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John Kennedy

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Released: Jan 1, 2009
Label:

General Info

  • Genre: Americana / Country / Rock

    Location Sydney, New South Wales, Au

    Profile Views: 27730

    Last Login: 2/3/2013

    Member Since 11/8/2006

    Website johnfranciskennedy.com.au

    Record Label Foghorn Records

    Type of Label Indie

  • Bio

    .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ......Someone's Dad CD.. available at ..Waterfront Records... .. ....Inner West CD.. available at ..CD Baby... .. .. ..Kennedy Town CD.. available at ..CD Baby... .. .. ..Fiction Facing Facts CD.. available at ..CD Baby... .. ..All songs from these CDs available for download from ..Apple iTunes..... .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. ..Misogynist Blues Again - Live Video.... .. ..Big Country Video.... .. ..Juliet Jones Video.... .. John Kennedy the musician, was a five year old in Liverpool the day the President died. In Australia at the age of ten, he took the confirmation name of Francis to complete the famous "J.F.K." moniker. It seemed like a good idea at the time. The joke has long since worn off for him, but it still takes some explaining. .. .. A young enthusiastic journalist once described John Kennedy as a humble genius. Kennedy is neither a genius nor particularly humble. He is the writer of many fine songs using a collection of pop, country, folk and rock influences to create the hydrid style he calls Urban and Western. .. .. Kennedy formed his first band in Brisbane, Australia in ..80. His family had migrated from England in the mid-..6o's and he was raised in the suburban wastelands on a diet of radio pop music. At the beginning of the 80..s, Kennedy brought his pop melodies and ideas to the flourishing post-punk Australian indie music scene. His name alone should have brought him commercial success. It didn..t, but he continued to release a series of successful independent records. .. .. The penchant for funny names continued with his first band "J.F.K. and the Cuban Crisis". "The Crisis" and his mid-80's Sydney band "John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong" became self-fulfilling prophecies. An invitation to perform at the inaugural Berlin Independence Days independent music conference in ..88 provided the incentive to leave Australia. In Berlin in the early '90's, Kennedy tried a more positive approach and formed "John Kennedy and the Honeymooners". Despite the optimism, the honeymoon ended and Kennedy went on to perform as a solo act. .. .. Since Berlin he has lived and made music in Hong Kong, Holland and London; living by the motto "Have Songs, Will Travel". Kennedy returned to Sydney at the start of the new millenium. With his new band, John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special he has a new album and label and lives once again in Sydney's inner-western suburbs. .. .. .. .. ..A Typical Interview with John Kennedy .... .. Typical question 1: Is John Kennedy your real name?.. Answer: Yes... Typical question 2: Your middle name doesn't start with an "F" does it?.. Answer: Yes... Typical question 3: Where do you come from?.. Answer: It..s a long story... Typical question 4: Why do you call your music "Urban and Western"?.. Answer: To give journalists a pigeonhole to put me into... Typical question 5: Are you really the Elvis Costello of Australia?.. Answer: No. I'm the Elvis Presley of Newtown... .. ..
  • Members

    John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special.. John Kennedy - Vocals, Acoustic and Branding, Smithy- Bass, Peter Timmerman - Drums and Race Results, Jeff Pope - Guitars and Cars, Glenn Pye - Harps and Harmonies
  • Influences

    John, Paul, George and Ringo, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley and Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg, The Go-Betweens, The Sports, The Reels, Mental As Anything
  • Sounds Like

    Elvis Costello, Edwyn Collins, John Wesley Harding

Comments

Post a comment...
  • Anthony Kost

    Great show at Lomond in Brunswick. Make a summer time retreat to the colony of Port Phillip from harbour town.

    2 years ago
    • John Kennedy

       Hi Anthony, good to meet you there again. We should be back in town in Feb or March if Keiran gets funding to stage Ladders By The Sea (Drummer Peter and I provide live music in the play.) If there's some gigs where you are let me know and I'll look into it.
      cheers,
      John

      1 year ago
  • Mo Trowell & the Delive…

    "BLACK HILL HIGHWAY"
    CD GIVEAWAY SHOWS

    Featuring
    CHUCK'S WAGON
    MO TROWELL & THE DELIVERY
    ROLAND K. SMITH & THE SINNERS
    THE DENNIS BOYS BAND

    FRIDAY OCTOBER 29TH
    SANDRINGHAM HOTEL, NEWTOWN

    SATURDAY OCTOBER 30TH
    HAMILTON STATION HOTEL, NEWCASTLE

    EVERY PAYER RECEIVES A FREE CD




    2 years ago
  • Mo Trowell & the Delive…

    GUNS BEHIND THE BAR
    THE ALT-COUNTRY EVENT OF THE YEAR

    Featuring
    JOHN KENNEDY'S 68 COMEBACK SPECIAL
    THE RAMALAMAS (First Show in 18 Months)
    MO TROWELL & THE DELIVERY
    ROLAND K SMITH & THE SINNERS
    49 GOODBYES

    SUNDAY, AUGUST 1ST
    THE ANNANDALE HOTEL






    2 years ago
  • The Music of Ma

    MA vs. Dyan Tai + Pink Ribbons (electro pop orgy) The Excelsior Hotel, Bridge Rd, Glebe FBI & 2SER darlings MA “Goldfrapp meets Hall and Oates” team up with Dyan Tai "keytar playing, beatbox beating love child of Prince and Gaga” for a night of pure electropop goodness. It's all about the pop song baby! NEWS FLASH! Electro/Punk misfits Pink Ribbons will be joining in on the night! http://www.facebook.com/pages/Pink-Ribbons/107400815963690?ref=ts Featuring Lady White, Red Dog, Technicolour Ninja and some drummer sonofabitch! 22nd July Thursday Night (coz it feels alright) FREE ENTRY 7.30pm til late

    2 years ago
  • Mo Trowell & the Delive…

    We're playing at the Botany View Hotel
    Sunday, July 11th
    We're on stage at 7pm sharp
    Come on down...




    2 years ago
  • 2 years ago
  • James

    wow I just recieved my free iphone, check it out http://is.gd/cVNmd it was incredibly easy! #freeiPhone

    2 years ago
  • Guillermo Gris

    Have you checked out Capacity Productions yet?




    More Fans!
    More Plays!
    More Views!
    Record Label shopping!
    Radio blasting and more!





    They hook up websites too!




    2 years ago
  • Mo Trowell & the Delive…

    SURF & TURF WEEKEND
    FRIDAY JUNE 18TH - MANLY FISHO'S
    SUNDAY JUNE 20TH - BRASS MONKEY




    2 years ago
  • 2 years ago
10 of 95More

Bio:


Someone's Dad CD available at Waterfront Records.

Inner West CD available at CD Baby.

Kennedy Town CD available at CD Baby.

Fiction Facing Facts CD available at CD Baby.

All songs from these CDs available for download from Apple iTunes.



Misogynist Blues Again - Live Video

Big Country Video

Juliet Jones Video

John Kennedy the musician, was a five year old in Liverpool the day the President died. In Australia at the age of ten, he took the confirmation name of Francis to complete the famous "J.F.K." moniker. It seemed like a good idea at the time. The joke has long since worn off for him, but it still takes some explaining.

A young enthusiastic journalist once described John Kennedy as a humble genius. Kennedy is neither a genius nor particularly humble. He is the writer of many fine songs using a collection of pop, country, folk and rock influences to create the hydrid style he calls Urban and Western.

Kennedy formed his first band in Brisbane, Australia in ..80. His family had migrated from England in the mid-..6o’s and he was raised in the suburban wastelands on a diet of radio pop music. At the beginning of the 80..s, Kennedy brought his pop melodies and ideas to the flourishing post-punk Australian indie music scene. His name alone should have brought him commercial success. It didn..t, but he continued to release a series of successful independent records.

The penchant for funny names continued with his first band "J.F.K. and the Cuban Crisis". "The Crisis" and his mid-80's Sydney band "John Kennedy's Love Gone Wrong" became self-fulfilling prophecies. An invitation to perform at the inaugural Berlin Independence Days independent music conference in ..88 provided the incentive to leave Australia. In Berlin in the early '90's, Kennedy tried a more positive approach and formed "John Kennedy and the Honeymooners". Despite the optimism, the honeymoon ended and Kennedy went on to perform as a solo act.

Since Berlin he has lived and made music in Hong Kong, Holland and London; living by the motto “Have Songs, Will Travel”. Kennedy returned to Sydney at the start of the new millenium. With his new band, John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special he has a new album and label and lives once again in Sydney's inner-western suburbs.



A Typical Interview with John Kennedy

Typical question 1: Is John Kennedy your real name?
Answer: Yes.
Typical question 2: Your middle name doesn’t start with an "F" does it?
Answer: Yes.
Typical question 3: Where do you come from?
Answer: It..s a long story.
Typical question 4: Why do you call your music “Urban and Western”?
Answer: To give journalists a pigeonhole to put me into.
Typical question 5: Are you really the Elvis Costello of Australia?
Answer: No. I’m the Elvis Presley of Newtown.

Member Since:

November 08, 2006

Members:

John Kennedy's '68 Comeback Special
John Kennedy - Vocals, Acoustic and Branding, Smithy- Bass, Peter Timmerman - Drums and Race Results, Jeff Pope - Guitars and Cars, Glenn Pye - Harps and Harmonies

Influences:

John, Paul, George and Ringo, Johnny Cash and Bob Dylan, Patsy Cline, Elvis Presley and Costello, Bruce Springsteen, Billy Bragg, The Go-Betweens, The Sports, The Reels, Mental As Anything

Sounds Like:

Elvis Costello, Edwyn Collins, John Wesley Harding

Record Label:

Foghorn Records

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