Hi gang,

Just wanted to drop a line and let you know about some recent happenings going on in the Colorway world.

*Two Man Guy 8/24

*Transperformance 8/27

*Colorway/Rick Murnane gig in Northampton 9/28

*CD now available at Newbury Comics (select locations).

So let’s start from the top:

Two Man Guy

Scott Hall–keyboardist for Drunk Stuntmen, Goldwater, and several other lauded musical groups–will be joining me, Alex, to play an hour of acoustic music at Luthier’s Co-op in Easthampton on Saturday, August 24 from 7-8pm. We call ourselves Two Man Guy. The name refers to an conversation one of us had with a fan who was trying to describe a duo he had seen, “. . . yeah, they were great . . . it was just a two man guy.” And as these things go we remembered the unimportant stuff and somehow it stuck.

The show is free and there is a bar for your imbibing pleasure (soft drinks available as well). We’ll do a few Colorway songs, a few Stuntmen tunes (some that haven’t seen the light of day for 10 or more years) some of Scott’s songs and maybe even a cover song for good measure. It’s a quick show so be sure to come early and check out the room. The venue is a real, honest-to-goodness music store with amazing vintage and used guitars, amps, effects and, yes, violins. You can buy just about anything you see. I, myself, have purchased many a guitar there, and it’s where I bring all my axes (read: guitars) when they need some TLC.

You can check out more about the Co-op here. Scott and I sure hope to see you.

Transperformance XXIII: Beyond Bob

On Tuesday, August 27 from 4-9:30 will be the 23rd annual Transperformance at Look Park in Florence, MA.

For those unfamiliar with the event–a benefit for the Northampton Public Schools–it’s our way of wringing the last drops of summer out of the air as some of the finest local musicians get together for over five hours of entertainment. The bands pick an artist or group that fits that year’s theme, then they get to “transperform” as that band for 10 minutes. It’s always a great crowd–very family friendly–that oftentimes exceeds 1,500 people. Be sure to bring a blanket, beach chair and some snacks (though there is food available from local restaurants). Last year’s theme was “Food Groups” and the band I assembled at the time (Al Johnson and The Spoils) did our take on Phish–horns, backup singers and all (you may recognize one or two). You can watch the whole performance here.

This year the Transperformance is dedicated to Bob Cilman, the director of the Young@Heart Chorus as well as the Northampton Arts Council. Bob is retiring from the Arts Council a mere two weeks after the concert. So, the theme for this year’s show is, of course, “Beyond Bob.”

Bands from all around the area will be transperforming as artists with a Bob, Robert, Roberta, or, even a Robin in their name. Which brings me to the Colorway-related part of this post.

I’ll be playing with the Young@Heart as we take on one of the most famous Bob’s of all: Bob Dylan.

After dark, Drunk Stuntmen will be reuniting in its most classic form as the legendary Led Zeppelin. Me, Steve (as Robert Plant), Terry, Bow Bow, Scott and JJ will all be on the same stage together for the first time in around seven years or so. It will be our way of acknowledging twenty years since The Stuntmen started playing music together (in one form or another).

And last but not least, Colorway will be joining forces with an old friend, Tom Sturm (Yanni Difranco, Antihero) and perform three songs as Cheap Trick to close out the evening! We promise to bring the classic songs to the stage and leave nothing behind.

Here’s the poster for the show:

And all the info including the lineup and time and all that can be found here and on their Facebook page right here.

A Duo Of Trios: Colorway with Rick Murnane at The Elevens, Saturday September 28 (early show).

That’s right, I’m very happy to announce that Colorway will be having our sophomore gig in Northampton at The Elevens on Pleasant St. on Saturday, September 28. It’s an early show starting at 6:30 and going until 9pm. Admission is a mere $5.00 for the two bands. Rick Murnane will be opening the show with a set of his masterful pop/rock. His band for the evening includes Colorway’s bassist, Dave Hayes, drummer R. Sturgis Cunningham (The Demographic). You can hear and buy some of Rick’s music here.

We’ll be playing all the tunes from the new Colorway album plus some new material and possibly a cover or two. And yes, we’re all very happy to say that the show starts nice and early at 6:30 (my how times change, no pun intended).

You can join the event on Facebook here.

Colorway Debut Album Available At Select Newbury Comics Stores.

Last but not least (I know, I know this is a lot of information) I’m very happy to tell you all that the new Colorway album is available at select Newbury Comics stores in New England.

Here’s the locations where you can pop on in and pick up a copy:

 Boston – Newbury Street
332 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 236-4930

  North Dartmouth

331 State Rd.
N. Dartmouth, MA 02747
(508) 997-5928

 Providence
Providence Place Mall, 74 Providence Place
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 383-0044

 Northampton
38 Pleasant Street
Northampton, MA 01060
(413) 586-8526

 South Portland
The Maine Mall
364 Maine Mall Road
South Portland, ME 04106
(207) 874-6788
 

So go on in and ask for it by name. Or just check the new release section. And if you already own the record let a friend in on the fun and point them in the direction of one of those stores.

Well, that’s about it. Thanks for reading up on the band. I hope to see you at one of these shows. And if you see me before I see you try not to sneak up on me. I scare easily.

And on and on we go . . .

~F.A.J.

Hi gang,

Welcome to the new Colorway website. Have a look around and check out some of the songs. We’ve got all the lyrics up and some pictures from the recording sessions at Sonelab. There will be plenty more to come as this little band learns how to walk, then run and then take a nice coffee break, then get back to it all again.

Plenty of people to thank for the content you see. First and foremost is Bronwen Hodgkinson at Ardent Design. She’s been a dream to work with and I’m so happy to have her as part of the Colorway team.

Tom Pappalardo at Standard Design brought my childhood dreams of a rock and roll band logo to life. And he also is responsible for the CD (and eventual vinyl) layout for this album. His work can be seen all around the valley and beyond. Check out his site for some inspirational design.

Pietro Spica and Laura Nugent agreed to let me use their amazing art for the CD and, subsequently, the website. The pieces you see hang in my home and I see them every day. And each time I see them they make me smile.

Thanks to Tom Adams for his work in the studio both taking video and photos. His work speaks for itself.

Thanks to Jodi Nicholas for her band shot and studio pics (as well as backup singing). My world would be incomplete without her. (and now a collective “awww.”).

The sounds you hear wouldn’t have sounded so good without the help of Mark Alan Miller at Sonelab. We’ve had a long and storied history of the past twenty years or so. It was a fantastic experience to work with him again at his new studio. I encourage anyone thinking about recording anything from a demo all the way to a full-blown rock opera to contact him. He also does amazing mastering work.

And so many more people who have helped bring this project to life. But I’ll stop now and let you all poke around.

I hope you like what you see. It’s a work in progress and I plan on adding as things progress. Please feel free to comment on the blog if you like it or if you have any suggestions. I’m all ears (well, I’m, like 2% ears, the rest is made of cabbage).

We’re all here at the starting gate. Let’s see how far it goes, why don’t we?

And on we go . . .

~FAJ

PS: a reminder for local folk that the CD is available for sale at Turn It Up on Pleasant St in Northampton. They’re good people.

Here’s a great piece (our first bit of press) written by Gary Carra that ran in the Valley Advocate on 4/23/2013.

Nightcrawler: Color His World
F. Alex Johnson begins a new chapter in his sonic storybook with Colorway
By Gary Carra
April 23, 2013

Life. Love. Loss.

Each one is responsible for prompting countless musicians to put pen to paper since time immemorial. Stir the three together as Valley veteran F. Alex Johnson has done with his latest project, Colorway, however, and that’s one potent sonic cocktail indeed.

“I’ve been put through the proverbial mortal wringer over the last five years,” he confesses, “from losing my close family to cancer, parting ways with the Drunk Stuntmen, my band of 15 years… getting clean and sober, traveling the world with the Young@Heart Chorus.”

Joining Johnson on this highly personal audio odyssey are bassist David Hayes (best known for his popular Facebook page “The Weather Nut”), and Drunk Stuntmen on-again, off-again journeyman drummer J.J. O’Connell.

The fledgling trio is currently holed up at Sonelab Studios with esteemed engineer Mark Alan Miller recording tunes for the debut album they hope to release by late May.

A June 29 CD release party proper at the Iron Horse (iheg.com) is also already set in ink.

“The songs are strong and the two guys I chose to share the stage and studio with will bring these stories to life in a new way,” Johnson revealed. “I’m breaking out the ‘61 Strat for a few, acoustic on the others, and I’m finding there really is no alley to hide in when you are in a trio. There’s no other feeling like it, even playing solo, which I’ve done. You’re out there with your guitar and two other guys have your back.”

http://www.valleyadvocate.com/article.cfm?aid=16669