Category Archives: Blog

June Update/Taste Of Amherst/Mammal Dap/Two Man Guy

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Hi gang,

Wanted to let you know about some upcoming dates for Colorway and for Two Man Guy (I’ll explain about that later).

This coming Friday we will be playing a free 75 minute set at one of our favorite outdoor events, The Taste Of Amherst! 

Located right on the Amherst Common the Taste is a longstanding tradition in the valley. Tons of food vendors from all the local restaurants, a petting zoo, plenty of fun for the kids and music, music, MUSIC!

In fact, Colorway’s own Riley Godleski will be playing tonight (Thursday) at the Taste from 8-9 with an amazing local singer/songwriter, Mikey Sweet.

As for Colorway we will be playing Friday from 6:45-8pm and will be debuting a brand new song. “Love Is All Around You” is the first tune that I’ve written and arranged with Riley and Matt and I’m extremely excited to play it for you all. 

The Taste runs Thursday-Sunday. 
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Next weekend is a big one as well.

Friday, June 24 we are extremely proud to be teaming up with one of the best instrumental rock/fusion bands in the area, Mammal Dap for a special show at the Ashfield Lakehouse!

The show is a measly $5 for a whole night of unstoppable energy. I can assure you if you make the journey to one of the Hill Town’s best kept secrets you will be thankful you did. We will play the first set and get the room warmed up for the eventual melting of faces and shaking of souls that will commence when The Dap hits the stage. 
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Saturday night will be a nice and early set (7-8pm) by Two Man Guy at Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton. Two Man Guy (or 2MG) is the duo of me (F. Alex Johnson) on guitar and vocals and Scott Hall, my old compatriot from Drunk Stuntmen, on keys and vocals. 

We will be playing a mix of songs from Colorway, Drunk Stuntmen, each of our respective solo outfits as well as another choice song from Billy Joel’s, The Stranger album. I can’t tell you more than I told you already about that one. 🙂

So there you go, gang. It’s been a sad week on a lot of levels and I would be lying if I said it didn’t affect me deeply. But music can soothe the soul and bring people together. That’s why I do it and that’s why I’ll keep doing it as long as I can. I hope you can join me and Riley and Matt and Mammal Dap and Scott over the next couple of weeks. We will be sure to give you all we got, as it were.

Below are the specifics on all the shows mentioned above. 

Thanks for being part of our world. It’s great to be part of yours.

Rock on,

~FAJ

Colorway Hat-bw smaller

Photo: Paul Shoul

 

PS:

Remember, the new album is available at www.colorwaymusic.com on CD and 180gram vinyl, as well as at www.colorway.bandcamp.com for the digital download. And to celebrate a year of The Black Sky Sequined, through the month of May everything in the store is 20% off. But you can also pick it up an any one of these great Valley establishments. Support your local musician and support you local music store.

Turn it Up
5 Pleasant St
Northampton, MA

Platterpus Records
28 Cottage St
Easthampton, MA

Cup and Top Cafe (CD only)
1 North Maple St
Florence, MA

Electric Eye Records
52 Main St Suite 6
Florence, MA

Mystery Train Records
178A North Pleasant St
Amherst, MA

“No music, no life.”

Friday, June 17, Colorway Plays The Taste of Amherst, Amherst Common

Colorway plays a full set of tunes at the annual foodie fest on the Amherst Common. 
The fest runs Thurs-Sun 6/16-19 and features food, food, food, kids activities, beer and wine and so much more. Always a good time. 

When: Friday, June 17
Where: Amherst Common
Directions
What Time: 6:45-8pm
How much: FREE
Check out the Taste of Amherst Facebook Page
Click here for the full music schedule.

Friday, June 24, Colorway And Mammal Dap at The Ashfield Lakehouse!

Colorway makes their first appearance at one of the most laid back and inviting rooms in the valley, The Ashfield Lakehouse. We will be opening this show with a set at 9pm. Then, our good friends, Mammal Dap take over and faces will continue to melt pretty much all night. This is an all ages event!

Where: The Ashfield Lakehouse
141 Buckland Rd, Ashfield, MA
Directions
When: Friday, June 24
What time: Show starts @ 9pm
How much: $5.00
Age limit: All Ages!
Phone: (413) 628-0158
Email: theashfieldlakehouse@gmail.com

Join or share the Facebook Event Page here.

Come early and have some amazing food. Kitchen serves dinner until 10pm! Menu here.

About Mammal Dap:

Mammal Dap is adventurous, instrumental rock fusion based in Northampton, Massachusetts. The band is comprised of Killian Karlsson (guitar), Zack Cross (keys), Reed Sutherland (bass, synth bass), and Colin Jalbert (drums, samples). Together, the four mammals combine elements of rock, EDM, hip-hop, and funk to create a sound that is forward-thinking yet nostalgic, indescribable but strangely familiar. Their energetic live shows and rigorous touring have elevated crowds from New England to New Orleans, leading them to share the stage with acclaimed bands such as The Nth Power, Tauk, Marco Benevento, Toubab Krewe and many more.

Colorway will be playing with Mammal Dap again this summer at The Beachcomber on Thursday, Aug 4. 

 

Saturday, June 25, Luthier’s Co-op Two Man Guy (Alex and Scott): One Night Standing!

Scott Hall of Drunk Stuntmen and F. Alex Johnson perform at the most wonderful small room in the valley.
 
Throughout their several show span 2MG have opted for chairs . . . until tonight. Come see Two Man Guy: One Night Standing and you will witness two guys who aren’t afraid to step up and stand out. 
 
They will be playing music of Drunk Stuntmen, Colorway and each other’s solo tunes as well as a choice selection from Billy Joel’s, The Stranger.
 

Details:

Who: Two Man Guy
When: Saturday, June 25
7pm-8pm
Where: Luthier’s Co-op
108 Cottage St
Easthampton, MA
Directions
Phone: 413-527-6627
Email: info@luthiers-coop.com
Cost: Free (tips appreciated)

Alex Talks About His Open Mic Night In The Gazette

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The Daily Hampshire Gazette interviewed Alex about his weekly open mic night that he hosts in downtown Florence at Brew Practitioners Brewery and Taproom. 

You can read it here or below:

Clubland caught up with F. Alex  Johnson a few days after the open mic for this interview.

Clubland: Did you pitch the open mic idea to Brew Practitioners, or did they come find you?

F. Alex Johnson: I was on vacation with my soon-to-be fiancé (I popped the question that week) and was trying to figure out how to keep my career in music moving forward both as a source of income as well as an inspiration to keep practicing and performing. I had hosted open mics in the past (The Baystate, World War II Club, Silent Cal’s, etc.) and they were always great for not only showcasing the diverse talent we have here in the Valley, but also giving me a reason to “finish that damn song” or dive into a new cover I always wanted to learn. 

I had played [at Brew Practitioners] as a guest with Free Range Cats and knew the space would work really well and that the owners were definitely into keeping music/entertainment as part of their place. So I approached Tanzi (Cannon-Eckerle, co-owner with her husband Joe) and suggested it. She said she had been approached by a couple of people about possibly having an open mic but nobody had put forward a concrete plan. I won’t say my plan was concrete but with two or three cups of Costa Rican coffee in me, I wrote up a quick proposal and she said, “Sure, let’s give it a try.” That was four months ago and it’s been going strong since March 9. 

 

Clubland: What’s the time limit for each performer?

Johnson: Depending on how full the list is (or gets) we’ve had people perform as long as 20 minutes at a stretch. Generally the “open mic golden rule” is 15 minutes or three songs. But some people only do one, or just read a story or, really, whatever they like. I think one of my favorite parts of this whole thing is that it hasn’t been done before in this building and there really aren’t any rules. 

The only thing I ask is that people respect the equipment on stage and have a good attitude toward the night. The people who come to the open mic range pretty widely in age and proximity. It’s not just a “downtown” thing like it had been at The Baystate. And with plenty of parking next door it makes it easy for out-of-towners to come and be part of it.  

Clubland: Could you share some examples of the diverse performers who’ve shown up at the open mic?

Johnson: One of my favorite performances happened a few weeks ago. It was a full night (I have a list with 10 slots, which usually is all we have time for after I play my half-hour set from 7 to 7:30) and a 20-something guy had added himself on as number 11. He sat through a couple of hours of music with a beat-up acoustic (no pickup) on his lap. At 10 p.m. I told him he could do “a couple of tunes” because I wanted to get everybody on who had signed up. This dude turned out to be Chris Freeman from Parsonsfield, one of the best singer/songwriters in the area. 

He brought me, Tanzi, and several of the patrons/performers to tears with his version of “Two Sisters,” a nearly 1,000-year-old traditional Scandinavian tune, as well as one other song that just killed. It was a high point in the ongoing series and made me so very happy I get the opportunity to hold it every week. 

Other performers who stand out are Connolly Ryan who, as our local bard of the yard, puts his unique spin on classic rock songs and occasional improvised prose with the house band (aka whoever is there). Adam Dunetz, owner of The Roost and The Green Bean, has played (and on a bone broth fast, no less). 

We had two comedians in one night (a record), a couple of storytellers, a rare appearance from Court Etiquette (a band consisting of the kids of Connolly Ryan, Johnny Memphis, Steve Westfield and Scott Brodeur). 

Bow Bow (Drunk Stuntmen’s J. Scott Brandon) and Mark Herschler have come by and put on an amazing set twice. We’ve had blues players, an unreal dobro player, a brother from a Southern mother — Ron from Bowling Green, Kentucky, who, sadly, had to move back below the Mason Dixon … his originals will always be remembered. Tom Sturm plays a bunch and fills in when I am away. Our old friend Shawn Gunderson from the erstwhile Valley jam band, Yep! comes almost every week (he was our first performer ever) and always plays a few great tunes. 

— KEN MAIURI 

 

Also in that week’s Gazette was an article on the open mic itself. Read that here or below. 

Stand-up comics. A trumpet player sitting in and getting brassy. Performance artists. Members of local bands trying out new material. A local poet improvising over live music. Storytellers. Musicians in the spotlight playing bassoon, ukulele, flute.

The one constant since its start back in March is the host, guitarist/vocalist/songwriter and Colorway frontman F. Alex Johnson. He usually entertains the room for the first half-hour while participants trickle in, write their names on the sign-up sheet and become audience members until it’s their turn.

My first available chance to check out the open mic happened to land on the first day the thermometer sailed above the 80 degree mark. It was a dreamy summery sunny May evening, and the gorgeous short-sleeve weather caused a shortage of participants — the sign-up sheet was crisp, white and very blank.

Like any professional emcee, Johnson kept the slow night moving, playing lots of original material from his Colorway catalog, earlier solo work and even reaching back to songs he wrote while in his old band, the Drunk Stuntmen.

 

“Every Wednesday I head out the door prepared to play for three hours in case nobody shows up,” he told me a few days later.

One of the few attendees at the start of the night was a woman with a wedding dress slipped on over everyday clothes, her marshmallow-colored sneakers peeking out under the hemline. As Johnson began the open mic with his original song “Alfred’s Golden Rule,” she walked in circles, clapping on the 1 and 3.

I took in my surroundings. Built in 1865, it was a space originally used as one of the support buildings for the Florence Sewing Machine Factory. Hanging from the old industrial ceiling were new lighting fixtures tucked inside bird cages. Bits of Brew Practitioners’ design — the logo, the beer taps — were inspired by the periodic table of elements. 

On a shelf in the corner was a cribbage board, a set of jacks, a box of pick-up sticks, playing cards, stuff for if you want to stay a while. It was a relaxing place to hang out. 

Off to the side, a vintage wooden phone booth beckoned — it housed a bright red “Food Fone,” a special hotline direct to Starr’s Pizza across the street. Lift the receiver, order your grub, and soon enough a delivery person shows up with your pie or sub — or in my case, french fries, which were still crispy and piping hot.

Johnson had a looping pedal at his feet, enabling him to create his own bed of chords and then solo over them, helpful for showing off his serious guitar skills (and also filling some time on a light night such as this). On his Colorway song “Style of the Time,” he slowly built a solo into a torrential storm of notes for a thunderous climax — for a minute the taproom turned into a surging stadium, and the bar patrons clapped and hooted.

A regular named Rufus (Chaffee) sat in, or rather stood in, playing his washtub bass on a couple tunes, including Johnson’s old Stuntmen song “Heidi.” Amazingly the washtub at times sounded like a cello.

The woman in the wedding dress got up to play a song at the electronic piano — another regular, her name was Neverchange, as Johnson announced. With vibrato in her voice, she played “Golden Birthday,” an original song that included bits of others’ tunes. She had a combination of poise (making strong eye contact with the small crowd) and nervousness (stopping to laugh and reposition the sustain pedal, which kept sliding across the floor as she played). She explained that her clothing was a costume for a longer set she planned to play later in the evening.

Win Ridabock, a fantastic flautist, arrived mid-evening and joined Johnson for a real highlight of my two-hour visit, the Colorway song “A Temporary Occupation.” Ridabock improvised deftly among the shifting guitar chords, and the interplay was exciting and beautiful. Neverchange must have agreed; during the song, she raised her left hand as if to say, “Testify.”

Rufus reappeared an hour after he’d left; he’d forgotten one of his shoes.

About 15 people had taken seats in the main room, with 6 on the deck out back, the dusk in full dark bloom.

I found myself sitting in with local poet/professor Connolly Ryan for two unplanned songs — The Kinks’ “Animal Farm” (with the lyrics called up on our iPhones in front of us, just in case) and then The Beatles’ “Across the Universe,” sort of … Ryan improvised stream-of-consciousness spoken-word while I played the piano, trying to follow his muse.

At 8:45 p.m., members of the band Page Six arrived (Conor Dowling, Greg Eramo and Tom Sturm), carrying a conga and a bass guitar, and took patient seats at the bar until their time. The sun was down; the nightlife was picking up.

 

 

Colorway in The Brattleboro Reformer

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Big thanks to Dave Madeloni at The Brattleboro Reformer for his great piece on the band in advance of our show at Metropolis on May 20, 2016.

Screenshot 2016-05-19 09.29.24

 

 

 

Originally published 5/19/16 in the Brattleboro Reformer.

BRATTLEBORO >> When I asked Colorway’s F. Alex Johnson about his band’s approach to playing live, his answer exuded a rock attitude: “Well, you’re only as good as your last show. And our last show was pretty unbeatable.”

That is good news for area rock fans since the trio is coming to Brattleboro for the first time tomorrow night on the heels of its most important and impressive gig. According to Johnson, their guitarist/singer/songwriter, Colorway rose to the occasion, opening a sold out show for Foreigner at the Calvin Theater in Northampton back on May 6. “My fiancé said she was so nervous for me and so were the people around the theater who helped me land the gig. But I was so sure of the band and the material and what I’ve worked for these past three years not to mention my eight years of sobriety, that I just went out there in front of 1,200 people who didn’t come to see us and put on 33 minutes of a rock show that felt like it belonged absolutely.”

For Johnson-a veteran performer with about 30 years of experience-reading an audience is old hat and he knew that he and his rhythm section connected with the Foreigner fanatics. “Believe me, I’ve opened shows where you can sense an unease and restlessness by the crowd who just want to see the headliner but these folks just understood that here are three guys who just love music—that they’ve played it all their lives and they probably will forever. And they got it. They actually got it. And I couldn’t have been prouder, happier or more thankful.”

“I know in the rock world smiling isn’t “cool” but I was ear-to-ear and so were my guys (bassist Matt Clegg and drummer Riley Godleski). It was like a surprise celebration of songs very few people knew . . . but they got it by the middle of the first song and that’s why I do this thing we’re talking about here.”

Johnson’s mission was almost scuttled by the demons that derailed many a rocker: drugs and alcohol. “I went through some major life changes about ten years ago. I lost my mom and aunt to cancer within 18 months of each other. I had been in a successful local band (Drunk Stuntmen) for 15 years and was touring non-stop with the Young@Heart Chorus. But the booze and the drugs caught up to me and I had to give up the Stuntmen. The lifestyle involved was just too much for me and I needed to just step away from it.”

It took about four years of soul searching and abstinence for Johnson to feel like he could start making original music again. “I met the love of my life and one day the songs started pouring out. I contacted two of my oldest and most musical friends, Dave Hayes and JJ O’Connell, and we put the band together. But, Dave had to step away for personal reason and JJ was just too in-demand so last summer I had to regroup. Thankfully I found a rhythm section that already played together in Shokazoba and knew each other’s quirks.”

By finding love, sobriety, and a band, F Alex Johnson is back to doing what he does best: making tasteful rock music. And Colorway is on its way, with a new line-up touting “Black Sky Sequined” a strong new CD. “I’m doing what I love.” added Johnson. “I hope it can sustain me for the long term and that I can somehow continue to create and to have my art support me. It’s been my goal in life since I got my first round of applause for a soft shoe routine I did at age four or five at Durgin Park in Boston. I heard those claps and knew they were for me. I looked at my mom and she was beaming. I know she’s still beaming and, well, I never really stopped dancing, I guess.”

Colorway will be at Metropolis on Friday, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., 55 Elliot St. Brattleboro. There is no charge, but must be 21 or over.

For information call 802-254-8500 or visit www.colorwaymusic.com.

Dave Madeloni writes music reviews for the entertainment section of the Brattleboro Reformer.