The Johnny O. Band
Gig Seeker Pro

The Johnny O. Band

Boulder, Colorado, United States

Boulder, Colorado, United States
Band Blues Jam

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"Johnny O Band's River in the Sky"

By David Hoeper
Campus Press staff writer

The latest release from the Johnny O Band, River in the Sky, has echoes of some of the great blues guitarists of the past.

John Ohnmacht (Johnny O) notes strong influences of guitar legends such as B.B. King and Albert King on his music in his liner notes, but River does not lack its own identity. The essential 12-step blues-band output is intensified by a healthy dose of funk and rock, creating a unique hybrid.

The first track of the album, "Satisfaction Blues," establishes the Johnny O Band as a blues band. This song strictly follows the easily recognizable conventions of blues song format. The characteristic stepladder bass pattern, combined with lyrical repetition and intermittent guitar solos, makes good use of a good formula.

The second track, "Old Shotgun," alters this conventional blues pattern with a bass line that is clearly derived from funk. This influence continues to appear in varying levels of prominence for the remainder of the album. Tracks such as "Feelin' Good" and "Y2K" speak to this funk influence, while other songs such as "To Stay in the Line" seem to cater to the more Puritan blues fans.

Perhaps the most unique aspect of this album is the large variety of genres and emotions that are incorporated into the songs. As their names suggest, songs such as "Cold and Hungry" and "Bad Feeling" effectively define "the blues". Other songs on the album, however, are upbeat and positive. "Sunship," for example, takes a step away from the blues in favor of simple, feel-good rock and roll. - CU Campus Press


"Johnny O. Band Going to Memphis"

Boulder, CO - November 4th 2008

The Johnny O. Band is very pleased to announce that it has won this year's Colorado Blues Society competition to represent our great state at the 2009 International Blues Challenge in Memphis Tennessee. The band is very excited to participate this year and looks forward to showcasing its unique Colorado Blues sound before an international audience.

The members of the Johnny O. Band are veteran musicians with years of national and international stage experience. Win or lose the band’s unmistakable sound is sure to turn heads and win new fans in Memphis.

Singer, songwriter and guitarist John Ohnmacht founded the Johnny O Band in 1996. Since then the band has released three CDs and performed countless shows across Colorado and surrounding states. The band has also enjoyed international success with two successful tours to Holland and one to Brazil. Johnny O is accompanied by Marion Edwards on Drums and Vocals and Ian Anderson on Bass and Vocals. Edwards has been playing music professionally since 1965 and brings a frontman’s flair to the drummer’s seat. Anderson hails from Kingston Jamaica and although his background is reggae he excels at blues and funk.

The IBC is all about the live blues performance. So is the Johnny O. Band. Check www.johnnyoband.com for our latest schedule updates and come see for yourself.

For further information, promotional material or interviews contact the band at 303-543-9271 or joband@comcast.net
- band


Discography

Time For The Turnaround - 2004
River In The Sky - 2000
The Johnny O. Band - 1997

Our music has been played on KBCO Studio C Boulder, CO; KGNU Boulder, CO and KQMT (99.5 The Mountain) Denver, CO.

Photos

Bio

Straight out of Boulder, Colorado, The Johnny O. Band brings its compelling blend of blues, rock, funk and soul to the national music scene. With funky grooves and high energy jams, their music is both captivating and danceable.

The trio blends powerful vocals with soul stirring guitar work and draws on authentic American influences such as jazz and New Orleans street rhythms to create a style of Blues that grabs hold of you and doesn’t let go.

The Johnny O. Band has been called the hardest working band in Colorado. It is a title well earned for they have averaged nearly 150 shows per year for the past 12 years. Experience pays off when it comes to live performance and there is no mistaking this band’s experience when they take the stage.

John Ohnmacht was born in Aspen and has been entertaining Colorado fans for the past 25 years. He founded The Johnny O. Band in 1996 after years of touring nationally and internationally with the Boulder based Band Du Jour. Johnny O. found his true voice after he gravitated towards the Blues in the mid ‘90s. The Johnny O. Band released its first self-titled CD in the fall of 1997. It featured the band's most popular music and included five Johnny O. Band originals. John wrote, arranged and produced the band’s second CD, River In the Sky, which was released in the fall of 2000. This release is now in its third printing. John also wrote, arranged and produced the band’s latest CD, Time For The Turnaround.

Marion Edwards started his drumming and singing career back in 1965. At that time he recorded for RCA and toured as Little Marion and the Heartbeats. From 1977 to 1987 Marion lived in New Orleans, Louisiana. During this period he polished his skills on the drums and backed up some of the great artists in the New Orleans music scene including Gatemouth Brown, Irma Thomas, Harry Conick Jr and Johnny Adams. "I feel extremely fortunate to be working with Marion. He's a world class drummer and vocalist. It's great to play with a guy who has so much on stage experience." J.O.

Ian Anderson hails from Kingston, Jamaica and has performed with Ohnmacht and Edwards as part of The Johnny O. Band trio for the past two years. Before joining the J.O.B. he toured internationally with a number of prominent Reggae acts, but his bass playing style is not limited to that genre. He excels at blues and funk and brings a great flavor to Johnny O’s original works. “I’m very pleased with the way Ian has progressed in the band. He has an interesting style and approach to the bass that really jives well with our sound." J.O.