Back on Track

Apologies!  It has been two months since my last post. You may think there has been nothing to post, but you would be wrong.  WRONG!  "Wasteland Radio," "Slugger Field," "Down Again" are three amazing songs that have been written and slammed out in the past few months.  We played Local Live on WFHB, if you missed it, you can soon download it as part of their podcast series.  We played Phoenix Hill Tavern and will soon have some videos up from that, so be on the look out.

We are in the process of writing for our next project, and you will be able to stay close to us through the project with videos.

We will be taking band photos in the coming weeks, so get ready to drool.

There will be pictures and videos soon!

The Flow Of A Show

Like Rob Gordon says in High Fidelity:  "The making of a great compilation tape, like breaking up, is hard to do and takes ages longer than it might seem. You gotta kick off with a killer, to grab attention. Then you got to take it up a notch, but you don't wanna blow your wad, so then you got to cool it off a notch. There are a lot of rules."

When you play for 3 hours, timing and sequencing are everything.  Acts like Bruce Springsteen, Phish and Pink Floyd are masters of their craft, the Flow.  Springsteen uses the spiritual power of rock 'n' roll, Phish uses the power of the unknown in a jam (read: drugs), and Pink Floyd tell stories, but it all comes down to a few things.


The live show is the same.  Pull them in, then keep them near climax until the finale.  Sounds like sex?  You're a perv.  Head out of the gutter, please.  Get them on your side, then toy with them.  Play two fast numbers, then when their eyes are open wide, hit the breaks.  Play something in 12/8 and get the asses on the dance floor.  Let the band vamp while the singer talks about how much he wants his baby back.  "Oh darling, you hurt me so bad.  I'm comin' to you, crawlin' on my knees, baby. All the men out there know what it's like, and all the women have heard it one hundred times..."

See when the audience is getting restless, hit them with something well known; "Knockin' On Heaven's Door" or "Have You Ever Seen The Rain?"  Something they can all sing and swing their beers to.

Also, know something from every genre.  If a drunk yells out, "Play something country!" and you can do it at the drop of a hat, you have won that drunk's favor and maybe even a few bucks from him.  Know at least one country tune, maybe "Stand By Your Man."  Know one blues tune, or at least something bluesy, like "Cocaine."

If you've got a good frontman, he'll work his ass off to sell the song, which always helps:




Next time: Rehearsal?

One week to go.

Rehearsal, Dave's basement.  Amps are fired up, drum heads tuned, mic stands placed.  We discuss any minor business, record update: Mixing begins this week.  Ear plugs are in, and we are ready.  New covers are tried, old ones are finely tuned.  We figure out what works and what doesn't.  Heart of Gold is a great song, but it is still a tad loose.  Stray Cat Strut will give Brian a chance to take a break from the guitar, and me a chance to let a little rockabilly out!  Hey Jealousy will pull in those Gen Xers and Simple Man will get the bikers revved up!

We will see you at The Levee Saturday night!

The Band

Brian Johnson & The Acquitted

This is The Acquitted.  We rock.  That isn't all you need to know, but it is a good start.  Dave Allgeier is our drummer extraordinaire.  From the bowels of Louisville, he has played in many a band and sailed the seas playing on cruise ships.  His basement is one of our main rehearsal spaces, his kitchen one of our many drinking spaces.  Phil Regan rounds out the rhythm section.  Playing his customized Fender bass, he makes sure your chest rattles with the sound of The Acquitted.  His weakness is Bourbon, his love is cooking.

I don't like talking about myself.  I play guitar, keyboards and sing backup.  I kid myself I look real cool.

Brian Johnson, the man-glue that keeps the band stuck on the path of righteousness, is the lead singer, the lead songwriter, and the leader of this band of misfits.  His place is filled with album covers, pictures with the likes of Gary Louris and Kathleen Edwards.  CD's by Josh Ritter and The Wrens adorn his shelves.  This man knows his stuff.  Picks, lyrics, strings and mason jars litter his floor.


If you are fond of rocking, and aren't adverse to rolling, keep your eyes peeled, and your ears to the ground.  You'll hear us long before you see us.