Sydney 4 piece Johnson own all the right records. Formed in 2001 at the infamous Castle on Cleveland St, they draw inspiration from the 70's funk/psychedelic soul/black rock era. They manage to combine the feel of groups like the Average White Band, Sly and the Family Stone and the Meters with the dirty production one might find on a Jon Spencer record. Given this unique mix, their existence has been a strange and often misunderstood one. But lucky for them the music industry world-wide has cottoned on to what many have known for quite some time - it's fun to get filthy. Johnson have not been without success however, with 2003 seeing them sell out the Basement and then some at the "Funk Affair", win the Sydney University Band Comp, hit almost every one of Sydney's pubs and clubs and enjoy solid radio support from FBi, Triple J and 2SER. Their indie label Motherlovin' Records has also expanded into the shady world of event promotion, as 2004 sees them putting on the 1st Annual Sydney Funk & Soul Festival, bringing together only the best of the Sydney scene. The night saw Johnson launch their 3rd offering "Motown Won't Return My Calls", which finally delivers on the potential that the group has promised since the beginning. Frustrated with "professional" studios, the group retreated to a loft space for the winter, building a studio from the ground up and only coming out when they were satisfied. The mixing was provided by long-time friend Chris Townend at BigJesus Burger Studios, who promised wholeheartedly to "Fuck shit up." The end result is a recording that perfectly blends the groove with the wild. With a summer of touring and a full length album due in 2005, things are looking very tidy for Johnson.
