Do you remember rock and roll radio? The harmonies, the hooks, the choruses? Johnny Payne does. Or more specifically, he remembers that beautifully fucked up arc of let’s say ’70 to ’76, that time when the impossibly bright lights of an entire generation’s youthful idealism gave way to the muted amber glow of adult burn-out. You might know Johnny Payne as co-frontman of shaggy-pop auteurs The Shilohs. You might even know their three largely unheard albums of impeccably rendered pop rock. But this is something else. Where The Shilohs are a working rock band in the classic sense (remember when there were working rock bands?) Payne has ditched the band to strike out on his own as a bona fide solo singer-songwriter and the result is the almost self-titled EP Johnny.
Craving an escape from the endless parade of yoga mats and craft beer culture that defines his native Vancouver, Payne accepted the invitation of Pat Riley and Alaina Moore (of indie heavyweights Tennis) to record in their home studio in Denver, Colorado. Working closely with Riley and Moore, trading instruments and ideas, and with Beach House drummer James Barone in tow, Payne came out the other side with the solo EP Johnny. These five songs find Payne pushing his craft into full on adult-contemporary mode, channeling the visionary spirit of Harry Nilsson, Laura Nyro, even Carole King. Remember a time when even a weirdo like Todd Rundgren could score a soft rock top hit? Johnny Payne does.
On Johnny, the vibe is all chipped champagne glasses and smeared bathroom mirrors, all the busted stuff that collects in the wake of one’s life. Standing alone at the microphone, Payne shows himself for who he is on these songs – a grown man having to let go of the past. There are tears of regret, tears of joy. There are red roses, blue oceans, and slow golden mornings spent staring out the window as the world drifts by. So light a smoke, have another sip, and enjoy the good times while they last – here comes Johnny.
Today Glide is excited to premiere the video for Payne’s standalone single “All Messed Up”. The video follows a group of people as they leave a lousy bar and head to a rollicking party. Musically, Payne opts for a happy to tone as he conjures a classic pop sound reminiscent of acts like Electric Light Orchestra and George Harrison. The characters in the video engage in a fun dance party, which is fitting as this is sort of a happy-go-lucky tune. Besides maybe Low Cut Connie, few acts are taking a piano-driven approach to rock and pop music, and for that we should be grateful to Mr. Payne and his talented band. This is a song about letting your inhibitions go and having a good time.
Johnny Payne describes the inspiration behind the tune in his own words:
“My new song means exactly what it says. There’s no mystery behind it. It’s literal. I was “All Messed Up” one night, and it made for a great story.
I went out to a club with some friends to see a band play. When the band finished, my friends wanted to leave but I wasn’t ready to. The club had a changeover at midnight; it went from a music venue to an all-out dance club. I decided to hang around and see what all the fuss was about. Groups of kids funneled in, and it quickly became a wild, sweaty dance party. I was out of place, for sure, but the crowd was welcoming and helped keep both my momentum and confidence up. I finished one drink after another with purpose, until I had a moment of uncertainty about how far deep I was in this goofy scene. But, when you’re that far along, sometimes the only thing you can do is keep going and let it all sort itself out. A good friend told me that once.
I eventually made my way outside for some air, but when I went to rejoin the party, I was met with a firm hand to the chest; the bouncer informed me I was too drunk to go back in. I told him to look down at my feet – I was barefoot. Apparently, I had taken my shoes off to dance at one point, and left them somewhere in the bar. He let me go back in to find them but said I had to leave again right away once I had them. Of course, I went straight back to the dance floor. I don’t remember getting home that night, but when I woke up the next morning, I immediately sat down at the piano to gulp out this tune.”
WATCH:
