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June 04, 2008 - We're Back!!

Hey everybody! Been awhile since we updated the news page. The Nighthawks have finished recording a new CD at Cue Recorders, Falls Church, VA. No title yet, but we have 13 songs to choose from, including four penned by yours truly. We hope to have it available by the end of Summer.

The 'Hawks have a busy Spring and Summer planned with Festivals, Outdoor Concerts, Wine festivals, and more on the schedule. We have 3 dates at the end of June playing with the legendary Hubert Sumlin. Check the Nighthawks web site for the when and where's.

After playing a number of "Rolling Thunder" events Memorial Day weekend, the 'Hawks played for wounded soldiers at Walter Reed Army Medical Center Sunday June 1st. It was fun, the troops seemed to enjoy it, and there was excellent Barbeque supplied by my old friend Bobby Mitchell's fantastic Catering Co. "Puttin' On The Ritz". Hope we can do it again for our combat veterans!

The Thrillbillys are also in the Studio working on a new CD of (so far) all original tunes. Mike Harveys home studio in Annandale, VA is great! He's a delight to work with, and the stuff sounds awesome! No clue as to when it may come available, but I'll keep ya posted.

The Thrillbillys are still doin' Thrillbilly Thursdays at the Sunset Grille in Annandale. In mid-May I had my 16th anniversary of playing most Thursdays at "the Grille"! Yikes! Thanks to Shel and Kay for putting up with me for all of these years!

August 08, 2006 - Thrillbillys Now on CB Baby

Wanted to pass along the news that the Thrillbillys are now on CD Baby. That's right; you can now order "THRILLBILLYS LIVE! at the Sunset Grille" on the web and have it delivered right to your home. So you don't forget - order by midnight tonight!

Lots going on lately, but to be honest, I just haven't had time to sit down and write about it. I promise to do that as soon as I can. Until then, stay cool!

July 13, 2006 - Thrillbillys Live CD Now Available

Hey, y'all! Got some breaking news for ya. The Thrillbillys CD, "THRILLBILLYS LIVE! At the Sunset Grille" is out, at the moment you can pick it up at live gigs, but soon we'll have an e-purchase option for you good folks.

Click the pic to order the CD!

The Thrillbillys are still holding strong at the Sunset Grille on Thursdays, and have an unbroken string thru June and July.

Speaking of Thrillbillys, I'm proud to announce my friend and fellow Thrillbilly, David Kitchen, is a National Finalist for the Mountain Stage Newsong Songwriting Contest. Dave represents the Greater D.C. Metro area, and we will be following his progress and wish him luck.

Mountain Stage, if you don't know, is a Public Radio Show turned TV show that features an array of artists from diverse genres. I had the pleasure of performing on their live radio show in Charleston, WV, 3 or 4 times when I played with Bill Kirchen. The players we shared the stage with included Pat Metheny, Ralph Stanley & the Clinch Mtn. Boys, John Mooney, Robert Cray and Robin & Linda Williams, amongst many others, some from overseas.

Whatever the Mtn. Stage folks do it's always first rate. Checkout the Newsong website: www.newsongfestival.com/contest/06_rounds_dc_rround.htm you can play the candidate songs including Davids. You may also sample his songwriting expertise by checking out the opening cut on the Thrillbilly CD," If Love Is Blind, (I Hope I Never See You Again)".

April 28, 2006 - Down-n-Dirty Review of the new Nighthawks DVD

As y'all know, the new Nighthawks DVD/CD is out, and I was finally home long enough to look at it! It really looks great!

It's a 4 camera shoot with absolutely seamless editing. The Rolling Storm production crew did a phenomenal job with little cut-ins, like Pete doing a little cymbal fill..there it is. A guitar riff? There's Paul playing it. They didn't miss a trick!

The band was amazed that we got anything at all, as we drove 8 hours that day from Rochester, NY to the Barns of Wolf Trap in Vienna, VA. We knew we were beat, but you can't tell from this video. Two highlights: "Blue Moon In Your Eye", "the Sopranos" TV theme song is smoking and leads off the package. We adapted it for a four piece group and it sounds righteous! "Black Night" A sultry Blues number with some astounding displays of musicianship by Mark Wenner on chromatic harp, and Paul Bell on guitar.

Check it out! You can order online at the Nighthawks web site.

April 17, 2006 - Blue Moon in Your Eye

Just want to let y'all know that the new Nighthawks CD and DVD two-disc set is now available for purchase on the Nighthawks web site.

Blue Moon is a live set recorded at The Barns at Wolf Trap (Vienna, VA) and features the new lineup, including Paul Bell on guitar and me on bass. Production was handled by the Hawks with Scott Norcross and Dan Kohlmeier.

Each disc includes thirteen tracks, including a great rave-up of the Sopranos theme song, the Carl Perkins classic Put Your Cat Clothes On, and he very cool (but obscure) Bo Diddley tune You Don't Love Me - You Don't Care, featuring Yours Truly on vocals.

I just got my copies of the set last Thursday as the band headed out for its Easter Weekend gigs, so I haven't had a chance to check out the final product yet. But I'll be doing that tonight. But I can tell you from what I saw during production that it's a great set, filled with slammin' music. If you're a Hawks fan, you need to get yourself a copy!

Click cover to learn more
and order your copy

April 5, 2006

Hey, y'all! Just wanted to give you a little update on what I've been doing lately. Spent a weekend gigging in St. John, Virgin Islands in late March. Paradise! Got totally sunburned snorkeling. Waterproof sunscreen? Hah! Don't believe it! The people there really seem starved for good, live American Roots music. There are a surprising number of little bars that are able to host musicians. Ran into Mitch Woods (of the Rocket 88's- SF Bay area). He was there tickling the blue ivorys around some of the islands. Speaking of tickling the ivorys, the Nighthawks were joined by John Cleary, keyboardist for Bonnie Raitt, for a set at the Beach Bar in S.J. Man, he's great! A british Professor Longhair! Bonnie's doin' some of his songs on her new CD.

Last week, I saw my old pals Eddie & Martha Adcock. They were opening for, and Eddie was performing with, the Country Gentlemen reunion at the State Theater, Falls Church, VA. It was great to see Jimmy Goodreau (mandolin) with whom I've played many times, and Tom Gray one of my favorite people as well as bass players. He was my mentor in Bluegrass upright bass, with his work for 4 decades with the Seldom Scene, as well as the Country Gentlemen. Randy Waller was stepping in for his Dad, Charlie Waller, who passed in '04. Randys guitar playing was amazing! Charlie was great..Randy's phenomenal!! He was playing his dads axe too which made it really sound like Charlie was still there! I had to leave before their show (gig to play) but they did about 4 songs in the dressing room, and I'll tell you, those fans got a treat that night. Bluegrass- Finger Pickin Good!!

I did double duty Sun.4/2, at Sullys in Chantilly, VA. A Benefit for a young musician, Chris Hopson, who's battling 2 kinds of cancer. The benefit featured the Nighthawks, Thrillbillys, Uncle Chunky, Tom Principato Band, Smylin' Jack, Bloody Meri, and a few others. What a smashing success! The place was packed to the rafters, and it was a beautiful day so the parking lot was jammed with Harleys. All the bands rocked! Uncle Chunky's bassist didn't show (sick) so Damian Grasso, their drummer, picked up the bass and roared!! El Toro Gamble filled in beautifully on drums, and Damians brother, Tony always rocks on guitar, but I was truly impressed with Damian's abilities. I've known these young fellas since they were in diapers, I felt like a proud Uncle watching them. The benfit raised dang near $10,000!!! Hope that helps Chris! Thanks to everyone who came out; I hope ya'll had as much fun as I did!

March 19, 2006 - A Very Special Show

ChrisFEST - Sunday, April 2, 2006

Folks, I need your help. I'm asking you to mark this date on your calendar and get your bad self out to this show at Sully's in Chantilly. Chris Hopson, son of the General Manager of the Sunset Grill, needs our help to cover the costs of cancer treatment. And that's what this benefit is all about. I'll be there with my band The Thrillbillys and The Nighthawks. We'll be sharing the stage with a ton of great bands, including Wild Card, Smylin' Jack, Bloody Meri, Uncle Chunky, Tom Principato, Last Call and the Johnny Artis Band. There's an all day buffet and great BBQ, and we'll be doing several raffles throughout the day. Doors open at noon and the party goes on all day and night.

Click Here to download a flyer with all the info. And if you want to help out, you can print some and pass them out to your friends.

So. . . mark it down, y'all. Sunday, April 2. Noon. Ya gotta be at this one, OK?

February 21, 2006 - A Note From Johnny

Welcome to my new web site! Since we just put it up, there ain't a whole lot to report. But this is the page where you can check out new stuff. My bass buddy Lane Baldwin put this whole thing together for me, and is going to maintain it. At least, as long as the checks clear! <heh-heh>

Anyway, feel free to poke around and check things out. If you want to say nice things, feel free to contact me. If you want to point out mistakes, broken links, or generally rag on stuff, e-mail Lane directly.

Have fun, and see you on the road!