Jonny Cat Collectibles

Found some old Jonny Cats artwork while visiting NM last week. Thought I'd share them. Here's some music to go along with the images.

Banksy Cat in Tokyo

The Jonny Cats bandcamp page now has the whole catalog - so you can make your own Cat Box set.

The Jonny Cats: S.B.C.P.M.F.

Recently uncovered masters from The Jonny Cats. These songs were released in very limited edition cassettes back in 1994. The Burrrns Rubber 7" was taken from these sessions. Hearing them now, in better fidelity, after over 15 years; they seem to have aged like fine whisky. Rumor has it that Kenta and Jon (along with High Iron) are playing these tunes again. Recordist: Ryan Martino. Also available on on bandcamp.

High Iron - Tiger Blood

Jonny Cats Kenta and Jon are in a great new band, High Iron. Kenta just posted a new track over at soundcloud. Check it out.



While you are there, you can also check out the aboombong page. Along with admixture,(also available on bandcamp) there are some tracks aboombong has contributed to the disquiet junto project. Have been having fun with these. If you are a musician both the junto and admixture are looking for your participation. Don't be shy.

teenage wearwolves- live in Santa Fe

A couple of videos featuring Kenta, from The Jonny Cats. These were recorded recently at El Corazon in Santa Fe, NM. Enjoy.

Teenage Werewolves at Corazon #2 from Santa Fe Pulse on Vimeo.

Teenage Werewolves at Corazon from Santa Fe Pulse on Vimeo.

Don't forget you can support our work here at Pen & Mallet by purchasing something from aboombong , psychic enemies network, or azwarm, (name your own price) or making a donation via a "donate" button here at Pen & Mallet.

Roots: Eric Hisaw

When I was a kid I spent many a summer on my grandfather's cattle ranch in Oklahoma. One summer when I was about 12 or 13 I remember going to a farm auction and there being a western swing trio tucked in the corner of the large metal barn beside a large combine while neighbors and strangers stoically examined the detritus of a family's crumbling business, looking for a deal. The strange combination of melancholy and perseverance that permeated the scene and the music stuck with me and changed my perspective on western music, which I had not really had much use for up to that point. As an adult I have been in several bands that played some variant of western-tinged music, the most successful being cowpunkers The Jonny Cats. Today's featured Friend of the Show artist, Eric Hisaw, is the man from the circle of Jonny Cat friends who, to my mind, most influenced The Jonny Cats' particular take on American roots music. He's the real deal...a true American troubadour with a deep sense of the musical tradition that permeates the Southwestern United States. He's now active on the very vital music scene in his adopted home of Austin Texas. You can check out a selection of his songs over at reverbnation.








You can, of course, hear/download The Jonny Cats at the internet archive.


In aboombong news: The new album is sequenced, and with some artwork and a few final touches should be available soon. Stay tuned. Also, shout out to The Light That Failed who has featured songs from asynchronic and aboombong along side a host of other cool underground music.

Outer Space Tonight: more from Swayback

This week we have more Americana from Swayback.

Style: cow punk, surf punk, garage, Americana
Album: Outer Space Tonight -unreleased demo E.P.
Recorded live to Minidisc in 2002.
Engineered by David Chavez.
Players:
Lucky- Bass,
Jon Reed -Guitar & Vocals;
me-drum kit.

Track list:

1)And then Aliens Invaded From Space
2)Ready to Fall Again
3)Step Through the Door
4)Clean My Bones
5)Last Ride

These are pretty high fidelity, so I went ahead and uploaded them to the internet archive in lossless Flac format (MP3 and Ogg Vorbis too, don't worry). If you are not familiar with Flac, you can find out more info here including free software that allows you to use the format.

For any recordings in previous posts that are of high enough quality, I will be posting Flac versions on the internet archive. If you have a request, let me know.

Slow Mohicans in the Family

I am in the process of going through my many minidiscs in order to put together a collection of unreleased ambient and experimental tracks. It's not ready yet, so I am doing a quick detour today.

My brother has a new release out, Slow Mohicans, so I thought I would spread the word. If you have Rhapsody, you can preview it (if you don't, you can set up an account and listen for free).

The record is available on iTunes, on Rhapsody, at CD Baby, and at other fine outlets. More information and plenty more music is available at the Skin & Barrel website.

The CD Baby page allows you to hear 30 second snippets.

The Jonny Cats' Last: Ode to Sergio

Today we have the final album by The Jonny Cats. It was recorded in the waning days of the cowboy lounge just as the band's dedication to all things self-destructive began to take over and tore the band apart. Copies of the album have circulated hand-to-hand among friends of the band, but it has never had an official release. To my ears this is a more distinctive album than Burrrns Rubber with a clear connection to traditions in American roots music that recognizes punk rock's place as roots music. So, grab your best girl or guy, hop in the convertible Caddy, turn this one up loud, and hit the road...but be sure to hold on to your hat.

Record: Last - Ode to Sergio (FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MP3)
Style: surfbeatcowpunkmutherfucker, Americana
Recorded in 1995, never released.


Tracklist:
1) Ode to Sergio
2) Bring Down the Bull
3) Parched
4) Johnny T's O.D.
5) Hellfire and Damnation
6) Fix Up My Tears
7) Face Down
8) Mi Vida es a Toda Madre
9) Creepin' Man

Enjoy.
Update: Now officially endorsed by the great PunksOnPostcards blog

The Jonny Cats burn rubber on a punk rock 7 inch

By request we have what will be the only vinyl posted here.

The second release by The Jonny Cats was this punk rock 7 inch. These sold out quickly, but if you are in Albuquerque, Dave over at Charley's Records & Tapes (7602 Menaul Blvd NE Albuquerque NM 87110, (505) 296-3685) tells me he has a few tucked away.

The Jonny Cats were:
Kenta Henmi - lead guitar
Dave Chavez - bass
Jonny Jarden - vocals, nudity
Jonny Reed - guitar
Johnny T- drum kit

Record: Burrrns Rubber
Style: surfbeatcowpunkmutherfucker
Released in 1994 on 7" vinyl (500 copies).
33 &1/3rd RPM
American Low Fidelity Recordings
Cover art by J.B. Jones (R.I.P.)

Download

Track list (player plays all tracks):
1) Pinky Black
2) Comfort
3) White Trash
4) Whiskey Woman

Stupid trivia...rumor has it that this poster was seen hanging on the wall at the Rock-n-Roll Hall of Fame.

Stay tuned for A.O.S., more Waltz Bop Shop, the unreleased Jonny Cats full-length, more experimental soundscapes, the genius of Joe Brown, and whatever else I can dig up.

Enjoy

Swayback - Last Ride (unreleased demo)

unreleased single from 2002
style: cow punk

Players:
Jon - Guitar and vocals
Lucky - Bass
me - drum kit

Swayback was a short lived trio I was in with my old bandmate Jon Reed from the Jonny Cats (watch for Jonny Cats posts soon). Last Ride is a little diddy we recorded as a demo. The band did only one show, but I really liked the direction it was going.

Go on one "Last Ride" (@320) (also here)


Update: Check out Lucky and Jon in Sin Serenade.