Sometimes there's a man... I won't say "Hero," 'cause what's a hero? But sometimes there's a man... and I'm talkin' about the dude here. Sometimes there's a man, well, he's the man for his time and place. He fits right in there...
Brooklyn born John Biz is making some of the most urgent, personal music going these days. Raised on Staten Island (fronting punk bands by age 13), then absorbing the ocean vibes of Long Beach as a surrealist painter, Biz returned to Brooklyn in 2002. Inspired by Ween, Beach Boys, Neil Young, Wipers (and then some), Biz honed his vintage ethos to a barbed emotional point.
His new album, Vida is his second collaboration with legendary engineer Steve Albini (Nirvana, Pixies). Marked by unashamed vocals, mind bending Ween-meets-Jimmy Page guitars and a 70's rock-perfecto rhythm section featuring Bonham-esqe drums & McCartney-meets-Entwistle style bass, Vida delivers analog sounds that bring back the golden era - loud engine, soft breeze- good living.
Biz's songs: magnetic ballads of life & love. Keeping with the spirit of the Bob Dylan performance mantra, Biz's raw, honest songs are folk derivatives pursuing an ever changing light - he loves to keep the audience as much on their toes as he is. Watching him, one gets the impression he is equal part listener and performer, adjusting each note as though he were leading us through a shifting maze. Each show is a unique artistic incarnation, pouring warm melodies into a fresh pool of musical persona. At the artist's discretion, any song could bestow an acoustic country ballad one night and a ferocious punk anthem the next. In defiance of the constantly evolving live shows, John Biz embodies the unwavering focus of a whirlpool of imagination; swelling waves of listeners anew, challenging and compelling them in the same breath.
The man has bona fide gravity. If you plan on seeing John Biz live, get there early - you won't be alone.
I don't know about you, but I take comfort in that. It's good knowing he's out there, taking it easy for all of us sinners. Shoosh, I sure hope he makes the finals.
Problems reaching me on myspace? Well...
"I'm sorry, I wasn't listening..."
-dude
I don't do this all the time either, but sometimes it's fun: Twitter.com/johnbiz
Jambands.com Review of Vida and tXXXs Demos, December 2008
"Biz is definitely all over the map on this one, yet it undeniably works." - Matt Brockett
Full Jambands.com review - it's a good one!
John Biz on Matt Pinfield, 101.9RXP: Featured on the Matt Pinfield in the Mornings show November 2008
"Great stuff from John Biz. He's got a really cool album out called Vida. Man this is really cool - the whole album. Check it out." - Matt Pinfield
John Biz: voted "Artist of the Month" @ The Deli Magazine October 2008
CMJ Festival Guide 2008
John Biz: Friday October 24th 2008 @ Pete's Candy Store
Indie rock to accompany your morning subway trips for months. First it's like, then it's love.
The Deli Magazine Issue 16, Volume 2 Fall 2008 CMJ Issue
"Don't speak. Just listen to the intros of John Biz's "Spider Bite" and "Reduce it to Something" and appreciate how heartfelt instrumentals (recorded by Steve Albini) can tell a story without any words. Within upbeat pop tunes, unexpected horns and subtle bass compliment distinct guitar riffs. Biz seems to enjoy switching from quick to slow tempos, which keeps listeners' interest, attentive to the scarce but important words in most of his tracks."
-G.A.
Pick up the current issue of The Deli Magazine (NYC Music 'zine - August 2008) - Great interview with JB about Industrial Park Records.
John Biz - Fan Voted 1 Brooklyn Artist in Rock Republic on 101.9rxp NYC Rock Radio from May - October 2008
www.1019rxp.com
"Brooklyn’s John Biz, who just collaborated with NYC cult heroes Higgins to record “Vida”, which includes a Hot Snakes cover with the personal blessing of John Reis, with legendary engineer Steve Albini. Biz was recently showcased (officially) at CMJ and (unofficially) at SxSW. Check out johnbiz.com for West Coast tour dates this August."
NWMusicblog.com, May 2008
Full interview: JB North West Music Blog Interview
"There will surely be lip synching fans galore."
-Sandiegopunk.com
"Several influences saturate this record from start to finish, all resembling some of the solidest bands around... be sure to pick up a copy of Vida."
-Verbicide Magazine, Spring 2008
"His thoughtful delivery will call to mind Jonathan Richman with a side of The Replacements, updated for the new millennium of listeners reliving the same frustrations and longings those original alt daddies articulated so well."
-Bands On The Rise, Verbicide Magazine- Winter 2008
"A dirty, exciting and high volume trip through one of the city's hippest minds, and as such, shouldn't dare be missed by anyone that even pretends to have their finger on the pulse of the underground music scene. The boy is gonna blow up! "
-The Deli Magazine, November 2007
"John Biz is worth a listen if you too prefer The Pixies and GbV to… well, whatever shitty band your dumb kid thinks is cool."
-Verbicide Magazine, Fall 2007
"As Many Thumbs Up As Possible. This new album is just plain killer."
-Austin Chronicle reader Comments during SxSW 2008 - www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/ReaderComments
"At SXSW, playing at the Co-Op on the corner of Sixth Street and Trinity, Staten Island songwriter John Biz pays tribute to Woody Guthrie with his National Seashore project."
-indyweek.com - Metaphors, memories and miscellany from South by Southwest
"Industrial Park Records, the East Williamsburg-based label run by John Biz, a workhorse of a man who not only spent the entire showcase last night at the Tank... introducing and promoting the artists, thanking everyone who’s been supportive of them, but also performing two sets himself. He’s certainly no one-trick pony."
-Allmusic CMJ Review
"A melodic and folk-inflected group."
-Allmusic CMJ Crush Band
"John Biz, a talented young man with varying musical interests. I'm getting the feeling that Biz has a challenging time sitting still; which is good for us music fans. He's got several musical persona and founded a label on top of it all to put all this great music out."
-somevelvetblog.blogspot.com CMJ Review
CMJ07 Recommendations - Industrial Park Records Label Showcase, featuring John Biz, National Seashore, Higgins, Super Monster, Bones of Davey Jones, and Norris.
-http://subinev.com - CMJ Recommendations
Okay, now that CMJ is good and over, let’s take a look back at a few highlights... Then it was on to the Industrial Park Records showcase at The Tank - a great way to end the night.
-http://www.stereoactivenyc.com - CMJ Recap
"The Williamsburg-based Industrial Park Records showcase features an eclectic night of indie folk at a hip, relocated performance space in Tribeca called The Tank."
http://timessquare.com - CMJ 2007
"Said it before, but I was reminded tonight during the Industrial Park Records CMJ showcase at the Tank: steal global, buy local."
-http://www.wunderkammern27.com - CMJ 2007 Recap
"John Biz is a throwback to the punk rock days. If you like that style of music at all, you will like John Biz."
-BVSreviews.com
"By now the scene in Brooklyn has probably gotten so hipper-than-thou that it's already imploded and moved back to Omaha or Austin, but John Biz is out there trying to keep it real."
-Culture Bunker
John Biz: Named One of the Top Emerging Artists of 2006
THE DELI MAGAZINE, NYC
"Once homeless and hungry; Biz used the experience to fuel his creativity and his drive to succeed. His hard work has paid off. The Happiest Days of My Life his latest CD is a Rock and Roll Record reminiscent of the late seventies Punk movement and it explores the turmoil in his life and the belief that good can be found in whatever situation you find yourself in."
-Interview with Bruce Moore
"Listening to this record it is obvious that John Biz is not the typical singer-songwriter; this guy's material is not meant for coffee shops, the 11-songs on this album are raw rock tunes featuring distorted guitar and great beats... Not your typical singer-songwriter stuff, Biz brings the raw rock. "
-PunkNation.com
" A great rock album, which has those punk over tones, with a little bit of Nirvana thrown in for good measure. A great album to test out that new stereo or MP3 player that you get for Christmas. "
-Indie Launchpad Review
"John Biz: Check it out. Trust me, it's well worth it... really amazing stuff and he is a really nice guy. His music is a bunch of genres grouped into one sound. Punk/grunge/alternative/acoustic. It sounds a lot like Nirvana. He is also an amazing artist. That alone should give you enough reason to checkout johnbiz.com and explore some of his music/art. I'd like to thank John for his incredible music. I admire his ambition and talent very much. John, you're a true inspiration."
-Night and day café blog post
"John wanted The Happiest Days of My Life to stand on the strength of the songs alone. Amazingly, in this day of "production-or-crap" mentality, The Happiest Days of My Life has the strength to stand up on Jupiter (gravity reference there for you brainy types). Bottom line: If you're tired of the same crap that gets rammed down your throat every day, month after month, year after year, then The Happiest Days of My Life will be a breath of fresh air."
-Hard Rock Haven Review
"a majority of these songs were the first take, which explains the rawness of them, but then again that's what makes this music so great. The slight flaws, the rawness, and the overall feeling of passion you get from these bouncy songs without this being emo. Solid record from start to finish and a must listen for any fan of rock music."
-All Ages Zine
"Biz delivers one gritty hard rock album."
-Rock Is Life
"Fuzzy indie-pop, recorded with Steve Albini. This record is actually very, very good."
-caffeineatnight.livejournal.com/
"This is far reaching power-pop that has occasional indie rock noodlings with driving guitar fuzz and infectious rhythms that are demanding."
-Smother
"John Biz may just be one of the brightest unsung lights on the Bowery for those of us who share this strange fascination with all things Big Apple - or even those who don't. His latest Steve Albini-produced disc, The Happiest Days of My Life, is - if not perfect - a by and large fine addition to that exalted East Coast rock pantheon."
-Score Music Magazine
hey man...psyched to hear youre going to texas again! im sure this is going to be an amazing point in your career. sorry jess and i cant be there for it. hopefully well cross paths again soon. by the way, love the latest painting.
Why do I have to go to johnbiz. com to find out you're coming to TX? West isnt even that far...
Is my girl coming too? Feel free to stop by for some old fashion Jodi Pants fun.
ive actully been in brooklyn all week cuz debbie and anthony has been away so ive been at ma grammas house hangin wit ma sis n bros, but ive been working in the city all week maybe ill come next sunday for the sunday party ur always telling me bout.. ill tell him to give u a call
There is a magical city called "Chicago." In it is a place of righteous and epic proportion called "Kuma's Corner." Jon Biz is loved by all who know him there.
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