Johnny Hatch

Artist Information

Biography

Johnny Hatch is an inspired songwriter & dynamic performer from Regina & Vancouver, Canada with a growing fondness for Los Angeles. Johnny Hatch's catchy name is matched by the songwriting and pro-recording on his current album ‘Happiness Instead’. The Hatchman recently toured Western Canada winning many new fans. Johnny turns intuitive, inspired moments into well-crafted alternative Pop-Rock-Folk songs infused with passion.
‘Happiness Instead’ was recorded at Ze Studio near Regina except for the songs ‘Echo’ & ‘In L.A.’ recorded there and Los Angeles with Doug Deep (composer for TV show Survivor).
SHOWS & TOUR: Spring - Regional Prairie shows. Summer - Ontario festivals & pubs. plus - shows in Greece & Turkey!

Happiness Instead contains universal stories and hummable melodies with anthemic choruses. Johnny Hatch was awarded a recording grant by SaskMusic. Johnny has just been invited to Vancouver by up & coming film director Pan Yannitsos to shoot a music video for ‘Echo’. (Pan screened his latest film at Sundance).

RADIO: Added to KLED Lost Angeles! 3 songs added to rotation at Mix 103.9 FM Moose Jaw. Play-listed at Rock 104 the Wolf Regina - NWCZ – Seattle, UMFM Winnipeg, CJTR Regina, CJMQ Sherbrooke, Quebec, CFBX Kamloops & more. Added to multiple online stations and podcasts across North America. Songs from the debut EP ‘Hot Traxx!!!’ (produced by David J. Taylor) received radio airplay at college radio across Canada and some commercial radio.
KEY TRACKS: 'Echo' 'Happiness Instead' ‘Let There Be Peace’ ‘In L.A.' 'Lucky Seven Yeah!' ‘Find the Door’.
INFLUENCES: Canadian Rock & Roots Music, U2, Coldplay, Goo Goo Dolls Arcade Fire, Elvis Costello, Stones, Beatles.

FILM & TV: Songs Johnny has written and placed songs in a number of movies & TV shows most notably ‘Fubar is a Super Rocker’ from the hit film Fubar. Johnny co-wrote and recorded the song with world-wide metal legend Thor. Appears on the soundtrack on Aquarius / EMI records alongside bands such as Sum 41, Sloan & Treblecharger and the video is included in the film DVD. Johnny rocked 3 tours of Western Canada with Thor, most notably opening for Nashville Pussy (Grammy nominees). Other credits include the Scooter Kids movie (Hollywood) & Canada’a Renegade Press TV show.

Best Fan Comment Ever!! June 2011 from Matt Spelliscy (19 years old)
Hey bro! Nice seeing you this weekend at Relay For Life, LOVED IT!...you sure know how to tame a crowd of adoring fans John. You probably rank around eight in my all time favorite groups to see live, and that's considering U2, Billy Joel, Green Day, Panic At the Disco and some of my other favorites. I’ll load a truck of me and my excited friends and head out to see your next show. YOU ROCK!!!

The band sounds hot. The core of the live band is JH - Guitar/Vocals, Dave Fries-bass, Pat Kelly drums and amazing guitarist Gerry Pittet. These veteran musicians are among the most talented players anywhere in Canada. All join in on harmony vocals. Happiness Instead was produced by band-mate Dave Fries, a veteran pro with dozens of album credits, Johnny co-produced. Hatch also plans to spend more time in Los Angeles & Vancouver performing and co-writing. The band just played at McNallys Regina Dec 15.

PRESS & INDUSTRY QUOTES
"Positive & upbeat, instantly infectious" Erin Harde - Leader Post Regina (Front cover & feature article).

4/5 Stars – Excellent "..uplifting, melodic rock, pop & dance tunes that will stick in your head for days" JJ Elliott - Spun Music

"A world-class album in songwriting, performance & recording. I'm really enjoying listening to Happiness Instead" Steve McDonnell Artist & Magazine Publisher Buzzcity Magazine -Regina
M
" A wonderful collection of songs with great musicianship and harmonies. I really enjoyed it."
John Donnelly Event Producer –Vancouver

"Johnny is the Paul Westerberg of Regina. I reeeeally like the song 'Echo'. Dave & Johnny did a great job producing this record." David J. Taylor Award-winning Producer & Artist, Regina

NOTES OF INTEREST One of Johnny’s earliest bands was Neurotic Paperboy, a band Hatch co-founded with Juno winner Jason Plumb and opened for bands such as Soul Asylum & Pursuit of Happiness. After he left to play & song-write around Europe for a year, the NP band became the Waltons and covered one of Johnny’s songs in concert on several major tours. Johnny is self-employed full time in music.

Instrumentation

Johnny Hatch - Dancing, Lead Vocals; Lead Guitar
Dave Fries - Vocals, Bass, Guitar
Pat Kelly - Vocals, Drums
Gerard Pittet - Vocals, Guitar

Discography

April 2011 - Happiness Instead
November, 2007 - Hot Traxx!!!
THOR - Triumphant - 2005
“Fubar is A Super Rock” – Fubar Soundtrack & DVD with THOR 2003
angry candy – snap, crackle, pop! – 1998

Movie & TV Songwriting and Recording Credits
-“Let’s Go, Don’t Crash” – Renegade Press TV show – (Regina, 2006)
-“Scooter Kids” – 3 songs – (Hollywood, California – Amsel Entertainment – 2003) produced by Adam H.
-“Fubar Is A Super Rocker” – From the hit movie “Fubar” (with THOR) 2003 (Alliance Atlantis - Calgary / Toronto)
-“Graveyard” title track (starring Joe “Shithead” Keithley of DOA) (Fizz Films) – Vancouver, BC. 2002
-“Forever & After” title track (378 Productions) – Edmonton, AB 2002

Rock Videos
- Johnny Hatch ‘Barrel of Monkeys’ - (original version) shot in Toronto, chosen best video by Canada Computes magazine reader contest 2003.
- THOR – ‘Fubar is a Super Rocker’ – from the hit movie FUBAR (Alliance Atlantis). 2002
- THOR – ‘Graveyard’ – from the movie Graveyard (Fizz Films –Vancouver) 2002

Official Website

http://www.johnnyhatch.net

Links

• Facebook
• MySpace

Audio

• Let There Be Peace (Radio Edit)
  Listen   Download
• Find the Door
  Listen   Download
• Echo (Vo3)
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• IN L.A. (v03)
  Listen   Download
• Happiness Instead
  Listen   Download
• Surf Japan
  Listen   Download
• In L.A. (Instrumental Ed)
  Listen   Download

Lyrics

• Let There Be Peace
• In LA
• Lucky Seven Yeah!
• Echo

Video

Photo Gallery

Press

• It's Made for Radio - 'Happiness Instead' Positive, Upbeat [+ Show ]
  

  BY ERIN HARDE, FOR THE LEADER-POST MAY 12, 2011 Regina product Johnny Hatch may be partly based ...BY ERIN HARDE, FOR THE LEADER-POST MAY 12, 2011
  
  Regina product Johnny Hatch may be partly based in Vancouver and developing an increasing fondness for Los Angeles, but it was in Saskatchewan that he was able to follow through on his dream of making his sophomore album.
  
  While you can feel the laid back California vibe on Happiness Instead, as though Hatch is the Prairies' answer to Brian Wilson, the album was mostly recorded at Dave Fries' Ze Studio on a farm near Zehner, Hatch, whose real name is Hatzitolios, says the album is the fruition of a long journey.
  
  "It was worth coming home to Saskatchewan to create this chapter of my life, and record this album," says Hatch, a graduate of Sheldon-Williams Collegiate. "I put my heart and soul into it."
  
  The pop/rock album was a year and a half in the making, and by contrast to his first album Hot Traxx!!!, was put through the preproduction and production ringer thanks in part to a grant from SaskMusic. Co-produced by Hatch and Fries, Happiness Instead was made for radio, with several tracks already finding their way onto Moose Jaw's Mix 103.
  
  Positive and upbeat, the album's nine tracks and two remixes are instantly infectious, something Hatch aims for in his songwriting.
  
  "A lot of those songs start from something dramatic or sad, but during the writing process, I'll craft it and think to myself that there's so much negativity and complaining in the world, who needs more of that?" says Hatch. "I'll flip a couple words, and turn it around and all of a sudden it sounds like a positive anthem."
  
  Hatch also spent a month in L.A. recording "Echo" and "In L.A." with his friend Doug Milledge, aka Doug Deep, a former Reginan who now composes music for TV shows like Survivor.
  
  "It was a fun contrast between being at Dave's (studio), and listening to the tracks on the way home on the prairie, and then being in a metropolis like L.A," says Hatch.
  
  Truly a Saskatchewan effort, all of the musicians featured on the album are from this province, including Fries, Pat Kelly, Gerry Pittet, Depen Pandya, Michael Herle, Milledge, Megan Nash and Matt Johnstone.
  
  Hatch has big hopes for the album. Like his debut release, he hopes to get radio play across Canada, but he also dreams of hearing the songs in film and television, building on his success of earlier songs being used in the movie Fubar and television show Renegade Press. Fox Sports has already expressed interest in using "In L.A." But, most of all, he's interested in having his songs covered by popular artists. The catchy lead-off track "Echo" would be a perfect song for a singer/songwriter like Colin James, says Hatch.
  
  "I could see any of those American Idol kids singing my songs."
  
  As the owner of R.H.M. School of Rock and Folk Music, Hatch has the freedom to start promoting his album in Canada and the U.S. Together with bandmates Fries on bass, Kelly on drums and Pittet on guitar, Hatch will be touring in Western Canada in July, and taking his solo acoustic show to L.A in August. Regina fans can see Hatch's live show during the CD release party for Happiness Instead at O'Hanlons on June 10.
  
  "I'm really looking forward to getting out and playing a lot," says Hatch. "I try to make it really fun for the crowd and get them up to dance."
  
  In the meantime, fans can pick up Happiness Instead at Long and McQuade, St. John's Music, Bach and Beyond, or music download sites like iTunes.
  

• Spun Music Blog Reviews Album 4 Stars / 5 EXCELLENT [+ Show ]
  

  "Hatch's latest batch of tunes are full of uplifting, melodic folk, rock, pop and dance tunes that w..."Hatch's latest batch of tunes are full of uplifting, melodic folk, rock, pop and dance tunes that will stick in your head for days. Happiness Instead is definitely worth your time and hard earned moolah. Make sure to check him and his band out when they tour in the next few months!
  JJ Elliot

• "BEST FAN COMMENT EVER!! [+ Show ]
  

  June 2011 from Matt S. (19 years old) Hey bro! Nice seeing you this weekend at Relay For Life, LOVE... June 2011 from Matt S. (19 years old) Hey bro! Nice seeing you this weekend at Relay For Life, LOVED IT!...you sure know how to tame a crowd of adoring fans John. You probably rank around eight in my all time favorite groups to see live, and that's considering U2, Billy Joel, Green Day, Panic At the Disco and some of my other favorites. I’ll load a truck of me and my excited friends and head out to see your next show. YOU ROCK!!!"
  - Matt S. (19 years old), Fan Comment

• Industry Quotes about the new record Happiness Instead [+ Show ]
  

  " a wonderful collection of songs with great musicianship and harmonies. I really enjoyed Happiness ..." a wonderful collection of songs with great musicianship and harmonies. I really enjoyed Happiness Instead"
  - John Donnelly, Re-knowned Event Producer & Musician –Vancouver
  
  
  
  "Johnny is the Paul Westerberg of Regina. I reeeeally like the song 'Echo'. Dave & Johnny did a great job producing this record." David J. Taylor Award-winning Producer & Artist, Regina
  
  "A world-class album in songwriting, performance & recording. I'm really enjoying listening to Happiness Instead" Steve McDonnell Artist & Magazine Publisher Buzzcity Magazine -Regina
  

• Radio & Press Hightlights [+ Show ]
  

  PRESS QUOTES & RADIO “Upbeat, catchy & rocking. I enjoyed listening to Hot Traxx!!!… one of my...PRESS QUOTES & RADIO
  
  “Upbeat, catchy & rocking. I enjoyed listening to Hot Traxx!!!… one of my favourite Saskatchewan recordings.”
  DJ Evan Baran
  (104.9 the Wolf, Regina)
  
  “I loved the tunes and will feature Barrel of Monkeys in my next film”
  Alex Gabor, Film Producer / Director, The Penny King, Hollywood, August, 2008
  
  Hot Traxx!!! - # 15 at Brock University Radio St. Catherine’s, Ont.
  Feb. 2007
  Songs ‘Wake Up’ & ‘This Road’ were broadcast several times a week throughout 2007 at CJMQ, Sherbrooke, Quebec.
  
  "...shows a musical maturity and diversity that quite a few bands would be envious of."
  
  “Barrel of Monkeys…a raging guitar solo and wicked rhythm line that makes the song totally irresistible to listen to”
  
  "This Road....vocals sounding like a cross between Tom Waits & Tom Petty....the listener can immediately garner the talent level of the band…….an EP very deserving of a listen"
  
  Chris Tessmer - Regina Leader Post, Saturday, Jan. 20th, 2007
  
  Saskatchewan Band Spotlight - 800 CHAB, Moose Jaw
  1/ 2 hour Interview Feature Sat June 2nd & repeated Sunday, June 3rd
  “Talented, passionate & skilled…. great tunes”
  Lori Dean – CHAB Radio, Moose Jaw“
  
  ‘Barrel of Monkeys’ - video shot in Toronto, won 1st prize best video industry & reader contest by Canada Computes Magazine, broadcast nationally on CTV. 2003
  

• CD Review Hot Traxx!!! [+ Show ]
  

  Saturday, Jan. 20th, 2007 "...shows a musical maturity and diversity that quite a few bands would...Saturday, Jan. 20th, 2007
  
  "...shows a musical maturity and diversity that quite a few bands would be envious of."
  
  “Barrel of Monkeys…a raging guitar solo and wicked rhythm line that makes the song totally irresistible to listen to”
  
  "This Road....vocals sounding like a cross between Tom Waits & Tom Petty....the listener can immediately garner the talent level of the band…….an EP very deserving of a listen"
  
  
  
  

• “Upbeat, Catchy & Rocking" [+ Show ]
  

  “Upbeat, catchy & rocking. I enjoyed listening to Hot Traxx!!!… one of my favourite Saskatchewan...“Upbeat, catchy & rocking.
  I enjoyed listening to Hot Traxx!!!… one of my favourite Saskatchewan recordings.”
  DJ Evan Baran
  (104.9 the Wolf, Regina)
  
  

• “Talented, Passionate & Skilled' [+ Show ]
  

  Saskatchewan Band Spotlight - 800 CHAB, Moose Jaw 1/ 2 Hour Interview Feature Sat June 2nd & rep...Saskatchewan Band Spotlight - 800 CHAB, Moose Jaw
  1/ 2 Hour Interview Feature
  Sat June 2nd & repeated Sunday, June 3rd . 2007
  
  “Talented, passionate & skilled…. great tunes”
  Lori Dean – CHAB Radio, Moose Jaw“
  
  

Setlist

About 45 min sets each
2 Sets available

Happiness Instead
Dirt
Let There Be Peace
Hallucinating Again
Lucky Seven Ya!
Precious Time
Find the Door
Echo
In LA
Barrel of Monkeys
Wake Up
Surf China
Elektra
This Road
Fubar
Beams of Light (10 Ton UFO)

Basic Requirements

Calendar