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*Proof of Covid-19 vaccination required for entry*
*Attendees are required to wear masks while not actively drinking*
7PM - Doors
8PM - Show
GREGOR BARNETT
“It was this perfect storm,” says Menzingers guitarist/co-vocalist Gregor Barnett. “The band couldn’t tour, I was going through a really difficult time, and I was stuck at home watching my family struggle with illness and death and hardship. The only thing I could do was write my way through it.”
And yet, despite all the turbulence surrounding its creation, there’s something deeply hopeful and reassuring about Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave, Barnett’s debut release under his own name. Written and recorded in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, the collection is a sonic departure from Barnett’s more punk-leaning work with The Menzingers, drawing on the gritty, off-kilter Americana of Tom Waits or Warren Zevon as it faces down loss and doubt in search of relief and redemption. The songs here are lean and powerful, with unfussy arrangements driven by simmering guitars and driving percussion, and the performances are raw and direct to match, cutting straight to the heart of things with tremendous empathy. Take a look at the tracklist and it’s obvious what’s been on Barnett’s mind of late (“The First Dead Body I Ever Saw,” “Talking To Your Tombstone,” “Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave”), but drop the needle and you’ll quickly come to understand that this isn’t so much an album about death as it is about life. If the past year-and-a-half has taught us anything, it’s just how much we take for granted—our health, our country, our families—and how quickly it can all disappear. Don’t Go Throwing Roses In My Grave is a reminder to cherish the ones we love and the connections we have with them in what precious little time we’ve been given.
ROGER HARVEY
Pennsylvania
SHANNEN MOSER
Despite spending most of the last decade living, working, and nurturing their craft in the city of Philadelphia, Shannen Moser’s sound remains rooted in their upbringing in rural Pennsylvania. Tributes to the pastoral hillsides of the Oley Valley echo through their music, evoking images of learning to sing along to Townes Van Zandt in the passenger seat of their dad’s pickup or along with the Sacred Harp choirs in Quaker meeting halls. In 2013 Moser packed up their roots, along with influences from freak-folk artists like Joanna Newsom and early Animal Collective, and moved to Philadelphia to focus on recording and performing their songs.
In accordance with Philadelphia's citywide mandate, attendees will be required to show proof of Covid-19 vaccination for entry to all Johnny Brenda's events. Please note that negative PCR / antigen test results will not be accepted. We ask that you bring your vaccination card, a copy of your vaccination card, or a legible photo of your vaccination card on your phone. Full vaccination must be completed at least 14 days prior to the date of the event. If you are unable or unwilling to provide proof of vaccination, we will refund your tickets in full. Please feel free to e-mail us at info@johnnybrendas.com with any questions or concerns.