Johnny on the Rise

Press

"Fantastico. Finalmente c'è qualcosa di diverso in giro, in Italia ci mancava, e adesso c'è... "Down South" è una piccola perla di originalità, grazia e talento che un ascoltatore attento ed esigente non potrà non apprezzare."
Rockit.it
Review on Rockit.it (Italian)

"They rock, they sing, they slip, they slide" ... "they also prove that they have the constitution for serious songs like the deep and thoughtful tune “The Wind” which tells a heart-breaking story of destiny and love in a moving, poetic way" ... "Johnny on the Rise has recently received a good deal of attention in the Roman music scene..."
garagepress.com
Review on Garage Press (Italian/English)

...se vi capitano a tiro non perdeteli, sicuramente il loro stile è caratterizzato dall'acustica (chitarra acustica) che onestamente trovo sempre interessante e coraggiosa, alla fine così nascono le canzoni..
mydistortions.blogspot.com
Review on mydistortions.blogspot.com

‘Johnny On The Rise’ brengen een vorm van Americana die gebaseerd is op een mix van blues, folk en rockmuziek.
rootstime.be
Review on rootstime.be

About Johnny on the Rise

The band was born in the womb of eve, where late at night the serpant´s magical seed met the bodacious ovum of the mother of all creation. There in that most hideous of acts the band sprawled forth like the bastard child that it was. Unbeknownst to adam, the illegitimate child would grow and mature and spread it´s evil throughout the earth. Johnny was his name. That´s what I´m talkin´ about, the man, primordial and distructive, on the rise to make satan´s will known among men. Something so terrifying that the Bible dares not speak of it, for fear of reprisals. but we are here to make the world know that we are his progeny.

Biography

Johnny on the Rise’s debut, Down South, is an amalgam of sound, ranging from the early roots of country to classic and modern rock. An unlikely pair, these two young men crossed paths in Rome, Italy – one, an Italian raised in Germany and the other hailing from Atlanta, Georgia. The two share lead on their debut album, providing a range of vocal sounds. In addition to vocal diversity, JOTR utilizes harmonica and mandolin alongside the more typical guitar arrangements. The first track from JOTR’s debut, “Pretty Baby Blues” has a rhythm driven primarily by harmonica and is a wonderful homage to the importance and influence of the blues on what would later become honky-tonk, while “Poor Man’s Soul” has qualities reminiscent of The Doors and even Pearl Jam. Down South is as much a biography as it is an album; the telling of both individual and shared experiences from the duo. Just like any biography, it is the past that shapes the identity: Down South is born from musical and experiential impressions, and its identity is a celebration of such influences. While it is impossible to limit Johnny on the Rise and their debut album to a specific style or genre, their passion for music is evident with the voicing of every lyric and with the pluck of every string. If you enjoy music, you should enjoy Down South.

Right now they are working on their second Album, Into the Light. The single "Into the Light" has been released on iTunes.

The band came about after Salvatore and Nick's fateful encounter at an Open Mic Session at the Fiddler's Elbow Irish Pub in Rome, Italy. That very evening one Thursday in early 2008, while Nick was on stage performing a song, Salvatore stepped impulsively up to the mic to accompany his newly-acquainted friend with some unrehearsed back-up vocals, effectively "ruining the song." After sharing in some laughs, some whiskey, and some Guinness, the two settled their disputes and formed what would become a lasting friendship.

Shortly after meeting, they started noticing a certain shared taste in music. They then began jamming together, first at the Open Mic; later, also on other occasions. As their respective sounds began to mesh and their musical skillsets improved, they received compliments often enough that it inspired the two performers to go ahead and found a band all their own.

With this, they started down a novel road of study and creativity, discovering the roots and technical intricacies of their favorite music (classic rock, blues, folk) and of live performance as well as producing their own musical compositions inspired by their heroes and personal life experience. Both Nick and Salva, from a young age, have found joy and contentment in sharing music with others. Today, they are young men whose enthusiasm for their art-form never ceases. We invite you to enjoy the sound of Johnny on the Rise.

The Band
Salvatore Benintende (aka Johnny Savalange) - vocals, guitar
Nicholas Youmans - vocals, guitar
Paul Den Arend/Alessandro Perilli - guitar
Giacomo Melillo - drums
Nat Leone - saxophone
Carlo Caponi/Anthony McGoniggle - bass

Johnny on the Rise supports:

Member Since:

October 19, 2009

Members:

Salvatore Benintende "Johnny Savalange", Nick Youmans "Stallone"

Influences:

Bruce Springsteen, Johnny Cash, Hank Williams, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan, The Beatles, The Doors, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, BB King, Robert Johnson, Willie Dixon, the Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Led Zeppelin, Elvis, CCR, Iron and Wine, Jack Johnson, Colin Hay, Dave Matthews, Gavin DeGraw, Jason Mraz, Leonard Cohen, Lou Reed, Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel, John Mayer...

The Album "Down south" is available here:

Record Label:

Anagnina Records