Well,

A year has passed us by and we're all still alive. A massive thank you is in order to everyone who's helped us out, we've had a ball.

2009 is only a few hours away and there's plenty going on so keep your ears to the ground. As for the year gone by, here's all the dates we did around the place. If you were at ten or more of them you get a prize.

Keep safe, happy new year, drink brandy

The Johnnys xx

8 Jan : Purple Turtle, Camden (w/ Billy Rebel)
19 Jan : Portskewett Inn, Caldicot (extended set)
31 Jan : Buffalo Bar, Cardiff (w/ Rock It Dogs)
8 Feb : White Hart, Caldicot (extended set)
9 Feb : Dewstow Club, Caldicot (w/ Crazy Cavan)
23 Feb : TJ's, Newport (w/ Robert Gordon)
9 Mar : Purple Turtle, Camden (w/ Mojo Kings)
31 Mar : Buffalo Bar, Cardiff (w/ The Poisoning)
10 Apr : Buffalo Bar, Cardiff (w/ Blue Demon)
19 Apr : Hobbits, Weston-Super-Mare (w/ Rezurex)
26 Apr : Portskewett Inn, Caldicot (extended set)
2 May : Le Pub, Newport (w/ Johnny Trashed)
3 May : Three Tuns, Chepstow (w/ Saturday Night Special)
10 May : The Attic, Bristol (w/ Demented Are Go)
16 May : White Hart, Caldicot (w/ Neville Staple)
29 Jun : Bar Monsta, Camden (w/ Guana Batz)
8 Jul : Meze Lounge, Newport (w/ Ladyfingers)
14 Jul : BBC Radio1 Live Session (w/ Bethan Elfyn)
18 Jul : White Hart, Caldicot (w/ Saturday Night Special)
19-20 Jul : Recording Streetblocks @ Stir (w/ Greg Haver)
20 Jul : Rock Gardens, Weston-Super-Mare (w/ The Meteors)
31 Jul : TJ's, Newport (w/ The Quakes)
2 Aug : Keri's Wedding, Tintern (extended set)
3 Aug : Man On The Moon, Cambridge (w/ The Quakes)
5 Sep : Crazy Jo's, Nottingham (w/ Rock It Dogs) CANCELLED
19 Sep : Five Alls, Chepstow (extended set)
20 Sep : Streetblocks and City Lights released online!!
20 Sep : TJ's, Newport (w/ The Grit)
27 Sep : Hobbits, Weston-Super-Mare (w/ Frenzy)
3 Oct : Portskewett Inn, Caldicot (extended set)
6 Oct : In The City Showcase, Manchester
10 Oct : Bristol University (Freshers Ball)
16 Oct : Meze Lounge, Newport (w/ Burlseque girls who we can't remember)
19 Oct : Dingwalls, Camden (w/ Goldblade + Argy Bargy)
25 Oct : The Victoria, London (w/ The Bad Breed)
31 Oct : White Hart, Caldicot (w/ Skaville UK)
15 Nov : Ashfield Prison (PRIVATE)
19 Nov : The Farmhouse, Canterbury (w/ The Peacocks)
20 Nov : The Railway, Ipswich (w/ Voodoo Bones)
21 Nov : Bar Monsta, Camden (w/ The Caravans)
22-23 Nov : Recording @ Western Star, Bristol (w/ Alan Wilson)
28 Nov : Tafod, Cardiff (w/ Broken Leaf)
29 Nov : Static Gallery, Liverpool (w/ The Aeroplanes)
2 Dec :  TJ's, Newport (w/ The Peacocks)
4 Dec :  The Cavern, Exeter (w/ The Peacocks)
12 Dec : Le Pub, Newport (w/ Deadbeat Deluxe)
13 Dec : Face Bar, Reading (w/ Nigel Lewis and the Zorchmen + Coffin Nails)
14 Dec : Five Alls, Chepstow (extended set)
20 Dec :  The Farm, Bristol (xmas party, extended set)

GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS
Bedlam, Monday 19:00

I'm doing the ITC dash for what feels like the 37th time this weekend (I've got my Northern Quarter to Peter Street time down to under ten minutes), heading up to Chicago Rocks when I can't help but notice a great big filthy racket blasting out of Bedlam. It comes courtesy of Graveyard Johnnys, who play 1950s-inspired rock'n'roll with the firepower of punk metal, a drummer whose face is masked by a bandana, the most violent abuse of a stand-up double bass I've ever seen. Seriously. You wouldn't want to pick a fight. Even the bouncers (and I'm talking proper Peter Street spec heavy bastards here) are standing well back. They describe themselves as "the three horsemen of the rockabilly apocalypse" and this is no idle claim. So where did this unearthly noise come from then? The deep south, of course... of Wales, that is. I note they are soon to support Goldblade at Camden's legendary punk rock venue Dingwalls, and somehow this doesn't surprise me.

Taken from Bethan's blog :

I ran on to catch the beginning of the gigging hour, and started with the ragged and raw Graveyard Johnnys at Bedlam, who were throwing their rockabilly energy around to the point of bleeding fingers and disintigrating instruments - an incredible way to start the night. Glasgow's Barn Owl were pretty tame in comparison, but still had a grace and shyness to them that was endearing. I Am Austin, looked young, but have a large bolshy sound for two 'wee' chaps, like one fifths' Kings of Leon crossed with the ghost of Death From Above, a little loose at times but they've got something quite engaging. Friends Electric sounded confident, tight and polished in comparison, and put on a thrilling show at Chicago Rocks. Lord Auch, a London threesome, were The Birthday Party but without the moroseness, just too much energy and happy enthusiasm. Pope Joan had me already hooked on their records, but took a whole set to get even close to the lavish praise this record has gathered them in the press, their post-rock elements were just not loud enough or menacing enough. Next a wasted cab ride to the Deaf Institute and a no-show from Micachu - bad one.

Back to the fray, and Flashguns were really good, lots of odd jerky jumping that got your focus from mainman, guitarist and singer, and a deep howling reverberating tornado of noise going on all around. They look really young too!

Also saw and liked Radio Luxembourg, My Toys Like Me, Karoshi Bros, Baddies, Data Select Party and Lesser Panda.

All in all a good first day.

GRAVEYARD JOHNNYS
'Streetblocks and City Lights'
(Let It Rock)
4/5
Impressive debut from bass bothering Welsh trio

This is a an impressive debut mini album from the young Welsh Trio already making a name for themselves on the live circuit. This is hard rockin' rockabilly inspired punk with attitude and aptitude to boot. The classic formula for this stuff is pretty much followed, rattling guitar and chugging double bass with sparse drumming but the Graveyard Johnnys have that something else. There is a freshness about this debut that bodes well for the future. Stand out track is 'Holloway' with a stomping beat, sing-along chorus and atmospheric presence, look out for these fellas.
Simon Nott

There has been a few rumblings about Graveyard Johnnys image as a band, but that would only be a concern if it was a case of style over substance, and that's definitely not an accusation that could, or should be levelled at these guys.

Over the course of these six tracks they effortlessly show why their one of the hottest bands to hit the UK psycho scene in a while, and although it's a scene that may not have caught fire just yet it, it does have a plethora of bands waiting in the wings to step into the light and shine.
This band's got the tunes, they've got the look and they've got youth on their side. So it's a potent and heady mix, and in the next twelve months I can see their name starting to trip off many a lip.
Whatever it is that's needed to lift a band from the pub and club circuit to bigger venues the Graveyard Johnnys appear to have it in spades.

Opening with Voodoo Lover they tip their hats to the old school and do the genre proud with a track that rock as much as it rolls. It's a modern take on a well established sound, and neatly side steps being a pastiche of what's come before. Holloway, the track that follows it, has more of a gypsy feel to it, although it still hanging onto it's rockin' roots. A crackin' little song with fave track stamped all over it.
The next song, Coming home opens with some traditional psycho guitar work that will get the blood pumping, and then moves swiftly on to getting punkier as it progresses. There's some nice bass getting slapped here that will get the toes a tapping along with the blood that's a pumpin' to.
Unfortunately Never Get Me has too much of a Living End vibe to it. The band appear to have cast off their own sound to jump aboard a train that the didn't necessarily have to. For some it may be their favourite track, but the Living End already do this style, and do it well. So I'm not sure what the point was. Still a good song, but it doesn't sound like a Graveyard Johnny one.
Meanwhile Hailing You gets things back on track, and while it sounds like a lost Long Tall Texans song I'll forgive them as I fuckin' love it.
Meanwhile closing track Streetblocks and City Lights finishes strong and is anthemic in it's breadth.

All in all it's a luverleee debut and I'd sign up for a full length right now if I could. No not that sort of full length ya dirty buggers.
http://www.myspace.com/graveyardjohnnys

http://www.myspace.com/eld1ablo

now!

If you want the Johnnys to come and rockabilly-up your party, pub, bar, venue, living room, bedroom (!) drop us a line and we'll do our best to sort it out.