What’s in name? Apparently quite a bit for Newfoundland band, John. Despite the monosyllabic moniker, John is a six-piece band fronted by Joanna Barker (and sometimes seven-piece, as is the case for their new video, featuring Mara Pellerin on French horn). They’ve just released “Long Trip,” a gentle aching of a year-old scar, massaged by guitar.
Featuring video from Barker’s much more literal trip, “Long Trip” feels like a low-key counterpart slide through to Jet’s 2003 hit “Move On.” Full of what might be heart-warming excitement, the kind that keeps neighbourhoods up late on warm summer nights, asking “what-ifs,” the song teeters on a bittersweet edge.
John first debuted at Lawnya Vawnya in 2018, opening for festival headliner Land Of Talk. The band has some genuine firepower behind it, bringing in members of some of Newfoundland’s best bands, certainly qualifying John for official supergroup status. It’s practically a deep dive into the province’s cultural smorgasbord.
Aside from Joanna Barker (Eastern Owl, The Belle Trackies), John also includes Kelly McMichael (of Renders), Steve Maloney (of the award-winning Steve Maloney), Sarah Harris (of Property, Weary) Daniel Banoub (of Gramercy Riffs) and Nora Barker (of Green & Gold, and Allie Duff & The Happy Campers). Their upcoming album was also recorded by Jake Nicoll, Co-Produced by Kelly McMichael and Jake Nicoll and Mastered by Michell LaCour.
“This record means a lot to me – I had a bruised relationship with music and performance and had ‘quit’ some time ago,” explains Barker. “But bringing this band together to make this album has healed up a lot of my bruises. It’s definitely a folk rock album with some serious country and alternative influences.”
It also sounds like John’s debut album, Homonyms, will be dropping later this week, but a special release party on August 16, 2019.
Show Dates:
08.16.19 – St. John’s, NL @ The Station*
Album Release Party w/Weary & Cuerpos