbs - A Dream to Help Me Sleep
12. Halloween, Alaska - Halloween (remix)
13. The Icy Shores - Backseat
14. Imaginary Johnny - Little Dimes
15. Jawbreaker - I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both (demo)
16. Kingfield - Penny
17. Bryan Knisley - Madeline
18. Joe Lally - Mistaken Identity
19. Life and Times - Catching Crumbs
20. Maritime - Tearing up the Oxygen
21. Medications - Domestic Animals
22. Bill Mike - Secure
23. The Million - Waterfront (demo)
24. Mission of Burma - N.S.U.
25. Travis Morrison - Represent
26. Drew O'Doherty - You'll Believe A Man Can Fly
27. The Oranges Band - Operator
28. Pilot to Gunner - All the Lights
29. Roh Delikat - Ant Overthrow
30. Self-Evident - World As a Verb
31. The Spectaculars - Dopasetic
32. Story of the Sea - West Bank
* * *
Callum is the child of Janet Morgan (Shonben, Channels) and J. Robbins (Jawbox, Burning Airlines, Channels, and engineer for IJ's No Air). Approximately six months prior to his first birthday, Callum was diagnosed with with a genetic motor neuron disease called Type 1 SMA, or Spinal Muscular Atrophy.
Type 1 SMA affects the brain's ability to communicate with the voluntary muscles that are used for crawling, walking, head & neck control, breathing, and swallowing. Most Type 1 babies will die before their second birthday. Infants who do survive into childhood face a life of occupational therapy, wheelchairs, and assistive devices. There is currently no known cure. The fact is that Callum is pressed for time & his parents need help now.
Although conventional medicine is frequently covered by insurance, alternative procedures and therapies are not. As Janet and J. pursue all available courses of treatment for Callum, the need for additional funds has become increasingly urgent.
The Cultural Society, Catlick Records, and Letterbox compiled this collection of songs in order to raise money for Callum's care fund. All proceeds will go directly to Janet and J. to help ensure that they have sufficient resources to continue their search for effective, lasting treatment. Though our energies here are focused on the plight of our friends, it should be noted that a cure for Callum could also mean a cure for the other thousands of babies who suffer from SMA.
* * *
For more information about Callum, please visit Callum's blog, where you'll also find links to further information about SMA.
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"Only Chimneys", 2008
This one marks a fairly severe departure for Imaginary Johnny. Adam, Ismail, and Stuart went into the studio ready to make a record the old fashioned way - hammering it out in the studio. Working with producer Joel Hamilton, the band created a dark and grand collection of songs. Longtime fans will recognize the distinctive imagistic songwriting, and will discover a warmth and cohesiveness. There is a newfound fullness to IJ's sound, with brass, strings and a choir of sorts. Only Chimneys is no less personal than the recordings that preceded it, but it is also epic, taking on larger socio-political themes. |
"No Air", 2007
It was mostly Zach Barocas' idea. The band would venture south to J. Robbins' Baltimore studio to create something resembling a live album. In November 2005, Imaginary Johnny recorded and mixed this stark EP in two days with Zach on drums, Eric Morse on toy store miscellany, Adam Sylvia on guitar, and Stuart Wolferman on vocals and keys. This is the first IJ recording that can convincingly be called rock, and it maintains a journal entry kind of fascination (at least to those of us who were in Baltimore). |
"Painting Over The Dirt", 2006
The first full-length, Painting, is a collection of 10 songs written over a fairly long period of time. Most was written in Seattle, but a few stragglers (most obviously, "Rat Race") were done in Brooklyn. Again, this record was tracked almost entirely in a bedroom with Stuart cobbling together samples, twisting them, re-arranging things layer upon layer. Completion of this record led down a new path though, through an exciting collaboration with producer/engineer Joel Hamilton during the mix. With Joel, the true possibilities of the studio began to reveal themselves. It was the beginning of a step away from the computer, with sounds traveling, finally, through air. |
"The Upside Of The Downside", 2003
In the dark Seattle winter of 2003, before Imaginary Johnny was Imaginary Johhny (when IJ was briefly and nearly irreversibly named Pork Chop in Vegas), five songs were lovingly tracked in a small Ballard neighborhood bedroom. It's a small record with small moments that seem to sort of add up to something, hopefully. |
Work Related Video
Toronto-based animator Jeff Ullman and his amazingly dedicated crew (animator Mai Kusuyama and designer Bart Kosmowski) took the first track of IJ's Painting Over the Dirt and ran with it. We are very excited about IJ's first music video. Post Nasal Drift
The first project with filmmaker Britta Johnson, Post Nasal Drift, is a cautionary tale in three parts. Britta is a true unique talent. Working with her (and watching the films) is like dunking yourself into another world. But Soft
This is a gentle and sublime short short. Something about it gets under your skin. As you can tell - just by the still - it's by Britta Johnson.
Soupy Sidewalk First Time To New Orleans Summer Day Dream Oakland Aiport Runway I Forgot My Wallet Credits:
All songs by Stuart Wolferman. All performances by Stuart Wolferman. Published by Unfinished Side Productions. Produced by Zoe Knight and Stuart Wolferman. Mixed by Steve Ditore at Jack Straw Productions, Seattle. Mastered by Barry Corliss at Master Works, Seattle. Album art by Dawn Carlson.
Work Related Sad Girl Punch Drunk Anytime Minutes Rat Race First Time To New Orleans She's Dug Missouri Sky Little Dimes Spatula Credits:
All songs and arrangements by Stuart Wolferman. Produced by Stuart Wolferman, Zoe Knight and Joel Hamilton. All vocals (except track 6) and drum kit on track 6 recorded at Studio G, Brooklyn. Co-produced, engineered, and mixed at Studio G by Joel Hamilton. Mastered by Doug Henderson at Micro-Moose, Brooklyn. Drum kit on track 6 and cymbal on track 9 played by Zach Barocas. "Ah Yes, Katydids" by Steve Knight. All other performances by Stuart Wolferman. Art by Britta Johnson. Graphic Design by Eric Morse at Trampoline Creative.
Oakland Airport Runway Little Dimes Soupy Sidewalk Work Related Punch Drunk Missouri Sky Credits:
Zach Barocas, drum kit
Eric Morse, organ/melodica
Adam Sylvia, guitar
Stuart Wolferman, keys/vocals
Tracks 1-6 written by Stuart Wolferman. Track 7 written by Leonard Cohen. Produced by Stuart Wolferman and J. Robbins. Recorded and mixed by J. Robbins at the Magpie Cage, Baltimore. Mastered by Alan Douches at West West Side Music, New Windsor, NY. Art by Zach Barocas. Published by Unfinished Side Productions.
Fleas It'll Burn Everyone Has A Texas Song Civilizations Midwest Scorpions Falling Into Itself Duct Tape Your Slice Tiny Moving Parts Between The Days Credits:
Ismail Lawal, drum kit
Adam Sylvia, guitar/bass
Stuart Wolferman, keys/vocals
Guest performances by:
Janice Cruz, vocals (10)
John Davis, double bass (3, 4, 5, 6)
Maura DiBerardinis, violin (3, 6, 7)
Joel Hamilton, noises/miscellany (1-10)
Alex Johnston, banjo (4, 5)
Danielle Kuhlmann, French horn (2, 6, 10)
Scott Teske, double bass (3, 6, 7, 8)
"Choir" on track 5: Minna Choi, Marc Alan Goodman, Megan Reilly, Adam Sylvia.
Produced by Joel Hamilton. All songs by Stuart Wolferman. String arrangements by Minna Choi. Tracked in Brooklyn at The Bunker and Studio G. Mixed at Studio G by Joel Hamilton. Assistant Engineer: Marc Alan Goodman. Mastered by Chad Clark at Silver Sonya in Arlington, VA. Published by Unfinished Side Productions.
Soupy Sidewalk
Soupy sidewalk in the city tonight
Chicken men heat me on both sides
Barefoot children in school uniforms
My back won't let go of my shirt
Soupy sidewalk in the city tonight
Scabby dogs growl but it's too hot to bite
Purple dressed woman looks for someone to buy her
This town will just swallow you whole
Dirty town instant coffee in a small café
Tropical rain works the grime away
I'll head north at dark on an overnight train
Thousands of miles and I'm finally sane
Six months of chipping away
Skinny girl by the window her chin in her hands
Rice in the aisle pawned by a toothless man
The ceiling fans just don?t want to satisfy
Gonna be a long mostly sleepless night
Dirty town instant coffee in a small café
Tropical rain works the grime away
I'll head north at dark on an overnight train
Thousands of miles and I'm finally sane
Six months of chipping away
Soupy sidewalk in the city tonight
Six months of chipping away First Time To New Orleans
Sprawled on the couch, screen door clacking
Cool breeze flaps magazines on the way to my face
A southern town with the graves above ground
I could wander around like this until I explode
This city is waking me up
This city is waking me up tonight
This city is waking me up tonight
And the town woke up before we could get away
I laugh until my side aches. Listen to that saxophone play
And yet I wonder
Are we running late?
It's my third sunrise in four days
It's nice to be alive in this fairground kind of haze
I've got a barstool splinter in my left hand
But I can't feel it through the drummer in this band
This city is waking me up
This city is waking me up tonight
This city is waking me up tonight
And the town woke up before we could get away
I laugh until my side aches. Listen to that saxophone play
Are we running late?
We're not running late
We're just running
This city is waking me up
This city is waking me up tonight
This city is waking me up tonight Summer Day Dream
The last two mornings my eyes opened
to a sea plane overhead
The last two morning my eyes opened
wishing you were in my bed
I head on down to the ship canal.
I grip my coffee tight
I head on down to the ship canal
You're a summer day dream of mine
You're a dream of mine
You're a dream of mine
Summertime daydream all the time
You're a dream of mine
Head on down to the ship canal,
and I watch the boats on by
Lying by the dinosaurs.
Coffee between my thighs
The last two mornings my eyes opened
to a sea plane overhead
The last two mornings my eyes opened
wishing you were in my bed
Lying in the afternoon
Nuzzled in the sack
Light between the window shade
My chest up against your - my chest up against your - back
You're a dream of mine Oakland Aiport Runway
From the Oakland Airport runway
he could see the Bay Bridge
Greasy faced and smelly,
California seemed fresh
Drunk and droopy all night with four hometown friends
Joking in the Vegas lights with the slot machine women
There's something about California
that even from the airport
Something about California -
he knew he'd never go back home
Tell the truth and shame the devil
From the Oakland Airport runway
ears popping cleared his head
Organized and used up,
too tired to be depressed
Thirsty for some fruit juice and anxious for his next flight
Back to the city he still doesn't call his home
There's something about California
that even from the airport
Something about California -
he knew he'd never go back home
Tell the truth and shame the devil
My runway was wet and light reflected off it
Clean in the morning as the plane touched down
I was feeling sick sitting with Las Vegas frowners
But the Oakland Airport runway got my feet back on the ground
Tell the truth and shame the devil
Tell the truth and shame the devil
Tell the truth and shame the devil
There's something about California
that even from the airport
Something about California -
he knew he'd never go back home I Forgot My Wallet
It was raining again this morning
I forgot my wallet. Things weren't going my way
I think it's perfect the way things happened
We made each other feel the same
The twilight came fast. I was sitting at my desk
And when I looked up it was there
Pinks and blues out - horizon's colors
And when I look down you'll be there
A lot of pressure on you I'm afraid
I am embarrassed for the way I have behaved
I don't ever want to need anyone that much again
Whatever happened. Whatever matters
Whatever happens. You'll be with me
I've got a garden now, and its winter
Whatever you feel. I feel free
I want a little motorbike to take me across the city
I want new shoes that feel good on my feet
I've walked for miles thinking bad thought
I'll get farther thinking better thoughts
I don't ever want to need anyone that much again
It was raining again this morning
I forgot my wallet. Things weren't going my way
Work Related
I can't complain. I ran away
After my big mistake, I can't complain
It was work-related. I killed a man
I knew his sister
Now I make calls to the USA
I order parts eight hours a day
For German cars made in here Mexico
"A NAFTA triumph", that's what I'm told
I'm Invisible
And if I'm fast enough
If I'm quick enough
I'm invisible ? even to myself
I tried California right afterwards
But the West Coast wouldn't take
My mind was stuck deep in Ontario
On the frozen edge of the lake
So further down. You couldn't get to me
I'd pay my price. Death to memory
I wish I could get it back. I wish I could get it back
I'm Invisible
And if I'm fast enough
And if I'm quick enough
And if I'm fast enough
I'm Invisible even to myself Sad Girl
Hey there sad girl
Sitting in your long gray dress
That you made yourself
The're still safety pins in the hem
Hey there sad girl
You've got a big cowlick
'cause that small town barber
Cut it too damn short
Hey sad girl, I wish I could be there to pick you up
Hey sad girl I'd pick you up
Hey there sad girl
Pacing in your cowboy PJ's
You can't believe
This Midwest weather
Hey sad girl, you'd better stop looking out the bedroom window
Hey sad girl, I wish I could be there to pick you up
Hey sad girl I'd pick you up
Hey there sad girl
You bought a new blue shirt
You haven't worn it yet
Why not tonight
Hey there sad girl
Your fall is quickly ending
Thanksgiving's next Thursday
I can't wait to hold you tight
Hey sad girl, I wish I could be there to pick you up
Hey sad girl I'd pick you up Punch Drunk
It's a delicate balance, and I'm seesawing
Ashamed when I question throwing my hat into the ring
Making love in the corners of this town
But, I'm stuck jabbing in the final seconds of this round
You just shut my car door,
and I'm high on your fumes
Lately the most drunk I've felt
Has been when I'm smelling you
It's dark ... Fly them
It's dark ... The bar lights flickering
It's dark ... My inside's sizzling
Fly them ... Fly Them
It's a delicate balance, and I'm seesawing
Making love, but I'm stuck jabbing
You just shut my car door,
and I'm high on your fumes
Lately the most drunk I've felt
Has been when I'm smelling you
It's dark ... Fly them
It's dark ... The bar lights flickering
It's dark ... My inside's sizzling
Fly them ... Fly them Anytime Minutes
So many options, I never do a thing
To busy wrapping my head around
Your perverse telephone ring
She's waxed paper to her lonely designer friends
So addicted to her messages
What's your plan?
So many options, I'm stopped in my tracks
In retrospect I might have sniffed out your trap
My attention span is being sucked out into the night
Bounced into emptiness by an out of date satellite
What's your plan?
Let's change plans
So many options that I never do a thing Rat Race
A winter in the rat race, now I don't get sick anymore
A winter in the rat race, another day on the 16th floor
My head swims to the clanks and the grinds
Stare ahead through the subway grime
I'm owned from nine until five
A winter in the rat race
And you're just up the block
In your cube, staring at your clock
We're winners in the rat race
Meet me at our spot
Hand gestures in the window remind me that we're human
Like children in a wagon -
They just want to be pulled in
So pull me out
To pull me in
Make me human again
A winter in the ratrace
I don't see my breath anymore
Hand gestures in the window remind me that we're human
Like children in a wagon -
They just want to be pulled in
A winter in the ratrace
And you're just up the block
In your cube staring at the clock
We're winners in the rat race
Meet me at our spot
And pull me out
To pull me in
Make me human again
Pull me in First Time To New Orleans
Sprawled on the couch, screen door clacking
Cool breeze flaps magazines on the way to my face
A southern town with the graves above ground
I could wander around like this until I explode
This city is waking me up
This city is waking me up tonight
This city is waking me up tonight
And the town woke up before we could get away
I laugh until my side aches. Listen to that saxophone play
And yet I wonder
Are we running late?
It's my third sunrise in four days
It's nice to be alive in this fairground kind of haze
I've got a barstool splinter in my left hand
But I can't feel it through the drummer in this band
This city is waking me up
This city is waking me up tonight
This city is waking me up tonight
And the town woke up before we could get away
I laugh until my side aches. Listen to that saxophone play
Are we running late?
We're not running late
We're just running
This city is waking me up
This city is waking me up tonight
This city is waking me up tonight She's Dug
She's dug a nice hole for herself
Occasionally to stay intact
She'll go out walking, just to get back
She's lonely. She misses home
She's got a brother on the other coast
But it's too late
She's made up her mind
She can't miss anybody and she can't fall behind
It's too late
She can't get sad
If her gut starts aching she just buries her head
She's dug a nice hole for herself
She used to bounce with a smile
She used to talk a mile a minute
But it's too late
She's made up her mind
She can't miss anybody and she can't fall behind
She's dug a nice hole for herself
It's too late
She can't get sad
If her gut starts aching she just buries her head
She's dug a nice hole for herself
What ever happened to chasing him in the park
What happened to you dangling on his arm
Cliffs and acrobats and silly cryptic hugging
Dripping sardine juice in the car
She's dug a nice hole for herself Missouri Sky
Yeah, those lights look fine
Big houses line the state line
Old brick at 18th and vine
I talk about home with you on the phone
There's not a good reason why
Train whistles blow in the dark
I saw a thousand crows in that park
And I just can't think of one good reason why
There's not a good reason why
I miss the Missouri sky
Hot summer mornings and tornado warnings
There's not a good reason why
And yeah, those lights look fine
Driving in on highway 99
And I've got a good job and I like looking out
my window at the mountainside
And yeah, you can catch lightening bugs barefoot at night
But the horizon is low on all sides
And it's a couple days drive to the ocean's tides
I miss it for no reason why
Yeah, those lights look fine
There's not a good reason why
I miss the Missouri sky
Hot summer mornings and tornado warnings
There's not a good reason why
Yeah, those lights look fine Little Dimes
It's the little dimes
That are pinning you down
One at a time
The nickels and dimes
It started with a shape
Simple and exact
And you followed the shape
But you've lost the path
She's a poker whiz
Even when we're just messing around
Poker mouth
No smile and no frown
It's like the sound of shoes falling off my bed
It's the little dimes
That are yanking at your ankles
One casino at a time
The nickels and dimes
It started with a shape
on a canvas mostly clean
now the canvas is a blur
the meaning is obscured
She has hard eyes
But there's something soft inside
Like a jellybean
It's amazing what she can hide
It's like the sound of shoes falling off my bed
It's the little dimes
That keep plopping you down
On the couch
Too tired to mind
She reads like James Joyce
Every smile's about a paragraph long
It's like I don't have a choice
But to figure out what's going on
But when our lips meet
I know what she means
When she leans to me
She's so easy to read
It's like the sound of shoes falling off my bed Spatula
When you were six you took a spatula to the eye
You tasted blood as I explained to mother why
Now time has passed and you're still sitting in the kitchen
Same wicker chair now creaks beneath your weight
When they had parties we stand upstairs and listen
Smell the smoke and wonder about being old
Now time has danced but you haven't stopped your wondering
This hometown limbo seems to have you stuck in hold
You try to smile but something isn't working
Lights in the driveway there is somewhere to go
Brother brother you're right on time
Smile brother you're right on time
We'd climb to forts high up in the treetops
And down window wells punishing our knees
Sneakers squeak as you shuffle through the hallway
This house numbs your brain and makes you want to sleep
You try to smile but something isn't working
Lights in the driveway there is somewhere to go
Stop your sweating
Pack the car and just start driving fast
Remember all those evenings
The memories they'll come running back
When you were six you took a spatula to the eye
I held your hand as you yelled up to the sky
Brother brother you're right on time
Smile brother you're right on time
Oakland Airport Runway
From the Oakland Airport runway
he could see the Bay Bridge
Greasy faced and smelly,
California seemed fresh
Drunk and droopy all night with four hometown friends
Joking in the Vegas lights with the slot machine women
There's something about California
that even from the airport
Something about California -
he knew he'd never go back home
Tell the truth and shame the devil
From the Oakland Airport runway
ears popping cleared his head
Organized and used up,
too tired to be depressed
Thirsty for some fruit juice and anxious for his next flight
Back to the city he still doesn't call his home
There's something about California
that even from the airport
Something about California -
he knew he'd never go back home
Tell the truth and shame the devil
My runway was wet and light reflected off it
Clean in the morning as the plane touched down
I was feeling sick sitting with Las Vegas frowners
But the Oakland Airport runway got my feet back on the ground
Tell the truth and shame the devil
Tell the truth and shame the devil
Tell the truth and shame the devil
There's something about California
that even from the airport
Something about California -
he knew he'd never go back home Little Dimes
It's the little dimes
That are pinning you down
One at a time
The nickels and dimes
It started with a shape
Simple and exact
And you followed the shape
But you've lost the path
She's a poker whiz
Even when we're just messing around
Poker mouth
No smile and no frown
It's like the sound of shoes falling off my bed
It's the little dimes
That are yanking at your ankles
One casino at a time
The nickels and dimes
It started with a shape
on a canvas mostly clean
now the canvas is a blur
the meaning is obscured
She has hard eyes
But there's something soft inside
Like a jellybean
It's amazing what she can hide
It's like the sound of shoes falling off my bed
It's the little dimes
That keep plopping you down
On the couch
Too tired to mind
She reads like James Joyce
Every smile's about a paragraph long
It's like I don't have a choice
But to figure out what's going on
But when our lips meet
I know what she means
When she leans to me
She's so easy to read
It's like the sound of shoes falling off my bed Soupy Sidewalk
Soupy sidewalk in the city tonight
Chicken men heat me on both sides
Barefoot children in school uniforms
My back won't let go of my shirt
Soupy sidewalk in the city tonight
Scabby dogs growl but it?s too hot to bite
Purple dressed woman looks for someone to buy her
This town will just swallow you whole
Dirty town instant coffee in a small café
Tropical rain works the grime away
I'll head north at dark on an overnight train
Thousands of miles and I'm finally sane
Six months of chipping away
Skinny girl by the window her chin in her hands
Rice in the aisle pawned by a toothless man
The ceiling fans just don't want to satisfy
Gonna be a long mostly sleepless night
Dirty town instant coffee in a small café
Tropical rain works the grime away
I'll head north at dark on an overnight train
Thousands of miles and I'm finally sane
Six months of chipping away
Soupy sidewalk in the city tonight
Six months of chipping away Work Related
I can't complain. I ran away
After my big mistake, I can't complain
It was work-related. I killed a man
I knew his sister
Now I make calls to the USA
I order parts eight hours a day
For German cars made in here Mexico
"A NAFTA triumph", that's what I'm told
I'm Invisible
And if I'm fast enough
If I'm quick enough
I'm invisible ? even to myself
I tried California right afterwards
But the West Coast wouldn't take
My mind was stuck deep in Ontario
On the frozen edge of the lake
So further down. You couldn't get to me
I'd pay my price. Death to memory
I wish I could get it back. I wish I could get it back
I'm Invisible
And if I'm fast enough
And if I'm quick enough
And if I'm fast enough
I'm Invisible even to myself Punch Drunk
It's a delicate balance, and I'm seesawing
Ashamed when I question throwing my hat into the ring
Making love in the corners of this town
But, I'm stuck jabbing in the final seconds of this round
You just shut my car door,
and I'm high on your fumes
Lately the most drunk I've felt
Has been when I'm smelling you
It's dark ... Fly them
It's dark ... The bar lights flickering
It's dark ... My inside's sizzling
Fly them ... Fly Them
It's a delicate balance, and I'm seesawing
Making love, but I'm stuck jabbing
You just shut my car door,
and I'm high on your fumes
Lately the most drunk I've felt
Has been when I'm smelling you
It's dark ... Fly them
It's dark ... The bar lights flickering
It's dark ... My inside's sizzling
Fly them ... Fly them Missouri Sky
Yeah, those lights look fine
Big houses line the state line
Old brick at 18th and vine
I talk about home with you on the phone
There's not a good reason why
Train whistles blow in the dark
I saw a thousand crows in that park
And I just can't think of one good reason why
There's not a good reason why
I miss the Missouri sky
Hot summer mornings and tornado warnings
There's not a good reason why
And yeah, those lights look fine
Driving in on highway 99
And I've got a good job and I like looking out
my window at the mountainside
And yeah, you can catch lightening bugs barefoot at night
But the horizon is low on all sides
And it's a couple days drive to the ocean's tides
I miss it for no reason why
Yeah, those lights look fine
There's not a good reason why
I miss the Missouri sky
Hot summer mornings and tornado warnings
There's not a good reason why
Yeah, those lights look fine
Like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
I have tried in my way to be free.
Like a worm on a hook,
Like a knight from some old fashioned book
I have saved all my ribbons for thee.
If I, if I have been unkind,
I hope that you can just let it go by.
If i, if I have been untrue
I hope you know it was never to you.
Like a baby, stillborn,
Like a beast with his horn
I have torn everyone who reached out for me.
But I swear by this song
And by all that I have done wrong
I will make it all up to thee.
I saw a beggar leaning on his wooden crutch,
He said to me, you must not ask for so much.
And a pretty woman leaning in her darkened door,
She cried to me, hey, why not ask for more?
Oh like a bird on the wire,
Like a drunk in a midnight choir
have tried in my way to be free.
Fleas
Don't take my patience. My reserves are exhausted
Don't take my patience for granted
From the vacant lot to the corner office
Spreading lies. Spreading disease
Don't blame the fleas
Yeah, I'll pick a side. Sure it's your side
But that doesn't mean I want to burn this city down
They burrow deep
They sleep in shifts
Play the cards close to their chests
Scurry to their nests
From the high dive to the gutter grate
Spreading fear. Spreading disease
Don't blame the fleas
Don't take my patience. My reserves are exhausted
Don't take my patience. Don't take my patience
Don't take my patience. My reserves are exhausted
My reserves are exhausted. Don't take my patience It'll Burn
Everything that I write down
I do so it'll stick around
Everything that I write down is on paper
The smell of wet November soil
The point at which the water boils
The ladder of our arrogance
And comfort in our documents
Charts and graphs and unknown facts
Lessons of our ancient past
Get it down get it down
Everything that I put down is on paper
It'll burn. It'll burn
Everything that I write down
I do so it'll stick around
Everything that I write down is on paper
A flicker from a boat at sea
The butterflies, the mysteries
Bottle it up. Tie it down
Libraries in every town
It'll burn. It'll burn
Everything that I write down
Yes, it'll gloriously burn
A short burst and we float up towards the sun
Yes, it'll gloriously burn Everyone Has A Texas Song
A gulf coast tavern haze
Thought I'd drive all night to New Orleans
I couldn't get out of Texas
Swerving tracker trailer
Laid out on the shoulder
The bright lights and the voices
I couldn't get out of Texas
In my head there's singing
A choir of doctor voices
And in my legs there's stinging
I'm not sure what my choice is
I wonder what was my hurry
Why was I so certain?
I had to get out of Texas
I was born in Illinois
I'm not allergic to penicillin
My middle name is Christian
I never knew my sibling
What's with all these questions?
Stop with all these questions
My memories stop in Texas
I'm worried that I hurt someone
Or did somebody hurt me?
They asked about a girlfriend
I'm scared of remembering
When will they put me under?
Am I already under?
My memories stop in Texas
When will they put me under?
Everyone has a Texas Song Civilizations
There are civilizations buried in this sand
There are civilizations buried in the sand
Don't talk about time
Polished bone and ancient caravans
There are layers underneath me
There are layers underneath you
Don't talk about time
Forget the past and the future for tonight
We erode. We erode. We erode to our core
The earth is worn down by the riverbed
The earth is worn down by the riverbed
Don't talk about time
Watering holes, to trails, to roads
But tonight it's just a long reflection
A long reflection, for tonight
Don't talk about time
We erode. We erode. We erode to our core
But tonight it's just a long reflection
A long reflection, for tonight
Don't talk about time Midwest Scorpions
All lined up in the dirt
All our hands in the dirt
Away
All our senses intact
All our electrons shooting
Around and around
We had a notion
There was life underground
All our fingers scratching
All our eyes out for movement
Below
All in rhyme and unison
All our time began ticking
Away
We had a notion
There was life underground
It's hard to tell, but I promise
this ground was all underwater once
Now the water's all underground
Where do the roads lead in this town
It's hard to tell, but I promise
this ground was all underwater once
Now the water's all underground
Where do the roads lead in this town
You'd think all the scorpions would have drowned Falling Into Itself
We'll start in a shared yellow taxi cab
As simple as the love of a child
It came like a second wind
Into my New York Marathon
We'll start with a shared yellow taxi cab
We'll start from here
It came like a second wind
Like a childhood friend
And I don't believe in believing in luck
We start from here
We drove through the eroding city streets
This town is falling into itself
I brushed my hand against your scarf
And heard the whistle in the window
And from the 59th Street Bridge
You can see your reflection's reflection
This is better than luck
Better than luck
And I don't believe in believing in luck
We start from here
Falling into itself
Falling
Falling
Falling
Falling
Falling into itself Duct Tape
Duct tape won't do it this time
No matter how you cut it
Is your mother taking it hard?
Is your mother taking it bad?
Like rubbing two sticks together
or genetic modification
It's trouble in the wrong hands
Trouble in the wrong hands
Just believing's not gonna do it this time
I wonder why we fill our time
with checkered flags and finish lines
Your words not mine
What do you mean by what you believe
I can't wade through it
Absolutes are land mines
Trouble in wrong hands
Just believing's not gonna do it this time
I'll take gravity
I'll take gravity
And the dominos will fall
Just believing's not gonna do it this time Your Slice
Your slice of power
means nothing to the ocean
Just another piece of driftwood
on the shore
Light it on fire
Your place in history
is not a mystery
Just a moldy shower curtain
on the floor
Light it on fire
The sound of water boiling
The sound of water boiling
The sound of water boiling over Tiny Moving Parts
Rubber gloves and cotton balls
Dusting for prints in the dormitory halls
My father wore a badge and his wore one too
But they never had 30 kids to sort through
Tiny moving parts
Maybe it's my age and maybe it ain't
But lately when I walk the ground seems to shake
And when the cracks in the ground are bigger than my thumb
I know that's when my enemies'll come
Tiny moving parts
Outside the window the media howls
But here camera click and footstep the only sound
I've seen bad people and I've even been to war
But after each step down it seems there's always one more
And she used to sing
Truth like cream, finds its way
To the top of things. To the top of things
I don't know but maybe it's true
That everything you need is in front of you
There can't always be an answer
There can't always be a plan
I'm sure I prayed more as a younger man
Tiny moving parts
A nation is made of tiny moving parts
And if too many break you won't get far
My father wore a badge and his wore one too
But they never had 33 kids to sort through
Truth like cream Between The Days
Moon half lit
Alarm clock tick
Gotta get to work early
Gotta worry
Gotta worry
Have to worry
But with the moon half lit
I think I fit
In the crack between the days
When you can dream
When you can dream again
And it doesn't seem
So crazy
The Team
Collaborators
Things We Love
| “The music is a blend of Tom Petty pop hooks and Wilco spirit …" |
| "Brooklyn's own Imaginary Johnny will release their third full-length, 'Only Chimneys,' this April. Impeccably produced by Joel Hamilton (Lou Reed, Justin Timberlake, RJD2), this album just could be what this band needs to finally get their fifteen minutes. Originating in Kansas City, it comes as no surprise that their sound elicits memories of The Get Up Kids and other Midwest emo bands of the early part of this decade. Carried by tinkering-piano melodies and a drum kit, their dreamy sound is spandex-tight, but not to a fault. Front man Stuart Wolferman's voice, like a lake upstate on a warm July afternoon (think Clean and Clear, not East River), draws comparisons to Granddaddy's Jason Lytle with perhaps a bit more of an edge." |
| "...Its lush, intricate underlining is music spun from a swirl of routine city noises. Over it are melodies so beautiful they can make you cry. Each musical phrase is a peace pact, an exhale, a cool wet towel over pulsing pain. Stuart Wolferman (music, lyrics, vocals) was born with a luminous voice to match, a voice that you can, no kidding, see in the dark." |
"...In his second full-length release, Johnny very humbly presents a pointed collection of songs, skillfully arranged, and poetically penned. And while being laid-back, quiet, and humble, it's far from boring, instrumentally. Multiple layers of experimental electronics, drums old and new, guitars, and conspicuous pianos guide us through the words, setting the mood, and keep me listening. [...]
The lyrics on this album are powerful and very human, like thoughts revived after being pushed to the side in favor of the daily grind. One of my favorites is from "First Time to New Orleans," a little slice of Americana flavor, sort of like Springsteen if he weren't such a jock. [...] The album as a whole feels like a memory, anecdotal and touching, and never really loses steam on the way to the end.
[...] I'll assume Imaginary Johnny will be writing and producing music for a long time to come." |
| "Imaginary Johnny's new album is really cool. We have six tracks in rotation here at 3WK Undergroundradio. The vocals are incredible!" |
| "In Work Related, IJ showcases his venerable story-telling talents with the heartbreaking tale of a man forced into exile after one incident. Work Related brings a nouveau element to the outlaw's tale, as this post-NAFTA drama unfolds on top of a lo-fi backbeat [...]. Imaginary Johnny crosses genre borders with no passport seamlessly incorporating electronics, acoustics and his crystal-clear voice. Give the man a beat and a keyboard, and he'll spin a yarn the likes of which you've never heard." |
| "If the debut from Imaginary Johnny is any indication of what's to come, Belle and Sebastian best be watching its back. Muffled broadcasts and tweaked-out squiggles peg lyrics about instant coffee, tropical rain storms and purple-clad prostitutes. Wolferman's summery ballads flutter past like sweet visions of rose colored icing on a three-tier wedding cake [...] the commentary on love, loss, and New Orleans never grows tiresome." |
| "While there are other singer-songwriters who enhance their storytelling with electronics, Imaginary Johnny envelopes acoustics, burbles and ideal pop vocals into a gentle, less-handled whole. [...] Imaginary Johnny is either arriving at a new place or painting a picture of where he's been, sometimes fitful and other times content. The Upside of the Downside, with its warm fills and club-affectionate beats, is a songwriter with equal regard for electronics and illumination." |
| "Whether through words or sounds, it never feels artificial and never overriding. This, in a sense, is indie-pop's equivalent to Willie Nelson's Red Headed Stranger. It really is that good [...] Imaginary Johnny is on track, if this is any indication of what one should expect in a full-length, of becoming the new, significant voice in independent music." |
| "Imaginary Johnny and 'The Upside of the Downside' were a perfect fit for 3WK Undergroundradio. Honest indie pop with incredible charm. We added a number of songs from the EP and played the hell out of them. Can't wait to hear more!" |
| "IJ's voice delivers tales of travels in New Orleans, Las Vegas, and the Bay Area, presented against an interestingly layered backdrop of music electronica." |
| [ Dave Beck, Host of The Beat, 94.9 KUOW (Seattle) ] |
| "For those who are new to Imaginary Johnny, here's what to expect: take the best that Beck and Grandaddy have to offer, then imbue them with an honesty that would make them all uncomfortable. 'Magnet' magazine warns Belle & Sebastian to fear for their position as this generation's favored raconteurs. The infectious combination of electronic & acoustic, organic & synthetic may soon reach epidemic proportions." |
May 29 2008 9:00 pm | The Delancey | New York, NY Tour kick-off!
 oin us for an old fashioned send-off before we hit the road for a couple of weeks.
More info >> |
May 30 2008 8:00 pm | College Perk | College Park, MD Jun 1 2008 9:00 pm | The Camel | Richmond, VA Jun 2 2008 8:00 pm | The Cave | Chapel Hill, NC Jun 3 2008 9:00 pm | Caledonia Lounge | Athens, GA Expectations
e just have such a good feeling about Athens.
More info >> |
Jun 5 2008 9:00 pm | The Bluebird | St. Louis, MO Show-me
 his'll be the first of several shows with the KC band Roman Numerals. They'll also be with us in Omaha, St. Paul, Madison, and Chicago.
More info >> |
Jun 6 2008 9:00 pm | Record Bar | Kansas City, MO Kansas City
he tour's half-way marker (sort of) is a homecoming for Stuart. We're really looking forward to this one.
More info >> |
Jun 8 2008 9:00 pm | Turf Club | St. Paul, MN Twin Cities
e'll be in the Twin Cities with KC band Roman Numerals and someone, we're not sure who, else.
More info >> |
Jun 9 2008 8:00 pm | Mr. Roberts | Madison, WI Jun 13 2008 9:00 pm | Dubland Underground | Rochester, NY Past events.Early Set in NYC
Mar 28 2008, 7:00 pm | The Annex | New York, NY Heading to SxSW!
Mar 12 2008, 2:00 pm | Threadgill's South | Austin, TX Mini Tour (Boston)
Mar 02 2008, 0:00 pm | The Abbey Lounge | Boston, MA Mini Tour (Connecticut)
Mar 01 2008, 8:00 pm | B & G Lounge | South Windsor, CT Mini Tour (Rhode Island)
Feb 29 2008, 0:00 pm | The Blackstone | Pawtucket, RI CD [Pre]Release Party!
Feb 28 2008, 9:00 pm | Pete's Candy Store | Brooklyn, NY Just you and us.
Feb 09 2008, 8:00 pm | Alphabet Lounge | New York, NY Back at Arlene's
Jan 30 2008, 8:00 pm | Arlene's Grocery | New York, NY Kick off your New Year's eve with us.
Dec 31 2007, 8:00 pm | Arlene's Grocery | New York, NY Goodbye Blue Monday
Dec 18 2007, 11:45 pm | Goodbye Blue Monday | Brooklyn, NY A November show.
Nov 18 2007, 10:00 pm | Club Midway | New York, NY Pianos Cross-Pollination Series
Aug 08 2006, 10:00 pm | Pianos | New York, NY Back at Sin-e
Jul 27 2006, 9:00 pm | Sin-e | New York, NY Sin-e
May 19 2006, 9:00 pm | Sin-e | New York, NY Fat Baby
Apr 26 2006, 8:00 pm | Fat Baby | New York, NY Playing 169 Bar
Oct 21 2005, 9:00 pm | 169 Bar | New York, NY Show at Sin-e
Aug 19 2005, 8:00 pm | Sin-e | New York, NY North Six
Jul 08 2005, 9:00 pm | North Six | Brooklyn, NY Pianos with a brand new drummer
May 20 2005, 8:30 pm | Pianos | New York, NY Mercury Lounge
Dec 19 2004, 9:00 pm | Mercury Lounge | New York, NY Show at Crash Mansion
Nov 20 2004, 9:30 pm | Crash Mansion | New York, NY Show at Pianos
Oct 30 2004, 9:00 pm | Pianos | New York, NY
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May 29 2008: New York, NY
May 30 2008: College Park, MD
Jun 1 2008: Richmond, VA
Jun 2 2008: Chapel Hill, NC
[ See all events ]
|
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