The one and only Junior Brown is coming to blow the roof off of Johnny D’s this coming Saturday night.

By Jim Clark

Regular patrons of Johnny D’s Uptown Restaurant and Music Club may have already had the good fortune of witnessing guitar-slinging legend Junior Brown in action. He has played the venue countless times throughout the years. But if you have not yet taken the opportunity to see for yourself then there can be no better place to be this coming Saturday night than Johnny D’s, experiencing a concert by one of the world’s premier singer-songwriter-performers.

The unique song stylings that Brown offers feature dry wit, often laced with biting irony or satirical overtones, served up lavishly alongside his dazzling guitar virtuosity.

Those familiar with Brown are well acquainted with his use of his trademark “guit-steel” guitars, which he developed himself. Consisting of a conventional electric guitar connected to a lap steel “slide” guitar below it, Brown effortlessly switches between the two throughout each number in a mind-numbingly spellbinding display of instrumental mastery.

The origins of this exotic instrument are as interesting as the artist himself. Brown says that it all began when he started experimenting with altering a zither with the aim in mind of converting for use as a slide guitar. The next step involved attaching it to a conventional guitar, and a number of iterations later – going far beyond the use of the zither – the present day configuration of his trademark “guit-steel” instrument took form.

And what the man can do with the instrument is astounding.

Brown’s music is rooted in classic country and western, but at the drop of a hat he will burst into searing renditions of surf, rock and roll, and any number of other genres that he can cover with ease. There aren’t many who can emulate Jimi Hendrix’s style of playing as well either, when the mood strikes him.

Although based in Austin, TX, Brown is a man who has moved around quite a bit. He spent a few years in Hawaii, a fact which is evident in a few of his island flavored compositions.
His connection to this area is tangible too, considering that his father is from Boston and he has several relative scattered throughout New England.

Brown is highly regarded as a musician’s musician. As early as the 60s he was playing clubs, teaching guitar, and honing his craft in preparation for the breakthrough that would come to full fruition in the 90s.

While serving as leader of the house band for the Continental Club in Austin, Brown’s reputation as a guitar prodigy grew, as did his dedicated following.

He soon began recording and the hits started coming. His wry take on law enforcement, Highway Patrol, hit big nationwide, as did other catchy tunes such as My Wife Thinks You’re Dead and Venom Wearin’ Denim.
His delightful mixture of humor and high octane shredding made him a big recording star and highly sought after commodity on the concert circuit.

His talents have even been used in film and television, having made a number of acting appearances, including a role on The X Files and serving as narrator in The Dukes Of Hazzard movie.

Brown’s on- and offstage partner, wife Tanya Rae Brown, adds beautifully rendered backup guitar and vocals to the band. Together, they share a life on the road that few could know.

Brown has ten albums to his credit. His latest is entitled Volume Ten, available via his website (www.juniorbrown.com).

Be sure to catch Junior Brown and his band at Johnny D’s this coming Saturday. You’ll be mighty glad you did.