Argyle Johansen's cheap substitute for a website.

12/21/11

2011-12-21T00:47:00.000-08:00

One year left til the Apocalypse!!!

3 Awesome things on the internet right now!

2011-12-02T00:50:00.000-08:00

1. My pals Schocholautte who just released their first full-length album "I Hate You". You can listen to it here.

2. My new hero: Roger Bobo

3. Texts from Bennett. Probably the funniest thing I've ever seen on the internet.

Oh yeah. I'm making a new EP. Look for it by Summer 2011.

Boo!

2011-10-31T02:37:00.000-07:00

In observance of Halloween I present a non-music related [mini]blog! Enjoy! The spooky tale of the Dyatlov Pass. (As retold by wikipedia.)

Argyle Johansen's return to Brooklyn, NY & upcoming shows

2011-10-23T00:42:00.000-07:00

After 32 days on the road playing tuba with This Way to the Egress and Voltaire and traveling with my new favorite band Hellblinki, I'm Brooklyn bound (almost). Currently, I'm sitting in a lovely hotel room in Flint, Michigan after a fun show at a "Vampire Ball" at the Flint Masonic Temple and getting ready to make the long-ass drive to Philadelphia for the last show of the tour. The tour has been a hoot: simultaneously a blast as well as physically and mentally one of the most demanding experiences of my life, and I'm honestly pretty sad that it's coming to an end. I am jumping back into the role of Uncle Argyle pretty quickly though with NY shows coming up at Googies Lounge (above the Living Room) on Ludlow St. this Thursday, October 27th and two weeks later next door with Argyle's Cakeshop debut Saturday, November 12th. Hope to see you there!

xoxo,

-john & Argyle Johansen

Out of the office...and a new music video!

2011-10-04T10:20:00.000-07:00

Following the release of Argyle Johansen and his Inner Demo(n)s EP, I'm on a national tour playing tuba as a member of the band This Way to the Egress and in support of Voltaire. We're 13 days into the wilderness (New England and the East in general have been checked off, and right now I'm in Austin, TX and getting ready to head to Arizona). The process has been unreal and the learning process has been a life-changing experience in and of itself. We have a little less than three weeks left and once I get back to Brooklyn, we'll be back to the Argyle grind with shows at Googies Lounge at the Living Room and also our first show ever at Cake Shop.

In the mean time, the march rolls on for Argyle Johansen and his Inner Demo(n)s EP. We got a really nice write up on Popmatters.com and the tunes are now spinning on Spotify. Also, feast your eyes on the latest Argyle Johansen video which we did for "Percocet Blues" before I left on the tour last month. It was shot on Super 8 by my pal James Rubio and made with the invaluable assistance of Willard Morgan (aka Jelvis) of Ideal Glass (an amazing art space on 2nd St in NYC) and Arturo Vega (the creative director for the Ramones...you may have heard of them), and of course Nadia at Anyway Cafe on 2nd Ave and 2nd St. -- if you've never been, go! (and try the crepes).

Here it is:

See you soon!

xoxo

Argyle

Inner Demo(n)s out Today!

2011-09-06T01:04:00.000-07:00

SEPT 6, BROOKLYN, NY: Today's the day! Argyle Johansen and his Inner Demo(n)s EP goes live! It's available on the interweb at Spotify and iTunes and eventually Amazon and will also be available for free via a top-secret link on my facebook page - www.facebook.com/argylejohansen (it's so secret I just found out about it!) You can also get your hands on the actual cd at any of the three upcoming CD release shows. We'll have a limited number of handmade(hand-burned?) EPs with artwork by my good friend Michael P Schocholaubrontosaurus. We'll have them for free for at the shows, so if you're in Brooklyn on Thursday, Boston or Cambridge on Saturday, or Philadelphia or South Jerzzzzzy next Saturday, come on out and shake a leg.

x's&o's

-argyle johansen

Brooklyn CD Release Show
September 8 – Bruar Falls
245 Grand Street: Brooklyn NY
11:00PM Free

Boston CD Release Show
September 9 – The Lily Pad
1353 Cambridge Street: Cambridge MA
10:00PM $10.00

Philadelphia CD Release Show
September 17- The Fire
412 W Girard Ave: Philadelphia, PA

Argyle Johansen returns to the East Coast.

2011-08-15T01:32:00.000-07:00

Okie Dokie Smokies, hope everyone's been soldiering through this steamy weather without too much discomfort. I had the excellent fortune of spending most of last month's oppressive heat wave in the cool and temperate (seriously) Rocky Mountains and Northeastern New Mexico. There's nothing like enjoying 80 degree weather and occasional downpours in a desert while hearing about 110 degree heat indexes back East (just thought I'd rub that in a bit...even saw some snow in the mountains). Not to mention, nothing compares to being someplace away from the ubiquitous light pollution of the east coast and simply looking up at night and seeing thousands of stars, the milky way, shooting stars, the works. OK, enough of that...

So, as the release date for "Argyle Johansen and his Inner Demo(n)s" EP nears (that's Sept. 6, 2011 if you haven't marked your calendar), we're pleased as pie to share with you the second single off the EP, "You Try." It's a song about debts - public, private and personal - so hopefully it's something we can all relate to. You can give it a listen on the Soundcloud media player at your right. I've jumped right back into playing with a little guest spot this evening at The Delancey with my friends This Way to the Egress. I have another solo show coming up this Friday at Tommy's Tavern in Greenpoint, Brooklyn. The set time is tba but will probably be late. Check Facebook for details.

Also, for those of you not following Argyle on Facebook or Twitter you've been missing out on my weekly Youtube series where I play solo acoustic renditions of the songs off the EP as well as a few oldies and some covers. Most of the videos can be found on fb/twitter, or just scroll through 'em on the right here for a nice concise listing. Feel free to leave comments on youtube or facebook if you like what you see.

Lastly, the Brooklyn cd release show is confirmed for Thursday, September 8th at the lovely (and free) venue Bruar Falls located in scenic and hip Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Stay tuned for more details, a flier, and hopefully a few more area shows.

xoxo
uncle Argyle

(i'm back on blogger to announce) The Release of the "Inner Demo(n)s EP" Sept 6th, 2011

2011-06-23T12:04:00.000-07:00

Oh yeah! After a long winter and non-existent Spring (anyone else notice that we're basically down to just two seasons in NYC?), Argyle Johansen is presently and pleasantly elated to announce the imminent release of the "Inner Demo(n)s EP." The follow-up to the 2009 self-titled LP, the "Inner Demo(n)s EP" was produced and recorded in our cozy little studio within the bowels of the lovely McKibbin lofts in Bushwick, Brooklyn. It will be available for consumption on September 6th, and the first single, "Percocet Blues" will be coming out very soon! (Lookout for that date, it's so secret I don't even know and I wrote the damn song). It's a story about bicycles, Bushwick, car doors, pain killers, malaise and lots of other fun topics. Anywhooo, it'll be available as a free digital download so keep your eyes and ears peeled. You can see the cover art above and a little preview of the rest of the art work can be seen at www.facebook.com/argylejohansen so head on over to take a peak.

If yer in NYC are this weekend it's Argyle's last show of our June residency at Pianos. We'll be doing a little two-man show at 9pm Saturday, June 25 in the upstairs lounge and there's no cover!

In the area tomorrow Friday, June 24? I'll be playing a few songs solo as part of the opening entertainment for This Way to the Egress' CD release show at Asbury Lanes in lovely Asbury Park, NJ. Check out the link, they play a fun mix of Gypsy/Punk/Ragtime-y jams and yours truly is the tuba player.

Oh, Hi! Didn't see you click on my blog...

2010-10-30T21:23:00.000-07:00

...and well, since I haven't updated this thing in quite a while I guess I was surprised to see anyone here at all! Well, the time has come for Argyle Johansen to get his ass in gear and start updating this mama-jamma a little more regularly. So let's see...news...something new and exciting to share with you. Oh, I know, take a look on the right hand side of this page and peep our upcoming shows. If you're in the New York area, you've got two chances to visit your Uncle Argyle this month so far. We've got a big to do with the full band coming up on Nov. 17 (weds.) at Union Hall in lovely downtown Park Slope, Brooklyn. This is an awesome venue in a pretty swanky hood (Maggie Gyllenhall and that dood from the Verizon commercials live around the corner so you know it's high class all the way). Tickets are 7$, and are available in advance. For something a little more intimate (yes, in that way) you can catch me ( John) solo at Pete's Candy Store this coming Saturday, Nov. 6 at 9 PM. This one's free and I'll be doing my best to play as much new material as possible.
Hmmm, what else? Oh, we have a new website on the way so stay tuned for that and in a major breakthrough at the Argyle Johansen ballistics lab, I think we're finally pretty close to scientifically demonstrating the "magic bullet theory" a la the JFK movie and thus proving that Lee Harvey Oswald was the lone gunman and that Oliver Stone's movie-although psychologically taut and rivitting-is a tad off the mark. OK, that's all I've got.

June 9th @ Bruar Falls

2010-05-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

doors at 8, 21+
Kendra Morris myspace.com/ckendrago
Alana Sveta myspace.com/alanasveta
Argyle Johansen myspace.com/argylejohansen
Frances Rose myspace.com/francesrosemusic
Banned Books (Philly) myspace.com/ilovebannedbooks

April 7th at Spike Hill

2010-04-04T01:19:00.000-07:00

Argyle springs eternal (or something like that). This wednesday at Spike Hill (184 Bedford Ave.) with Schocholautte singer Michael P. duetin on some Argyle and Schocholautte tunes. Also the final night of a residency at Spike Hill by a great band from my old (and brief) home of Philadelphia called the Great Unknown

9: Mystie Chamberlin takes over Open Mic

10: The Great Unknown bring the Philly love

11: Argyle Johansen and Schocholautte's Michael P!

Gone Recordin'

2010-03-15T22:16:00.001-07:00

Tonight (Tuesday) at Pianos Upstairs

2010-02-09T12:54:00.000-08:00

Liberated Matter presents:

CROSS-POLLINATION CCLXXIII - TUESDAY, FEB 9th
PIANOS [UPSTAIRS]
7:30 PM - Doors Open
8:00 PM - TALL TALL TREES |
8:45 PM - ARGYLE JOHANSEN |
9:30 PM - Cross-Pollination set ft TALL TALL TREES & ARGYLE JOHANSEN

FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

Show on 12/30 postponed

2009-12-28T12:10:00.001-08:00

Unfortunately there are issues with the venue, and our show on 12/30 will be rescheduled for a later date.

Some stations spinning Argyle Johansen!

2009-12-10T20:35:00.000-08:00

WESS East Stroudsberg, PA 90.3FM http://www.esu.edu/wess/
WGSU Geneseo, NY 89.3FM http://www.geneseo.edu/~wgsu/
WLUR Lexington, VA 91.5FM http://wlur.wlu.edu/
WMHD Terre Haute, IN 90.7FM http://wmhd.rose-hulman.edu/
WMUH Allentown, PA 91.7FM http://www.muhlenberg.edu/wmuh/top30.html
WNSU Fort Lauderdale, FL 88.5FM http://www.nova.edu/radiox
WTHS Holland , MI 89.9FM http://wths.hope.edu
WJCU University Heights, OH 88.7FM http://www.wjcu.org
WVOU Collegeville, PA Ursinus College Radio
WZMB Greenville, NC 91.3FM http://www.ecu.edu/wzmb/
KCOU Columbia, MO 88.1FM http://kcou.fm/
VIC Ithaca, NY 91.7FM http://www.vicradio.org/
WSIN New Haven, CT 1590AM http://www.wsinradio.org
KRUA Anchorage, AK 88.1FM http://www.krua.org/
KCWU Ellensburg, WA 88.1FM http://www.881theburg.com/
KDUP Portland, OR 1580AM http://kdup.up.edu/
KUPS Tacoma, WA 90.1FM http://kups.ups.edu/
WLHS Liberty Township, OH 89.9FM http://www.wlhsradio.com/Welcome.html
WDCV Carlisle, PA 88.3FM http://www.facebook.com/wdcvfm
KNDS Fargo, ND 96.3FM http://www.kndsradio.com/
SomaFM San Francisco, CA http://somafm.com/
KUST St. Paul, MN http://www.kustradio.com/
WNJR Washington, PA 91.7FM http://www.wnjr.org
Radio Phoenix Phoenix, AZ http://www.radiophoenix.org

New Show Dates and Nationwide Radio Play!!!!

2009-11-26T09:22:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving (to those of you who are not vegetarians at least...I for one can't stand Tofurkey). Argyle Johansen has added two new shows (see the right side of this page) with more to come in January featuring the electric guitar stylings of Michael P. from Schocholautte, who I think should officially be confirmed as an honorary member of Argyle Johansen now. The next show will be Dec. 30th at Bar Matchless on Brooklyn's lovely Northside.

In other news, Argyle Johansen's debut LP has been added to the rotation of 78 (at last count) of the top 300 College radio stations nationwide (as well as our Canadian neighbors) with more adding the record each week. We've charted in the Top 30 on about 20 of those stations so far including Soma FM in San Francisco and markets in NY, PA, OH, WA, NC an ND. We'll have a complete list along with the appropriate contact info for each station's request line after the holiday weekend. Don't eat too much.

Artist of the Week and Interview on Radio VIC Ithaca College

2009-11-10T11:10:00.000-08:00

Argyle Johansen is this week's (Nov 9 through 13) Artist of the Week on Ithaca College's Radio VIC. Argyle's music is being spun all week and I also recorded a phone interview with the station's music director of which snippets are being played throughout the week on the station's New Music Program. Check out their website for the schedule! We'll be at Rockwood this evening at 6 pm for their new happy hour so be sure to stop by and show some love if you're on the Lois Aida - (Lower East Side - that is O my little brothers and sisters)

http://www.vicradio.org/

Rockwood Music Hall, November 10th and thanks to the crowd at Bruar Falls

2009-11-06T11:22:00.001-08:00

Thanks again to the crowd at Bruar Falls, Brooklyn. We had about 24 hours to promote this show and game 6 of the World Series to compete with, so to everyone who was there: Thanks for making our first show at this new and exciting venue a success! Thanks also to Michael P and Capn' K from Schocholautte (myspace.com/schocholautte - if you don't know them you should!) who lent their talents on electic geetar and drums respectively for filling in on such short notice and setting things up. We've got another show coming up this Tuesday, November 10th at Rockwood Music Hall on the Lower East Side at 6pm for their newly inaugurated Happy Hour which will also feature Mr. P's electric guitar stylings as our special guest band member! It's gonna be a great show and was just featured on the front page of Deli NYC! We're looking forward to seeing all of you 9 to 5er's there!

Rockwood Music Hall
196 Allen St
Between Houston and Stanton
New York, NY
10002

Wednesday night at Bruar Falls in Williamsburg, Brookyln

2009-11-04T10:45:00.000-08:00

For those of you not planning on watching tonight's game 6 of the World Series (since I'm calling it that Pedro will spank the Yankees and we'll all get to watch game 7 on Thursday anywhoo) come to Bruar Falls tonight in the heart of Williamsburg, BK for a sweet double bill of Argyle Johansen and the wunderband Schocholautte. This is a total last minute thing at a great new Brooklyn venue (the same people who run Cakeshop in Manhattan) and we're as excited as can be to be playing. The show was booked for a special guest due to be in attendance tonight to check out Schocholuatte's set, so they'll be pulling out all the stops and are bringing the A game (as will Argyle who will have a special guest-mustachioed electric guitar player sitting in on the set). he doors are at 8 and music starts at 8:45. Did I mention that there's NO COVER?!?!?

Bruar Falls
245 GRAND STREET
between DRIGGS AV and ROEBLING ST
WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN

Free Pre-Halloween Show in Bushwick w/Schocholautte

2009-10-26T08:34:00.000-07:00

Argyle Johansen will be playing this Friday at The Loom in Bushwick (1087 Flushing Ave. #307). This will technically be a solo performance, but some special guests will be contributing additional instrumentation for select songs. Costumes encouraged. Show starts around 10ish.

Argyle Johansen just added to CMJ showcase at Pete's Candy Store!!!

2009-10-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

As the title says...Argyle Johansen is very grateful to be a last minute addition to this year's CMJ Music Marathon. We'll be playing at 10pm on Tuesday evening at one of our favorite venues in Brooklyn (and the whole wide world) Pete's Candy Store. More info to come on Facebook.

Early show November 10th at Rockwood Music Hall

2009-10-15T17:41:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, November 10th get ready to enjoy that after-work cold one at Rockwood Music Hall with Argyle Johansen (and his fancy band). The set begins at 6. Rockwood is located at 196 Allen St. (between Houston and Stanton), NYC.

New Music Player!!! Listen to the entire album here for free!

2009-10-08T18:04:00.000-07:00

Tired of the crappy (circa 1997) mp3 player we had on this page that was continuously on auto-play (and would not shuffle the songs, nor change the parameters, show artwork etc...despite my best efforts to learn rudimentary xml code)? So is Argyle Johansen. But, thanks to the lovely marketing department at our digital retailer Tunecore, we now have a delightful media player to the right of this page allowing the streaming of the entire album for free! Have a listen, most of these tracks have never been on Myspace or Facebook and have until now only been available as snippets on iTunes or by hearing them live at a show (or buying the album). There's a convenient links to iTunes and also one to share this player as a widget with whomever you like. Enjoy!

iTunes link and of things to come

2009-09-29T21:35:00.000-07:00

(see it there -->) snuck it in to the right side of your screen with the other links. haven't been to a show yet and picked up a copy of the album? live in Kalamazoo (a live market we at Argyle Johansen have yet to infiltrate) and want to get your ears wrapped around the album? the little blue
[iTunes] link can make all the pain and longing go away. what's that you say..?..digital media not for you. taking the Firebird (or Trans Am maybe?) out for a spin and looking for a compact disciola to pop in the Sony Car Diskman (the one with the cassette adapter that fits into the tape deck). well you're wait will soon be over, as hard copies of Argyle Johansen's LP are soon to be available via mail order from amazon.com

until then,
let's just concentrate on making it through this seltzer shortage. be well.

Downstairs at Club Europa (Greenpoint Discoteque!) Tuesday 9/22

2009-09-20T23:46:00.000-07:00

Dust off your rhinestone studded platform shoes (the ones with the goldfish in the heel) because Argyle Johansen (and his fancy band) will be playing this Tuesday night downstairs at Club Europa in lovely Greenpoint, Brooklyn, USA. The doors open at 8pm and the show starts at 9 two very fine musical outfits Will Levith and Leland Sundries. Argyle plays at 10:30pm. There is no cover to boot!

Argyle on iTunes!

2009-09-06T21:38:00.000-07:00

Links coming soon (or just search in the iTunes Store). Also available on Amazon.com (mp3 only for now, but cds will be available soon) Otherwise, if you live in NYC and/or surrounding villages, come out to a show and just sweet-talk the band (we'll give you a copy for free if you make us blush). More news to come.

Oh yes!..and, THANK YOU!!!!!! to everyone (old friends and new ones) who came out for the cd release show at Pete's. Thanks for making it a great night (-john)

CD Release Show at Pete's Candy Store (Thursday, Sept. 3 at 9:30PM)

2009-08-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

Well, after all these years of procrastination punctuated by brief flares of intense hard work, solo shows, duo shows, band members that went nowhere and hundreds (possibly thousands) of hand-labeled burnt cds, Argyle Johansen's debut Album is finally being officially released on Thursday, September 3rd at 9:30 PM in the lovely and intimate back room of Pete's Candy Store (709 Lorimer St. Brooklyn, NY). Free copies of the album (the artwork, designed by Michael P. of the wunder-rock-group Schocholautte, is the main image at the top of this page) will be given out at the show, which as always at Pete's will have no cover! Joining the effort on stage as always will be Sam Merrick (percussion) and David Kross (bass) with the dulcet tones of multi-instrumentalist Taylor Galassi (cello, accordion and glockenspiel). It'll be a slightly longer than usual set for us, and be sure to keep your ears peeled because you might here some new as-of-yet unrecorded (and somewhat unfinished:) songs! See you there.
-unkle Argyle

Fontana's

2009-08-25T23:15:00.000-07:00

Kind thanks to everyone who came out to Fontana's (and who dealt with the venue change). You were a lovely and sweet-smelling audience, and we hope to see you again real soon!
-Love, Argyle

CD Release Warm-up Show

2009-07-31T02:13:00.001-07:00

Despite all the rain I've heard that it is still Summer, and you deserve a cold beer. Well it just so happens that Argyle Johansen, a musical outfit that happens to accompany alcohol of all types (but particularly that cold brew), will be performing in such a spot known as a "dive bar" where such libations are to be had. On Tuesday, August 4th Local 269 on New York City's scenic and malodorous Lower East Side will play host to the first official warm-up show in anticipation of the release of Argyle Johansen's debut LP. As is the custom in such establishments, this is a free event. SImply pop your head in the door at 269 East Houston St. around 9:30pm, mosey up to the bar and place your order, turn to your left and enjoy both your beverage and the tunes.

Who is Argyle Johansen?

2009-07-30T01:25:00.000-07:00

Argyle Johansen can be a pretty selfish person sometimes, but I'm pretty sure it's just because he knows what he likes. He typically did not play well with the other kids growing up, but I think that most of us go through that at one time or another; and even though he thinks he knows now that people are just kind of cruel and impossible sometimes (himself included), I think he still takes it a bit too hard when things just don't work. A free man on Earth ought to make his life worthwhile, and the music of Argyle Johansen is an attempt at a means to that end. To bask in the self-satisfaction of something that you made (whether it be writing a song or building a birdhouse) does not usually come cheap, but that is what makes life worth living. At least, that's what Argyle Johansen told me. He keeps his eyes open, his ears clean, and writes about what he wants to write about. Life's little experiences, the segues from the expected, the most profound to the most mundane all provide fodder if you want them to. Waiting in the emergency room at St. Vincent's Hospital to get stitches on a beautiful spring day, not getting enough sleep, or getting too high before having to go to work were all par for the course. Among his varied past of spiritually unprofitable work, Argyle Johansen has been a waiter and a bartender (quick with a joke and to light up your smoke, but there's some place that he'd rather be...); he's quit jobs he didn't like on the first day and gotten fired from ones that weren't so bad in retrospect. He resided under the neon hued clouds of Atlantic City, went to bed early for a year in Philadelphia, roomed with bedbugs in Bushwick, and contemplated the odor of Greenpoint. He's lived above and below the poverty line; subsisted solely on pasta and coffee; and once drove nearly nonstop from Brooklyn to Toronto, across Canada to Vancouver, north to Fairbanks, Alaska and then up a four hundred mile dirt and gravel road in a rented mini-van just to swim in the Arctic Ocean for five minutes before going numb. I swear, it's a true story. It's all true, even the boring stuff; and he's loved every minute of it and written some music about it that makes him really happy.