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1.
Oh, Johnny is up to his tricks again— worst thing you can do is let him in. And he’s sellin' that snake oil medicine, But nobody’s buyin’ to his chagrin. But he’ll be gone before he wins the fight. It almost happened last night. But he’ll find himself somewhere else tonight, yes he will. And he’ll start over in the morning light. Saw him once long after we were grown. He said "you can take my girl" after drinkin' alone. And she smiled at me sadly 'cause she knew he was gone, and I took my leave of them and soldiered on. But he’ll be gone before he wins the fight. It’s almost happened oh so many nights, But he thinks he’s fine ‘cause after all there’s always morning light. He was gone before he won the fight.
2.
John Now 06:23
I stood right here on this old street a million years ago. Hours passing by, just killing time ‘til streetlights start to glow. His elder man’s pipe stained the walls— his blackened fingertips switched through the channels, browsed the pages, and kept that cherry lit. The room inside was our domain. Old lady made the beds. Now here he sits not quite alive, but also not quite dead. ——— The two of us pose in a picture hanging by the stairs. Standing by that old oak tree now cut down for many years. He’s unimpressed though years have passed since last he saw my face. I’m taken back to see him like this, and back in this old place. I try to get him talking, but it’s clear he won’t oblige. I tell him I’ll come back around before I say goodbye. ——— I can’t just leave and so I turn back, then he lets it go. His sorry luck has led him here... he’s never been so low. By now he figured he’d be gone with everything he’s done. Instead the tubes and chair before me ruined all his fun. The days are years and night’s a scoundrel, passing by so fast. The darkness is the only thing that ever seems to last.
3.
Smokin’ by the tree line Senior’s stash my first time Set in walkin’ back I just couldn’t help but laugh. Didn’t hang around that much. Somehow still kept in touch. Then we “grew up.” — — — Mama stopped to say Senior had early lain. Old man, gone himself. Johnny was somewhere else. No sign. It was strange. Never came to scrounge for change. But he was dazed. — — — Lady on his arm. Didn’t mean to do her harm. She would prop him up. ‘Til she had enough. Kids and mother gone. Movin’ on ‘Cause he was gone.
4.
The Kids 04:23
I can’t see the kids anymore. I can’t even remember what for. I’ve cried wolf so many times before that they won’t even answer the door. And the old man’s gone, and his mama too. And I don’t even think about you. I can’t see the kids anymore. —— I’m here in this room most days. I can’t really go very far. I might just have dug my own grave, but there isn’t much life left to save. Can’t remember what I did, but I guess I get the gist. Can’t they come around once more with my life reduced to this? I can’t see the kids anymore. ——— I feel like I’m wasting away. Same old shit just another day. Ain’t no goddamn good to pray, but they tell me to anyway. But enough about me, how the hell have you been? Sorry for the doom and gloom, but I think I’m near the end. I can’t see the kids anymore.
5.
Well there’s mice getting in the basement So there’s mice getting in my dreams And if I don’t get up and deal with ‘em They’ll be chewing holes through my jeans. But maybe they’re just a metaphor for how I don’t really care anymore, the mice getting in the basement and getting into my dreams. Well it’s getting to where it feels like something’s pressing down on me, but when I wrestle with my demons, I can feel a great relief. But maybe the pain is literal, maybe I just don’t feel very well. It’s getting to where it feels like something’s pressing down on me. The last of the bridge is burning maybe tonight’s the night.
6.
Well they thought he was up to his tricks again— Pullin’ a con for medicine. But he was hurtin and no one’s listenin’ so he shuffled off to the curb again. And there he lay until they realized this wasn’t like the last time. So they’ll fly him off somewhere else tonight, oh yes they will. And he’ll be broken in the morning light.
7.
I’m falling apart at the seams. I’m driftin’ away just like my dreams. Fading like the day. And I slept it away. Nightmares in my head and the dark’s the key. Lost out in the wind and it knocks me down. Try getting back up but I’m sinking down. Tempted just to lay back, but I can’t leave just like that. Now falling awake, comin’ back around. — — — I try to get up, but I’m stuck in place, blinded by the light shining on my face. The pressure is relieving, but I can’t help believing this was just a dream in a nightmare’s place. — — — I’m falling apart at the seams. I’m driftin’ away just like my dreams.
8.
Damage Done 03:33
Damage done. Now I’m finally come undone. Damage done. No more living days like the last ones. Damage done. End has finally begun.
9.
Well Johnny gave up on livin’ then, Waitin’ it out till it came for him, oh... And I never got back to see him again ‘fore I finally found out he’d given in Oh... He was gone before he won the fight. It finally happened one night. When he finally slept, his mother wept— she’d barely said goodbye. He was gone before the morning light.

about

Johnny was a friend of mine.

Our grandparents lived down the street from each other. On the weekends we both spent with our respective grandparents as kids, we played together, had sleepovers, and played video games all night long. As teenagers, we grew apart, but maintained contact and still met up occasionally, sometimes eventfully, sometimes not so much. Johnny became an alcoholic. Then a drug addict. His father died. His grandparents died. Somewhere along the line, he got married, had kids, got divorced, and then lost the right to see the kids. Eventually, I moved away, and he stayed behind. Years later, I ran into his now grown-up kid brother, who suggested I visit him at the very house we'd played at as kids, where he was now living with his mother, brother, sister, and nieces and nephews. He was confined to a wheelchair, the result of an unfortunate medical condition that went untreated when medical workers thought he was merely trying to connive his way into prescription drugs. I visited briefly and promised to return, but he died before I ever could.

This is the story of /Johnny/, with some of the blanks filled in. I can't know how he felt or what went on inside his head as he spiraled, but his story is all too common—and he is not the only friend I've lost to addiction.

The songs on this album started coming to life somewhere around 2018. I'd thought of writing a live set worth of songs I could arrange for a trio and play guitar and keyboards plus sing. Songs that would be highly arranged and push the envelope of my oeuvre up to this point. Instead, I wrote a prog rock album and began the long process of a studio project. I was lucky enough to work with previous AHF contributors Tim Wilderoder and Zach Connolly, and I was able to perform the guitars and vocals myself, along with keyboards—making this album my debut on keys. Danny Shapira also contributed. Pete Drivere of Ampreon Recorder in Youngstown, Ohio came on board as the recording engineer and co-producer and I was happy to have Adam Boose of Cauliflower Audio in Cleveland, Ohio master the record.

Now that Johnny will live on as the subject of this album, it's as if I've gained a second friend named /Johnny/.

- - -

Acknowledgements:

I have to thank my wife and children for their support—even when they didn't know they were supporting me, putting up with my shitty mood when I stayed up too late arranging demos and was cranky from lack of sleep, etc. I also want to thank the people who contributed money to helping bring this project to life: Jim & Charlene Hall, Jennie Ostendorf, Aaron Hall—family members all, whom I love. I also want to thank the album's contributors, Tim "Timbo" Wilderoder, Zach Connolly, and Danny Shapira, as well as all the people who gave a listen early on, including Dave Lynn, Ralph McGrady, and Tom Zocolo. I also need to thank Pete Drivere for all his hard work in the studio as both recording engineer, mixer, and co-producer. Additionally, I wish to thank Ian Billen for his studio photography, Stephen Mulé for his photography work on the album's cover art, Patrick Catanese for modeling for the cover, Cathy McMenamee for being cool enough to let us set up in her house to get the shot, and Jake Spinner for developing a wicked cool cover. I also want to thank Mike Searl, Susanne Searl, and Adam Wolf for letting me bounce ideas on the cover art off of them. If there is anyone I missed who had any small role in helping bring this project to fruition, please accept my apology. I am truly proud of this album and forever grateful to everyone who lent a hand in making it happen.

credits

released November 27, 2020

Music & Lyrics by Alex Hall
Produced by Alex Hall

Vocals: Alex Hall
Guitars: Alex Hall
Keyboards: Alex Hall, Danny Shapira
Bass Guitars: Tim Wilderoder
Drums: Zach Connolly

Recorded Summer 2019-Fall 2020 at Ampreon Recorder in Youngstown, Ohio
Engineered, Mixed and Co-produced by Pete Drivere
Co-produced by Tim Wilderoder
Mastered by Adam Boose at Cauliflower Audio in Cleveland, Ohio

Cover Photography by Stephen Mulé Photography in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
Cover Photo Model: Patrick Catanese
Cover Design & Typography by Jake Spinner

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Alex Hall's Figurehead Ohio

Alex Hall's Figurehead is a guitar-driven, progressive rock band drawing from progressive mainstays and rock 'n' roll royalty. Now the front for the music of its sole member—Alex Hall—it features the first studio-specific project from the band, entitled "Johnny." With its classic and modern progressive rock fusion sound, the music is sure to captivate even the most discerning listeners. ... more

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