He’s So Excited: God Johnson Rips It Up

God Johnson will play an exclusive date at the Crosstown Lounge in Grand Forks this Saturday, March 22, at 10 pm. They will be bringing in their hot jams from Minneapolis where the band has been based.
Since 2003, the six-piece band has emerged as a regional phenomenon, laying down its own brand of funk and rock to growing numbers of fans. When front man Jason Fladager made a life-changing decision several years ago to leave the Big Wu when it was on a meteoric rise (or a deadly spiral depending on your frame of reference), he thought he would have to leave music forever. He realized, though, that his guitar and his ability to make music were an integral part of him and so slowly he got together with friends, more out of a need to share music collaboratively than with any desire to tour again.

Drummer Royce Rock and bass man Jimmy Rogers had been playing together since they were teenagers. Keyboardists Scott Roerick and Tim Carrow began to groove with the rhythm section and sometimes dueled it out, swapping layers of melody with good humor. And, Fladager on guitar brought original tunes and vocals to the mix, generously moving aside as band members stepped up to the mic to lead a tune or add harmonies—and always to strut their musical stuff on stage.
Those players found there was much to be found at the new altar of rock and roll and so did Fladager. God Johnson began to play at Cabooze, the Wu’s old stomping ground and tour in Minneapolis clubs, venturing out further to smaller festivals. With their big festival debut at the 10,000 Lakes Festival in 2005, it seemed to be a message from the Universe, saying that it was good and that music, especially, was good again. The next year, God Johnson’s second year at the 10,000 Lakes Festival, they brought along horn player Kevin Sinclair who was also a silky vocal addition. “He doesn’t play on all the songs,” Fladager says, “but the songs he does play on, he makes them better songs!”

The new material that God Johnson has been doing found its way onto two releases. The latest, their sophomore effort, is a double-studio release called “The Squirms: Vol. 1 and 2,” and came out early last year. The Real World: Denver licensed three God Johnson songs for the show in 2007. Though God Johnson music has always been well received, Fladager is rethinking the current music industry philosophy. “I’m not sure about CD format anymore,” he admits. “It’s too easy to rip out three tunes, record ‘em, stick ‘em on your site, and make ‘em available immediately. No costs to duplicate. The internet makes it all possible.”

The aim of God Johnson, for Fladager at least, is to keep making music and to bring it to an audience that is eager to listen. That is one reason that God Johnson is making a special trip to Grand Forks. The other is because of the Crosstown Lounge. “I’m excited. I hear the bar is a cool place to hang out. I’m definitely interested in causing a ruckus up there!” Fladager admits. “Based on the reputation the bar has from other bands who have played the Crosstown (WBPN mostly), we couldn’t resist. Lance Grund is helping us make this show possible so we owe a lot of thanks to him. We have a limited number of Saturdays we can play so we’re happy to spend a night in Grand Forks. I’m sure the people will show us a good time. We’ll try to return the favor.”

If You Go:

WHAT: God Johnson
WHERE: Crosstown Lounge, Grand Forks
WHEN: Saturday March 22, 10 pm
HOW MUCH: $5
WHO: 21+ID
INFO: (701) 575-0612