Outlaw Joey Only

BY KRISTA JOHNSTON
Staff Reporter

For anyone who has ever walked the picket line, demanded a welfare cheque, faced deportation or found their land stolen, Joey Only's album Radical Folk of the Great North will certainly speak to you.


"This album is for the working class people. The country people. The simple people," said Joey. "The record is a real tribute to all of the radicals and rebellious people I see organize. A lot of the songs on the record are stories about that things that have happened to people across Canada involved with revolutionary activity," he explained. "I'm am an anarchist. I believe in cooperation and problem solving and that record is a tribute to a lot of problem solvers who want to get issues (such as poverty, deportation, homelessness and cuts to services) resolved."

Last Saturday, Joey Only spread his message to listeners at the Wilno Tavern and with only the sounds of his voice, acoustic guitar and stomping board, he shared with the community some of the stories that have really impacted the lives of those around him.

With an edgy start, Joey dedicated his set to Renfrew Nipissing Pembroke MP, Cheryl Gallant who he referred to as "a reactionary revolutionary."

It became clear right from the get go the Joey Only was not afraid to voice his opinions. He has been doing just that for several years now and is not at all concerned if members of the audience share his view points. However, he has found that some of his songs do strike a chord with listeners.

"One time I was playing the song Working Poor (with lyrics that say) 'I deserve more I am the working poor', and this crowd of guys just started yelling after the song 'you're right I do deserve more. I hate my boss. I hate my job,'" said Joey. There is something amazing about that kind of response."

Growing up as an only child in small town Cooper Ontario (north of Madoc), Joey found out at an early age that he would have to entertain himself. With a family full of musicians and the support of his mother, Joey began learning to play guitar at the age of 14.

"I really got a guitar when I was 14. My mom said I should try bass guitar first because everyone needs a bass guitarist. Then I began jamming with my buddy right away and we eventually started a punk band called The Persecuted," he explained. "I am still playing drums for a punk band here and there called The Arrested but for the last five years I have just kept with my acoustic guitar because I could be a one-man-band."

Joey, who refers to himself literally as Joey Only has been trying to get an album made for quite some time now but until recently, he was faced with too many financial burdens to overcome. Finally, after many years of searching, he found enough people to help him make his dream come true.

"It took me a long time to make an original, creative CD," said Joey. "So many people helped to sponsor the album like the Mohawk Mid Winter Society, the Tenant Action Group and the Industrial Workers of the World Vancouver. They really helped me. They believed in it. That was the only way I'd ever make a CD," he concluded. "That's why (the album is by) Joey Only and the Comrades...(the Comrades are) the people who came and helped and also the people who sponsored it."

There are many things that Joey learned while recording his first CD, things that he believes will make his next recording even better.

Currently, his is getting ready for several upcoming projects including his second album called Joey Only Oversimplified, some live recordings from performances in Montreal and gigs in his new home of Vancouver British Columbia.

"I'm doing a compilation (CD) against Gordon Campbell (The Premier of British Columbia) called Citizens Rule and it's going on sale next week," explained Joey. "The message is 'One Thing Loud and Clear Screw Campbell." According to Joey, Campbell is a very viscous man with his policies. "He cuts out hospitals in small towns and forces people to drive two hours to get to an emergency room. That kills people. He also cuts off welfare by the tens of thousands and (then recipients are forced) to go on the streets."

Joey will also be performing at the Industrial Workers of the World's (an anarchist labour union) 100th anniversary party as well as the Under the Volcano festival, which will feature political workshops, speakers (from organizations like the Black Panther Party) and other musical acts.

"Things are really opening up for me a lot more now than ever before," said Joey. "One thing I'm finding is that there is a lot of folk musicians who are lefty but there is not very many Woody Guthries to ever grace Canada who just went out and spoke the way it is. That's kind of been my goal to be a working class folk singer," he continued. "Maybe I'll never make a lot of money but I speak my mind and I feel good about what I do because of that."

Now preparing to head back to the west coast, Joey - Barry's Bay Ontario Community Newspaper