O, Handsome Navigator
Hutchinson, Kansas, United States | SELF
Music
Press
After taking a long, luxurious vacation, I am back with renewed energy and determination to help showcase the diversity and talent of our local music scene. Unfortunately, I have missed several performances this winter with my laziness but am excited to take in some new music starting this Saturday at The W with Hutchinson band O, Handsome Navigator. I've yet to hear them in person but have been listening to them on their Facebook page and have downloaded their EP for $5 at ohandsomenavigator.bandcamp.com. Let me tell you, I'm hooked!
O Handsome Navigator members John Depew (vocals and guitar), Joshua Monaghan (drums) and Justin Riggs (bass) have never been interested in sticking to any one genre of music or defining themselves in those terms but for the sake of this column let’s call them Rock just to give you a vague idea of what they play but expect to hear several other aspects in their music such as Alternative and Folk.
They formed in June 2009 as a two piece with Depew and Monaghan and added Riggs in August 2010 to complete their sound. Most shows have been in the Hutch/Wichita region with several shows in Manhattan. The band is expanding their fan base by playing as many live dates as possible to expose more people to their music. Monaghan says they also have the completion of their first full length album on the horizon. "We’ve been working on the writing process for almost six months now, and we’re hopefully going to start recording demos for it this month. It’s been an ambitious project that we’re all very excited about".
The guys are taking things one step at a time, but would like to eventually make this a full time project, keeping the focus on growing as a band and as musicians.
The majority of their performances are their own original music sprinkled with just a few covers that they enjoy playing (which, in my opinion is a much better reason to cover a song than just picking something off a top ten list so the crowd will know the words). "Barnswallow" and a cover of Gnarls Barkley's "Crazy" are popular answers for their fans favorite live songs, but perhaps because I think there is a serious lack of banjo in modern rock I am most looking forward to hearing "Bridge".
So go check out their sites to pick a favorite of your own and I'll see you this Saturday at The W. Show starts at 9pm with O,
Handsome Navigator followed by Conscious Creatures. $5 cover at the door.
If you make it to this event or any live performance this month I’d love to hear what you thought about the show . As always, I am open to suggestions for my next Local Musician Spotlight so feel free to leave a comment. - By Sara Goertz Thursday, 03 March 2011
Discography
Pre-release EP (2010)
Photos
Bio
O, Handsome Navigator is comprised of John Depew (vocals, guitar), Justin Riggs (bass), and Joshua Monaghan (drums). Although O, Handsome Navigator officially formed in June of 2010, the music they produce sounds nothing short of a long existing relationship. Co-founders, Depew and Monaghan played briefly as a two-piece until finding a bass player with the chemistry and fit needed to augment OHN's sound. This fit was found in friend and fellow musician, Riggs. Hailing from Hutchinson, Kansas, the midwest plays influence to OHN's Indie Rock/Folk (and depending on who you’re talking to, Blues) sound. Needless to say, they have a wide berth of influence and interest. Elaborating the already written and recorded works of Depew, each has helped the re-invented songs develop organically into the concise, melody-driven tunes they are now. Lyrically, Depew’s songs touch on topics of love, loss, addiction, and beliefs. OHN recorded their first EP in August 2010 in McPherson, Kansas at Old Hickory Corner, a local studio. Their music pulls influence from artists like Elliott Smith, Freedy Johnston, Ben Folds, and David Bazan. A debut, full-length, concept album is currently in the works.
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