John McKenna

Bio:

Five hours from the nearest Interstate in a remote wilderness... I began these recordings during a hoary winter feeling defeated from a lack of direction, reeling from a withering relationship and the recent passing of my father. It was there that I began crafting songs in a hunter’s cabin in the Vallecito Lake region nestled up against the vast Weminuche Wilderness of South Western Colorado. This is where the initial 10 songs of 1969 Gypsy were humbly recorded on a Roland VS-880. The electricity was unreliable, the cabin lacked modern insulation, but the experience was truly transformational. I could make music... alone. Ironically, that demo set me on a winding road of bands, band names, cities and dimly lit night-clubs that ends here with this compilation. Hundreds of songs, dozens of bands and a myriad of gigs later, 1969 Gypsy marks the departure of the singer/songwriter defeated behind a mosaic of pseudonyms and the unveiling of the vulnerable man himself…












John McKenna, the former lead singer of beloved KC rock band Red Guitar, recently moved to California and fine-tuned his sound. His new solo album, Stone Cold Summer, has a sunny sensibility that is unmistakable.

McKenna’s new songs reflect his new lifestyle: beachy and pop-centric, like vintage Beach Boys tunes.

-Ink-



John McKenna may not be a name that strikes you as familiar, but when I add the information "former lead singer of Red Guitar", many of you will go "ahhh". (Others, no doubt will ask "Who was Red Guitar?" The answer is here. That disc was 21 in my top 100 of 2006, by the way.) Anyway, McKenna left the Midwestern band last year, moving to California. So now that he's literally not in Kansas any more, how does his first solo disc stack up?

Quite well, thank you, and it's not a replication of Red Guitar's sound. It's just as melodic (if not moreso), but instead of Red Guitar's heartland U2/Coldplay orientation, what we have here is something with a mellower vibe, in tune with his California move. In fact, it reminds me a great deal of The Autumn Defense and Hotel Lights, two projects that saw members break away from their famous bands (Wilco and Ben Folds Five, respectively) to create their own sound. The comparison also holds up as McKenna is similar vocally to John Stirratt and Darren Jessee.

Opener "Stay In My Mind" is a perfect example of this sound, slinking along with a hummable melody and California feel. "Dedicated" is a bit perkier, with an excellent chorus that recalls some of Red Guitar's better moments. The title track and its effortless melody is a particular standout, . Other highlights include "Blues & Greens", which rocks out more than the rest of the disc, although in relative terms; the dreamy "Into The Wild", and the closer "The Man In Me", which starts off with an awkward cough and a count-in that segues into a 70s-ish gospel/honkytonk/folk number. Stone Cold Summer is a fine debut that avoids the "lead singer goes solo and puts out watered down version of his band disc" trap that's so common in cases like this.

-Absolute Powerpop-



Now in his 30s, McKenna looked alt preacher man in his black suit and casual fedora. His band included three high-class ladies, in cocktail dresses, on backup vocals, each of whom was married to a band member. McKenna's songs are smooth, attentive to melody and — get this — happy. One song is based on the kids' book Go, Dog. Go! that, McKenna said, you've read to your kids unless you simply don't care about them. The ditty's called "Play, Dog, Play" and is one infectious kibble. In addition to the chaste lyric We fall asleep after we talk into the night, the song "Stay In My Mind" boasts the line One glass of red wine gives me a headache. But I know McKenna's not the abstemious type — he accepted a Tanqueray and tonic from this here devil after the show.

..-The Pitch-



"Probably some of the best indie music I've heard in a while. Music that makes you smile and wish that summer would never end. From start to finish this album is smooth like a good cold beer on a hot summer night. Go to www.noisetrade.com to find and download the album. Oh yeah you can do it for free! The best price by far! I'd spend full price for this great album! Bravo John McKenna!"

-Matthew B-



John McKenna, former front man for the Kansas City band Red Guitar just released a solo album and, unlike most singer/songwriters that divorce their bands, McKenna’s new record has a totally refreshing sound that’s not just a one-man reboot of the same song craft. Stone Cold Summer captures all the melodic simplicity and perfect hooks of 1960s California surf-pop, with some pretty haunting vocal and instrumental elements and earnest, poetic lyrics.

-iResQ Blog-

Member Since:

October 15, 2008

Members:

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Influences:

Neil Young Bon Iver Fleet Foxes Ryan Adams

Sounds Like:

RYAN ADAMS, ELLIOT SMITH, WILCO, PAUL MCCARTNEY, THE BEACH BOYS













John McKenna - Google Profile