Johnny Law and the Pistol Packin' Daddies: Tearin' it up down under
"Australia has an incredibly dedicated Rockabilly, roots and traditional Country audience," Johnny emailed me. "The distances between cities can make touring expensive and complicated, particularly for an independent artist based in Perth, but the people who support this music are extremely loyal."
Johnny Law and the Pistol Packin' Daddies have a reputation for kicking up sparks -- they're in-the-marrow devotees to just-plain-folks sounds spectacular.
He-and-she duos are compelled to whirl across hardwood beneath colored lights. Solid songs throw one up, down, and all around; the material is part and parcel of the roots scene -- and adherants sporting cat clothes wouldn't dig it any other way.
Shortly prior to the drafting of this piece, Johnny and the Pistol Packin' Daddies released Guilty On All Counts (Apache Productions Australia). It's their fourth full-length in an impressive order.
"The tracks were recorded in Perth by Mark Turner and mastered by Alex Hall at Hi-Style Records in Chicago, Illinois," Johnny related of the new record. "The same studio where The Bellfuries recorded their Workingman’s Bellfuries album."
While the eight cuts on Guilty On All Charges all merit attention, of especial note are “Lovin’ You,” “Biggest Mistake,” “Relationshit,” “Samantha” and “You’re The Reason Why.” (The singer noted that copies can be ordered through Elastic Stage. See link below.)
Johnny is based in Perth, Western Australia. "My music draws heavily from 1950s Rock ’n’ Roll, Rockabilly, traditional Country and Americana, with influences including Johnny Cash, Buddy Holly, Elvis Presley and Dwight Yoakam."
He articulated a rich history, one filled with triumphs.
"I formed Johnny Law & The Pistol Packin’ Daddies in 2001. Since then, we’ve released several albums, toured Europe and the United States, and played festivals and venues around Australia.
"More recently, we’ve headlined the Crank It Up Festival in Batemans Bay, NSW and the Rock ’n’ Roll Jamboree in Sydney, as well as performing four shows at Cooly Rocks On in Queensland."
Last May, Johnny and the Pistol Packin' Daddies reinvented Tammy Wynette's 1978 "Standing Tall." I commented that their take (not included on Guilty) has all the marks of genuineness, from warm, rich vocals to snapped-tight musicianship of comfortable character.
"Thank you -- I’m really pleased that the recording came across that way. It actually began as a student project through the School of Audio Engineering in Perth. The students were asked to find bands that could take 'Standing Tall' and reinterpret it in their own style, and one of the students approached me about being involved.
"Rather than trying to reproduce Tammy Wynette’s recording, I reworked the song in the style of Johnny Law & The Pistol Packin’ Daddies. The arrangement and overall approach were what I came up with for the project, and the recording was completed as part of the student’s audio-engineering work."
I asked after reactions it has received.
"The track has never been officially released," he explained. "So there hasn’t been a wider public reaction to it as a digital release. We’ve also never performed it live at one of our shows, which is why there isn’t any live footage or an official video. At this stage, no video is planned, although the interest in the recording has made me think it may deserve a proper release at some point."
The Pistol Packin’ Daddies remain Johnny's main band. But only one outfit just isn't sufficient for creative exercise. "I also perform in different formats depending on the show, including the Johnny Law Trio and Johnny Law & The Wandering Stars when I’m working with musicians on Australia’s east coast. Whatever the lineup, the aim is always the same: honest, energetic music with strong roots in Country and early Rock ’n’ Roll."
In recent days, the busy singer debuted yet another endeavor: Antsville. Johnny advised it is "a gritty trio (sometimes a 4-piece), delivering Rock’n’Roll, Country, and trucker songs built for the open road, late nights, and loud crowds.
"Between Antsville, the Pistol Packin’ Daddies and the different interstate lineups, there is plenty happening," he added.
"On the live front, I’ll be taking the east-coast version of the band, Johnny Law & The Wandering Stars, to Camden Sports Club in Sydney on Friday 9 October and Thornbury Bowling Club in Melbourne on Sunday 11 October."
Fans both seasoned and newly arrived can content themselves that future days will indeed shine.
"After more than 25 years with the Pistol Packin’ Daddies, I’m still excited about recording, travelling and putting new shows together," Johnny rightly boasts.
"I’ve never been interested in chasing whatever happens to be fashionable. I want to make music that feels real, respects where it came from, and still sounds like Johnny Law!"
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"Standing Tall" (Bandcamp)
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