Inspired Americana from Kerrville New Folk Winner. - John John Brown: Where the Good Buzz Goes
Krister Axel
4
John John Brown is a folk and roots songwriter and performer based out of Western Connecticut. "Where the Good Buzz Goes" is a deceptively cheery-sounding Americana jam in service of a sobering personal narrative that will resonate with many.
This classic 4-piece mix of double bass, Hammond B3 with Leslie speaker, acoustic drums, and overdriven guitar goes down easy, and might remind you a bit of roots-rock staples The Wood Brothers. These lyrics were written after striking up a conversation with a Vietnam veteran on a bike trail in Central Florida. We follow the life of PFC Joe McGee - a trauma-surviving, alcoholic, poker-playing soldier, as he wrestles with the memories of a war that made him do terrible things.
The sound of John John Brown's voice is meditative and smooth, and leads us through a familiar story of looking for solace wherever it may be found - in this case, always at the bottom of the next beer. With a wistful and reverent look at the past, and an enduring natural groove, we encounter the shallow and restless trappings of a forgotten life.
John John Brown has been selected as a Kerrville New Folk winner in 2020 and a 2017 Emerging Artist at the Falcon Ridge Folk Festival. His sophomore album Americana Comics was released this year and is heavily influenced by the work of John Prine.