JANUARY 20, 2025
I meant to update this page when I added the Music n' Merch page a while ago, but it's noted in several other places already...
I also intended to talk about some of the songs on "Misfortune Cookie", and I actually did post the following on social media a while back. It's a start!
There are a couple of songs on “Misfortune Cookie” that I’d like to tell you about. The first is “Locomotive”, which is special to me for a couple of reasons. I wanted to write a train song (who doesn’t?!) but couldn’t figure out a way into it lyrically. Then I remembered a poem my old friend Mark Rozema sent to me…a while ago. Let’s just say a “couple of decades” ago. I found it in an old file & was shocked at how easily it fell into the chord progression I was playing with - Mark & I finally wrote a song together! (I don’t know that we ever really wanted to, but I’m guessing that’s a thing we talked about at some point. We’ve been friends since the 4th grade.)
I’m also thrilled with the eclectic collection of musicians on this track. Besides me on bass and Gary Bruzzese on drums, you’ll hear Jon Rauhouse on steel, Dave Robinson on 6 & 12 string guitars, Mark Miracle on mandolin, Kyle Appleton on dobro, Pete McLaughlin flat-pickin’ his heart out & Seth Loveless fingerpicking the hell out of the verses! I wanted to say more about all of these guys, but this is already a long post & my thumbs are tired. My thanks to all of these great musicians - and to you for listening to “Locomotive”! Available wherever streams are streamed.
DECEMBER 8, 2024
It's early in the morning on December 8th - like, after the gig and before bed early - and I just finished editing the credits page for "Misfortune Cookie". I'm not sure anyone ever looks at these credits, but I feel it's the absolute least I can do for all of the people who worked so hard with me to finish this album!
Looking back, this project seemed to just cruise along at its own pace. I had a few different target dates to call it done but, as always. life had other plans. All in all it was a remarkably smooth process, and I'm hoping to continue streamlining the mechanics of writing and recording songs to keep this train rolling.
I'll circle back to this page and talk about the individual songs a little later, but it's time to call it a night. I'm also looking into selling CDs (yes, I made a small order of actual, physical discs for this album too...) here on the website, and maybe a small assortment of merch. Stay tuned!
You can find links for "Misfortune Cookie" by clickin' on this: johngwillis.hearnow.com
Thank you for reading - and for listening!
Painting by Luster Kaboom
Graphics by Carrie Motzing Photography
SEPTEMBER 19, 2024
I'm afraid I'm not doing a very good job keeping this page up to date! "20 Days" has been out for over a week now, and the reception has been good! Thank you for listening, as always. I know how valuable time and brain space is, and I always consider it a great honor that you allow my music to occupy that sanctuary.
"20 Days" started out as a bad breakup song, seen from the side of THE DUMPED ONE. It still is that, but I found that I was writing about grief in general. Not a good topic for your typical "pop adjacent, good-time, under 4 minute song", but that's what came out of me. I'm sure everyone - except for children and a very luck few adults - can relate to the theme of overwhelming loss. That bizarre paralysis that comes from not understanding why or how you should continue. Good times!
This one features the usual suspects: Ray Herndon on guitar and Gary Bruzzese on drums, with Thommy Knoles on keys. Jerry Donato and Scott Yandell played sax and trumpet, respectively. And respectably. I love Jerry's solo here, regardless of what he says...
The album, "Misfortune Cookie" is done, and we're just finishing up the package - including another cool cover painting by Luster Kaboom! It should be available sometime in late October/early November.
You can find links for "20 Days" by clickin' on this: johngwillis.hearnow.com
Art by Bean Knoles
Graphics by Carrie Motzing Photography
AUGUST 5, 2024
I apologize for the long break between posts! I have been very busy, recording new material for a 12 song album that should be completed and available sometime in October.
In the meantime, I will be releasing a couple of singles, starting with "While You're Gone". It will be available on all of the streaming services on August 6th (tomorrow!), and I hope you will check it out.
"While You're Gone" is a no-good-woman-done-me-wrong rocker featuring Ray Herndon's always amazing guitar work (on slide guitar too!), Raúl Yañez doing what he does and playing exactly what the song needs on B3, Gary Bruzzese on drums and every percussion instrument we could find - seriously, there must be 8 or 9 tracks of percussion, and my own brother S.E. Willis on harmonica. Nasty, overdriven, in-your-face harmonica. Oh, and I played a P-Bass through a fuzz pedal, just for fun.
You can find links for "While You're Gone" by clickin' on this: johngwillis.hearnow.com/while-youre-gone
Photo & graphics by Carrie Motzing Photography
JUNE 24, 2022
The album is out! This has been a crazy week of chasing down details and trying to escape for an all-too-short anniversary celebration in Sedona. I actually scheduled the album to go live on the streaming services on the same day as our anniversary, which is the Summer Solstice. An auspicious date, I think.
I added a page called "Kinda Love" where I posted the contents of the CD package, as well as song by song credits that never would have fit in CD liner notes. At least they are available here! And I also just added links to the streaming services where the album can be found.
Speaking of CDs, I made 200. I realize this is kind of an outdated mode of music conveyance, but I've always wanted to make CDs. I have given quite a few away already and am planning to have them available for sale at CD Baby very soon, as well as at Stinkweeds Records in Phoenix and Handlebar J in Scottsdale. Or send me a message!
JUNE 6, 2022
The album is officially done! I should be getting some physical copies in the next week or two, and it is scheduled to go live on all of the streaming services on June 21st (which also happens to be our wedding anniversary...). I have never done as much self-promotion as I'm about to do and I have very mixed feelings about it. I hope that - if you're reading this - you'll forgive my indulgence and listen to the album anyway!
Kinda Love
The album is almost done. That comment back there a ways about it being ready to release in late 2021 was clearly misguided. It should be ready...oh....sometime this Spring.
In the meantime, Luster Kaboom has finished the cover art (the original painting is hanging in my living room and is beautiful!) and the audio portion is in the very capable hands of my old friend and audio wizard, Clarke Rigsby.
You will be hearing (much) more about this as the actual release date grows closer.
(3/16/2022)
BACK IN THE GROOVE...
I apologize for the long silence here on the website. As the world cautiously opened back up I found myself playing just about as many gigs as in pre-pandemic days and the time just slipped away..
BUT - after recording "Stuck Here With You" and doing Otto's show, I decided to go ahead and move forward with my first complete album of original material. Actually, my first complete album under my name! It has been a LOT of work but has been very rewarding as both a creative and learning experience, and I think it should be ready to release around the end of 2021.
Pandemic? What pandemic?! (10/7/2021)
"LISTEN UP"
I got a call from my old friend, Otto D'Agnolo, last week. He has been a successful musician, producer, engineer and filmmaker for quite a while now and is the creator and host of a show called "The Recording Artist". (therecordingartist.com)
Otto's guest for the week had to cancel at the last minute and he needed someone to come into the studio and record a song. In 2 days! I finally remembered this blues song I had written a couple of years ago when I was lonely and feeling sorry for myself, so I agreed to give it a shot.
I called Chuck Hall and Gary Bruzzese because....why not?! Anyway, doing the show was a blast and the song came out OK, so I just posted the recording at Soundcloud and Bandcamp. I hope you'll check it out. (8/3/2020)
"STUCK HERE WITH YOU"
I realized early on in this pandemic/quarantine situation we're all living through that I had to find something to battle cabin fever - and NOW!
I tend to wander around the house making up little songs about the dog, my wife's behavior, the weather, whatever I happen to notice. I'm sure this is incredibly irritating but I'm really not sure I could stop at this point. Anyway, I was composing one of these mesmerizing l'il ditties about the lockdown - specifically, the situation I found myself in with the aforementioned wife - when it suddenly occurred to me that I could spend weeks trying to flesh the song out in my home studio and actually maybe make something out of it. Several weeks later, and after enlisting help from some of my similarly confined musical friends, I had a song. And I think it's actually a love song! "A love song for the pandemic", I'm calling it.
I'll take this space to repeat my thanks to the musicians who played on this with me: Gary Bruzzese-drums, Thomson Knoles-keyboards, Jim Pfeifer-guitars and Ryan Stigmon-saxophones. Darren Baum was brave enough to let Gary & I come over to Sonic Piranha studio to record the drums, and Clarke Rigsby was crazy enough to allow me into his home to do the mix. I sent it over to Nathan James for mastering, and I'm calling it done.
The song is now posted on Soundcloud and Bandcamp, so I hope you'll check it out!
My stepdaughter (and pal), Celeste Knoles, spent most of the lockdown with us too, and we decided to make a video to occupy even more time. CLICK HERE to watch. (6/10/2020)
NILS LOFGREN'S "PRETTY SOON" VIDEO
This is old news at this point on account of my laziness in keeping this site up to date, but Nils asked the same crew from below (Gary Bruzzese, Greg Varlotta and myself) to appear in his official video for the song, "Pretty Soon"! In addition to the amazing talents Nils brings to every situation he's involved in, it was also an opportunity to work with celebrated artist and director, Kii Arens. kiiarens.com
Check out the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlWuUDKpsOc
I'm not exactly sure what our role is in the video, but I'm pretty sure that's part of the fun. I like to think we're just a wandering, tuxedoed Greek chorus, observing and reacting to Nils. Just like we do in our everyday lives...(5/9/2019)
NILS LOFGREN'S "BLIND DATE JAM"
I have been meaning to add a "News" section to this site for a while, and now I think there is a good reason to finally do it!
I was honored to be included in the most recent Nils Lofgren "Blind Date Jam" with my good friends Greg Varlotta & Gary Bruzzese.
Nils is much better at explaining the concept, but we basically got together for an evening and just started making music. Nils briefly described what he had in mind beforehand, and we counted off and tried our best to make something musical happen! It was exciting, exhilarating and, honestly, one of the best nights of my life.
Here's the link where you can read more about the concept and download the results:
http://nilslofgren.com/BlindDateJam17.html
(11/3/2017)