Who Knew Charlie Shoe?, by Richard Leo Johnson & Gregg Bendian

Who Knew Charlie Shoe?

by Richard Leo Johnson & Gregg Bendian

supported by

Carsten Pieper Acoustic guitar and found percussion devices can make for a very entertaining, verstatile album if in able hands, which they obviously have been for these recordings!
Mostly acoustic (instrumental) folk, I'd label this, plus a little avantgarde adventures, here and there. Favorite track: I Believe in Reintarnation.

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	1.	Swap Meet Sunday 00:51
	2.	Rockasilly 02:35
	3.	Shack in the Back 03:38
	4.	First Breath in a Bean Field 01:58
	5.	Little Sparrow 03:46
	6.	I Believe in Reintarnation 02:49
	7.	Superman 03:44
	8.	Like Father Like Son 01:23
	9.	Junk Fish Out of Water 02:47
	10.	Jesus on a Tire Swing 02:32
	11.	Looking for Vernon 00:48
	12.	Where the Rivers Meet 02:41
	13.	When I Met Chet 02:07
	14.	Itty Bitty Ditty 01:16
	15.	Where the River Meets the Hills 02:39
	16.	Uncle Toby's Place 05:02
	17.	Good Soldier 02:10
	18.	Circus Came and Went 01:07
	19.	Blind Injustice 02:30
	20.	Whitewash Worship Warehouse/ Fine Washer and Dryer 03:47
	21.	Forgotten Lullaby 03:00

about

Richard Leo Johnson's style on the acoustic guitar is marked by emotional depth, complexity and hauntingly unfamiliar harmonies. Percussionist Gregg Bendian is the leader of The Mahavishnu Project and Interzone. They have toured together in the past, opening for King Crimson, among others, but this is their first recording together.

This record is an extension of the music and story of Vernon McAlister and his music's influence on the people he encountered, which started on Richard's last record, The Legend of Vernon McAlister. As on that album, Richard has taken on a character's role in order to 'get inside' of the music.

Charlie is a self-taught guitarist from Marked Tree, Arkansas who has developed his own way of playing the guitar, after a chance encounter with Vernon. "Junk Fish" was a successful drummer in the 1970s, but was eventually a casuality of the rock and roll lifestyle. He sold his drums, moved to Marked Tree and works in the salvage yard where he and Charlie met.

Richard and Gregg work with "junk" percussion, cheap guitars purchased off eBay, field recordings and simple tape effects to make a kaleidoscopic, down-home, psychedelic experience.

In a few spots, Gregg's non-standard percussion instruments are reminscent of the Harry Partch instruments, and the music emerges that resembles the imaginary meeting of Harry Partch and John Fahey!

"When you enter the surreal sonic wonderland of Who Knew Charlie Shoe – and you definitely should – prepare to be amazed, amused, exasperated and, above all, eminently entertained. The faux folkloric alternate musical universe created by the duo of guitarist Richard Leo Johnson and percussionist Gregg Bendian is nothing less than the stuff of genius.

Equiped with cheap guitars and improvised percussive devices, the duo crafts a low-tech high concept album that explores the life of a fictional backwater Arkansas savant in 21 succinct and surprising tracks. A few tracks are closer to artfully arranged noise than songs, but the majority are tuneful, cheerful and melodic.

A force of nature guitarist, Johnson's personalized playing is pure and unpredictable, as it provides points of reference to other guitarists, especially John Fahey in his more adventurous acoustic period – but only in passing as it relentlessly races down uncharted idiosyncratic paths all its own. If you don't hear a particular guitar style – blues, classical, jazz, folk or none of the above – give the album another listen, because Johnson plays it well at some point..."
- Downbeat

"Johnson is perhaps the real heir to the throne left empty when John Fahey died. His acoustic guitar playing is subtly virtuosic, and his music is informed by everything from Stravinsky to folk music to acid rock. Drummer Bendian reveals another side of his colorful, experimental nature."
- John Schaefer /WNYC

credits

released October 9, 2007

Richard Leo Johnson - five vintage guitars purchased on eBay for around a hundred dollars each, an early 60s 12-string Harmony guitar, a 1930s concertina.

Gregg Bendian - lard can, blocks o' wood, chunks o' metal, washtub, washboard, pots, pans, springs, bowls, rakes, etc.

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about

Cuneiform Records Washington, D.C.

Cuneiform Records is an independent record label releasing adventurous, boundary-bursting music by artists from around the world.

Founded in 1984.
Based in Washington D.C.

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