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Twin Town High (vol. 8) |
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Spotlight Time
Wednesday 18 December @ 10:37:41 |
 Longtime side man Kraig Johnson finally faces front and center with The Program
by Rob van Alstyne
Kraig Johnson should be a familiar name to discerning Twin Cities rock and roll fans. Johnon’s banged out trusty rock in a variety of outfits since the mid—’80s (starting with Run Westy Run and including stints as a Jayhawk, Golden Smogger and presently as the guitarist in Iffy) all the while generally defying the aging process (seriously, how does he still look 25?) and steering clear of the spotlight. All of that is about to change shortly, however, as Johnson has recorded his first solo album and is in the process of shopping it around to labels for release early in 2003.
“The whole project started because I had some time off from Iffy and had a bunch of songs laying around that I decided I wanted to record,” explains Johnson casually over the phone from his Minneapolis home. “I got together with my friend David Poe [acclaimed singer/songwriter whom Johnson tours with as a guitarist] in New York and we did a bunch of recording and then we went out to California and did some more demoing with Ed [Ackerson, leader of Polara and Twin Cities rock producer extraordinare]. Pete [Anderson from Iffy] came in and played some drums, then Marc [Perlman of the Jayhawks] came in later and laid down some bass, eventually Jim [Boquist from Son Volt] came in and played on a bunch of the stuff too. We’ve sort of recorded sporadically whenever it worked with everybody’s schedules. We’ve taken the same approach to playing out and doing some gigs, its fun to do when we get the chance.”
The few gigs that Johnson and his assembled band, dubbed the Program, have put on so far in the Twin Cities have been some of the best live local music performances you’re likely to catch all year. At a 400 Bar show this past July the Program’s cagey display of rugged rock, country balladry and catchy folk-pop was immediately winningdespite the fact that they played an entire 70-minute show of unreleased material.
Those listeners familiar with Golden Smog may have grown accustomed to Johnson’s songwriting as one quarter of the creative output in that band, but it’s still a revelation to get to hear a set of music composed entirely of his tried and true tunes, particularly since it’s been four long years since Golden Smog’s last record, the sublime Weird Tales. “I don’t really approach anything differently being onstage with the Program,” explains Johnson. “I enjoy playing songs that I’ve written and getting to sing them, but that’s also something I did a bit in Golden Smog and got to do in the Jayhawks every once in awhile. I’m just up there having fun. I don’t psych myself up and feel like ‘ooohh I’m the front man now.’ It’s all just music to me and I can’t complain, music has been good to me, very very good to me.”
Kraig Johnson has been just as good to music, whether supplying the funky riffs essential to Iffy’s hip-shaking numbers or helping steer the Jayhawks during the post Marc Olson era. In one capacity or another, Johnson has managed to be consistently involved with some of the highest quality music the Twin Cities area has produced over the last 15 years. Unsurprisingly, Johnson plans on continuing to keep up the trend. “I’m still way into music and passionate about every new song and every time I get to play in front of a bunch of people,” claims Johnson. “The only real difference from when I started in the ’80s as compared to now is that back then I probably wasn’t as busy, these days I have to schedule myself more. As far as having the passion, it’s definitely still there, in some ways it has grown over the years because I’ve gotten to become a better guitarist and really try out different styles of playing. I’ve been lucky to play with a lot of great different people and I’m always excited to see whom I’ll play with next. I’m just really thankful that I got the opportunity to do what I wanted with my life.”
Kraig Johnson and the Program (featuring Ed Ackerson, Peter Anderson, Jim Boquist and Marc Perlman) play Sat., Dec. 21, at the 400 Bar. With Special Guests. 9 p.m. $8. 21+. 400 Cedar Ave. S., Mpls. 612-332-2903
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