Garage blues powerhouse Johnny No maintains their unique brand of blues with their sophomore effort “Modern Hymns for the Gentleman Loafer.” This follow-up to their 2011 debut “The Riviera Sessions, Vol. 1” continues the legacy of their trademark Port City Ne’er-Do-Well blues sound with ten new tracks that are a sonic departure from their previous release. For “The Riviera Sessions, Vol. 1,” Johnny No retreated to Como, Ms. to record with Grammy winner Jimbo Mathus in his vintage Delta Record Service. The band decided to keep it local for “Modern Hymns for the Gentleman Loafer” and employed use of their personal studio (Riviera Recording Studios) in Mobile, Al. with drummer Bob Scroggins manning the soundboard. In addition, they employed the artists at PORTAL Studio in Mobile to provide the album with memorable cover art.
“We wanted to give the people something different with this album and still maintain the vibe of the first album,” said vocalist The Rev. “It’s still the Port City Ne’er-Do-Well Blues sound, but we feel that we’ve taken it to another level.”
“Modern Hymns for the Gentleman Loafer” features the dark, unbridled blues style that Johnny No introduced with their debut. However, Johnny No has exchanged the raw, minimalistic recording process portrayed on “The Riviera Sessions, Vol. 1” for one that has added an aural depth to their charismatic sound. Saxophonist Kenny Wainwright lends his smooth sounds to the tracks “Cradle to the Grave” and “Azalea City Blues.” For “Hand of Glory,” the band formed the Box O’Lies Gospel Choir (featuring Randy Landers, Brian McNab and Elizabeth Hunter) to provide backing vocals.
“This album was a satisfying experience all around, and we’ll probably revisit our methods in the future,” said The Rev. “We had a vision for this one, and we are pleased with the way it turned out. We think our fans will be too.”
Al McNab (Guitar), Bob Scroggins (Drums) and The Rev. (Lead Vocals) formed Johnny No in Mobile, Al. in 2009. Since then, they have been spreading what they call the Port City Ne’er-Do-Well Blues along with new additions Tarleton “T” McNab (Bass) and Caleb MacCartee (Keyboard). After the release of their debut album “The Riviera Sessions, Vol. 1,” High Times Magazine recognized them as an “Unsigned Band of the Week.” They have opened for Grammy Award winning acts such as Anders Osbourne and Jimbo Mathus as well as Grammy nominees Bush, Bobby Rush and Luther Dickinson. They were also fortunate enough to open for the late Eddie Kirkland. Johnny No are veterans of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Blues and Heritage Festival, BayFest (Alabama’s Largest Music Festival), Juke Joint Fest (Clarksdale, Ms.) and the International Blues Challenge.