The Colorway Blog

New Demo: “An American In Japan”

New Demo By Alex Johnson “An American In Japan”

Hey all, here’s a new tune I just put together. Hope you dig it. Please share if it moves you. Thanks!

A little backstory:

I landed in Tōkyō on July 29, 2019 with my wife to begin this next chapter of our lives (in Kyoto). Of course nobody could have expected what these last few months would be like throughout the world. And so I have been trying to encapsulate the feeling of being here both pre and post-pandemic as well as the idea of basically breaking up with the USA and “seeing other people”.

All that said, not long after moving here I met a fantastic person and a great musician, Shawn Berkeley (check out his music Frontwards and Blue Dog Drive and at https://soundcloud.com/shawn-berkeley). Shawn helped me with the lyrics to this one and I’m looking forward to working with him again.

Anyway, to celebrate my year here here’s the first track I’m proud to put out into the world. Please share it if you like it.

Rock on and stay safe,

~Alex Johnson

#AlexJohnson
#falexjohnson
#colorway
#newmusic
#AnAmericanInJapan
#USA
#Japan
#Kyoto
京都
日本
アレックス

 

Colorway’s Last Few Shows (for now) Plus New Music Video!!

Last Shows (for now)
Friday, 6/21 Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton, MA
Saturday, 6/22 Toad Cambridge, Cambridge, MA
Thursday, 7/11 Whetstone Station, Brattleboro, VT

Thursday, 7/18 Florence Music On The Porch, Florence, MA
Saturday, 7/20 Arts at The Armory Solo Show with Steve Westfield, Somerville, MA

 

Hi all,

Hope you are well and happy that summer is finally here!!! 

I have a lot of news that I’m going to try and fit in in a very short email.

My wife, Jodi, just was accepted for a job teaching English in Kyoto, Japan beginning in August . . . and I’m going to go with her! We will be there a year at least, and most likely more than that if things go as we hope.

I’m planning to continue creating music while I’m there–maybe even join or start a band–who knows? But this is a dream we have both had for many years now and it’s finally coming true. She will be working her butt off right upon arrival. I’ll have a bit of time to see what’s to see. But I’m hoping there is a future for me there creating and connecting with people through art. 

What does this mean for Colorway? Well, gonna take a good long break for a while and just let it all roll on around us. It’s been a throughly enriching experience to play with so many great people over these past six years (namely Dave Hayes, J.J. O’Connell, Brian Marchese, Matthew Clegg and Riley Godleski). And it has been a joy to put out these three albums and share my music with you. Even being able to put out two songs (“Go Back To Sleep” and “I Never Changed”) that my wife co-wrote! How cool is that? 

And it’s been a pleasure playing all the shows we’ve played and making new fans along the way. Thanks to you all for coming and supporting us, buying a CD, download, T-shirt, pin, sticker, whatever. Just being real and appreciating what we do. We love you for it. Thanks to all the bands we played with both big and small. Sharing the same piece of stage with so many great musicians has been a thrill. 

Huge thanks to the DJs and program directors who played us (particularly Michael Sokol at 93.9 WRSI) and the blogs who added us to their playlists. 

Thanks, of course, to the bookers who gave us a chance and gave us a shot. We couldn’t have made so many fans and broadened our reach without the support of you all. 

Thanks to all the overworked and underpaid reviewers and press folks who wrote about our releases and our shows. You helped spread the word and helped people get to our shows and buy our music. You guys rock.

Thank you to the people who took photos of us and for us. And to the videographers we worked with over the years. I’m so thankful you do what you do and I’m looking forward to thinking back on this time in my life in photos and smiling. It’s been so much fun. 

Thanks to the graphic designers we worked with who helped let you know–clearly and concisely–what was going on via our website or our posters. 

Thanks to the producers (most notably Mark Alan Miller and Danny Bernini) who helped us get our music to your ears. And I would be remiss if I didn’t say it was a dream come true to work with Bob Ludwig at Gateway Mastering–a legend in his own time–on “The Black Sky Sequined.”

I’ll be making some changes to our social media pages but you’ll still be able to keep up with what I’m doing on FacebookInstagramTwitter and our website. And be sure to keep up with Riley’s music at http://www.rgodleski.com. If you ask him nicely I bet he’ll tell you what Matt is doing. 😉

Anyway, it’s not over yet. We have four full-band shows coming up and one solo show (with Steve Westfield) between now and the middle of July. 

They are up at the top of this page and I’ll post the details below as per usual. Or just go here.

You can also see our new official music video for “Always Been Summer” right here:

 

 

Or you can just follow this link. It was filmed right here in the Pioneer Valley by Lisa M Butler (Cosmopolite Media Inc.) and edited by Josh Bibbey. Thanks to the fine folks at Look Park in Florence and Hawks and Reed in Greenfield for letting us film there. 

Well, that’s it for now. I’ll send out another email when we get settled in in August. But for now just know that I love you all, and really thank you for your support, love, applause, scattered boos, encouragement, good times, likes, follows, feature stories, occasional misprints, cookies, milk, ice cream, maple syrup and feathers. 

Who needs money when we got feathers?

~FAJ

Oh, and thanks to my mom, as always, for paying for those first few music lessons back in 1975. I bet you had an idea. I’m glad you shared it with me. 

And on we go . . . 

 

Friday, June 21, Colorway Performs at Luthier’s Co-op, Easthampton, MA

Come join us as we play one of the best rooms for live music in the valley.  Early and free!

When: Friday, 6/21
Where: Luthier’s Co-op
108 Cottage St
Easthampton, MA
Directions.                                                           
What time: 8-9:30
Phone: (413) 527-6627
Email: info@luthiers-coop.com
How Much: Free (tips appreciated)

Saturday, June 22, Colorway Performs at TOAD, Cambridge, MA

When: Saturday, June 22
What time: 7:30-9:15
Where: Toad
1912 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA 02140
Directions
Toad on Facebook
Public transit: Red line to Porter Square
Ph.  (617) 497-4950
Cost: No Cover!
21+

 

Thursday, July 11 Colorway Performs at Whetstone Station, Brattleboro, VT

Colorway is excited to return to one of Brattleboro’s best places to see live music, Whetstone Station. The venue is located right off of downtown and right on the banks of the Connecticut River. Don’t miss this very special performance. Whetstone Station has amazing food, craft beers, a full bar and so much more. 

When: Thursday, 7/11
Where: Whetstone Station
36 Bridge St
Brattleboro, VT
Directions
Whetstone on Facebook
Phone: (802) 490-2354
Time: 8:30pm
Cost: Free
All Ages!

See their full lineup of music right here.

Full menu here.

 

Thursday, July 18, Florence Music on the Porch Series, Florence Center

Colorway plays this awesome event for the first time. 

When: Thurs. July 18
Where: Florence Civic Center Lawn
Directions
What time: 6:30-8:00pm
How much: FREE
Florence Music on the Porch Series Facebook Page
In the event of rain the show moves across the street to the VFW

Donations now being accepted! Mail to FCBA Music on the Porch PO Box 60201, Florence, MA, 01062

Saturday, July 20, F Alex Johnson (solo) and Steve Westfield (solo) at Arts at The Armory, Somerville, MA

What: Steve Westfield (Pajama Slave Dancers/Slow Band/Beige) and F Alex Johnson solo
Where: Arts at The Armory
191 Highland Ave #1c 
Somerville, MA 02143
Directions
How much: $15 donation at the door appreciated!
What time:
Doors – 6p
Show – 7pm
Food and beverages for purchase.
All ages!

 
Presented by Victor Saviatto
 
Join the Facebook event page here: 

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