CHROME JOHNSON: Chrome Johnson

Chrome Johnson

Chrome Johnson

© 2004 Uzitunes Music (694220141621)

CD IN STOCK. ORDER NOW. Will ship immediately.

Spaghetti western meets hell-bent rock n' roll, honky-tonk & rockabilly.

tracks

1 Spaghettadillo
2 Rio Grande
3 Against The Grain
4 Wastin' My Tears
5 Folsom Prison Blues
6 Born To Lose
7 Handful Of Gimme
8 Harry's Arcade
9 Shadowspell
10 Sinkin' Like A Stone
11 Gypsy Train
12 Supernatural Disaster
13 Firewater
14 That's No Way To Get Along
15 All Night Long / King Bee

notes

Since 1999, Bay area's Chrome Johnson has been honing their distinctive blend of Americana, drawing on rockabilly, country, gypsy swing, hell-bent honky-tonk and rock'n'roll. Their live debut album captures the energy, songwriting and interplay that have won the band a large and loyal following in this notoriously hard to crack town.

"...the new kings of twang."
SF Bay Guardian, June 2003

"...songwriting that draws from the deep well of our shared musical heritage."
Independent Coast Observer, March 2002

Pardon me, where'd you learn how to pick like that?

Singer-guitarist and bandleader Danny Uzilevsky is a Bay Area favorite who has played with Jesse Collin Young, Big Brother & the Holding Company, Preacher Boy, and Chuck Day. A true original on the guitar with a throaty baritone to match, Danny's many voices are woven into songwriting that runs somewhere between the self-assured holler of Steve Earle and the wildly fanciful stylings of Tom Waits. In 1997 he began making solo recordings that would eventually pave the way for Chrome Johnson.

Danny met Josh Schneck, (guitar and trumpet) while auditioning and subsequently playing in the swing band, Lee Press-On and the Nails. One evening backstage, Josh overheard Danny Danny playing one of his own compositions.. "It was as if Django Reinhardt pulled up on the soundstage for the Good, Bad and the Ugly," recalls Josh. "I loved it from the get go." The two began jamming together during the band's frequent tours up and down the west coast, and plans for a group were soon hatched. "We didn't exactly know what to call it," says Danny, "but we knew what we liked, and thought we might find a few like-minded conspirators to come on board."

With no shortage of talent in the Bay Area to chose from, a call to complete the band was quickly answered, but Danny soon realized he'd found more than three top notch musicians. Pound for pound, Josh Schneck, Ben Pfeiffer (stand-up and electric bass), and Dana Miller (drums) may well be the sharpest backline this side of Nashville. Call it serendipity, these boys have the kind of musical chemistry that only happens when somebody upstairs isn't minding the wheel.

The name of the band refers to a beloved resonator guitar that has, alas, been set out to pasture with a broken neck.


Chrome Johnson is:

DANNY UZILEVSKY
lead vocals, guitars, lap steel, principle songwriter

JOSH SCHNECK
guitars, trumpet, vocals

BEN PFEIFFER
acoustic and electric bass, vocals

DANA MILLER
drums, vocals

reviews

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  • Chrome Johnson
    author: Kat Rey

    Love, Love, Love. Gets down in my soul. These guys make love to their instruments.. literally... It is a sensual experience. Wanted to buy one for Aunt Margie in Texas, but thought the jacket might scare her. Uncle Floyd was a C&W singer in Houston who fired George Jones (long story). One day I will get her one just so I can hear her say OH MY!

  • Chrome Johnson
    author: Jenny Rivere

    This cd is terrific. I really can't wait for their next album to become available. The band is just full of talent. Also, I am very much looking forward to seeing them live again. They are so much fun to watch.

  • More CDs!!!!!!!!
    author: Germaine

    I live in San Diego and used to travel up to San Rafael several times a year. I felt lucky to see Chrome Johnson play on those trips and would buy CDs at their shows to give to my desperately starving for good music friends down here. Everyone loves these guys!!! I just gave away my last copy and am ordering more and I hope they never run out because So Cal just can't get enough.

  • Fabulous!
    author: Kathryn Twedt

    This band is amazing, this CD is amazing! I think you should charge more for it! It is well worth the money!

  • This is a great CD
    author: Jason Edwards

    All the tracks on this CD are great, espcially the cover of Folsom Prison Blues.

  • Hard Driving and Irresistible
    author: xxxprincess

    I love these guys... I had this CD playing in my car yesterday and I was so into the music that I passed up my exit and kept on driving...just to hear the end of the song!!! And if you think the CD is good..wait till you see these guys live... INCREDIBLE!!

  • Refreshing! Superb guitar picking! Awesome songwriting!
    author: Ray

    I saw these guys about a month ago in Pittsburgh. I was blown away! The CD is very well done.I'm surprised it's live! Wonderful production, fantastic songwriting and unbelievable guitar tone! Wow, what chops Danny! I was in reverb laden, Twang Heaven after listening to this CD. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED for Rockabilly, Surf, Country fans or anyone seeking a band with a great original sound! A CHICKEN PICKIN DELIGHT!

  • this CD has got it all!!!
    author: JIM

    This CD has got it all!!! Spaghetti Western themes, Rockabilly, Psychobilly, Hank Sr. style ballads, Tom Waits meets Django & good ol' Rock n' Roll. I can't wait to see them live!

  • author: Sally

    I saw this awesome band play at the High Dive in Champiagn Illinois and they are ABSOLUTLY INCREDIBLE!!!!!! I'm so happy that I could get their CD on CD baby, because I couln't get one that night. COME BACK SOON CHROME!!!!!!

  • For "tone heads" an absolute must !
    author: Jay

    Really great music is rare, consider yourself either smart or lucky to pick up this CD ! I never thought a band could "tip their hats " to so many of their influences on one disc and yet make it their own sound....Whoever is writing and arranging the material on this disc is quite spectacular,as is the musicianship displayed live on stage. PLEASE include Detroit (or near) when touring. WOW ! Jay

  • YeeeHaaaaww!
    author: Henry

    This band is the best thing I've EVER heard! Rockin', Twangin' , Bluesey , Swingin' , killer pop hooks, Why aren't these guys giant rockstars?

  • Twangalicious!
    author: The Famous

    Just got this CD yesterday and popped it in the car and WOW! The opening track "Spaghetadillo" is like a cross between Dick Dale and the theme from Rawhide with it's layers of surfy-reverbed Spaghetti-western guitars and the "yee-haws!" and galloping sounds of the cattle drive. Fiery guitar work full of double-stops and chicken-pickin' send their version of "Folsom Prison Blues" into interstellar overdrive and the rest of the album is full of strong tunes with great guitar work and vocals reminiscent of Tom Waits and at times Hank Williams Sr. HIghly recommended.

  • CD Baby & Chrome Johnson - YAYYYY!
    author: Germaine

    These songs get into your soul, shake things up, shake things down, and settle on in. CJ are great in concert - what an amazing group of musicians! This CD brings the band into your house or your car or wherever you happen to play them. Looking forward to the next one, guys!!!

  • Great live!
    author: Lisette

    Ive seen CJ live several times in SR& FF... can't say I'd ever get bored! They are great and I am stoaked to find the cd since Im not in Marin anymore. Im not sure why they are'nt famous yet, the sound is truly amazing.

  • Book the band in your home town!!!
    author: Danny from C.J.

    Hey folks, this here's Danny, (the singer guy) from C.J. We're trying to figure out where to steer our next tour. If you think you can get us a gig or 2 in your town, drop us a line @: booking@chromejohnson.com

  • Thanks Everyone!
    author: Chrome Johnson

    Chrome Johnson would like to thank all these great folks for their kind words on the album. We promise more music to come!....B.P.

  • Music that blows you away.
    author: Bob Brunner

    I saw these guys at Sweetwaters in Mill Valley. They were the most fun you could have in a bar! Buy the cd and make these guys stars.

  • Fits in where the others don't..
    author: Bea

    They have a sound that you can't truly find anywhere else. I have played this CD (as well as their "'Brandywine' EP") for quite a few of my friends up here in Oregon and they all LOVE it. Each time I come to the Bay Area I am always thirsty to see them live - but the CD suffices in the mean-time. Can't wait for their next album!

  • Enio Maricon fans, this is a must own!!!
    author: BaLou

    I saw these cats at 19 Broadway in Fairfax and had a blast. I asked the engineer that night if they had a CD and sadly was disappointed to know that a disc didn't exist... when I stumbled across this gem on CD Baby I flashed back to that night... wonderful evenning, complaining ex aside, and rode off into the sunset with the ghostriders in the sky. This disc has been on constant playback on my ipod... its balls to the wall good god damn songwriting and production... more more more, give us more!!!

  • The perfect soundtack...
    author: Eddie S.

    This CD has been in my car CD player for months! It was the perfect soundtrack to my life while driving to and from Burning Man this year. One of my alltime favorite records!

  • Just incredible. Really.
    author: Ed Murphy

    Mr. Uzilevsky is a gifted songwriter. The band clearly honor their rockabilly-blues-rock influences while creating a truly distinctive sound. Everytime I listen to the CD, I hear something new. At one moment the it feels deeply rooted and the next it is absolutely original. Just incredible. Really.

  • Grreat is not enough
    author: Juergen

    Wow! These guys knocked me off! Not knowing what was coming I put the CD into the player in my car .... jeeeehay! The ride started and took me within seconds into an imaginary movie on the back of an imaginary horse in an imaginary western riding toward the sun. This is simply the best CD among a lot I bought in the last months! No collection is complete without. So don't wait, hurry up and get your copy!!

  • Very fun!
    author: Lisa Sheean

    Great! I highly recommend it.

  • gimme, much obliged
    author: max urban (studio F)

    like a freight train in a hurricane careening off of the tracks leaving a trail of broken guitars necks in its wake acdcrockabillysoulsacrificethirdstonefromthesun djangoesque also these guys are so fuckin good GO SEE THEM LIVE NOW!!! at least buy the CD ok? twang me.

  • you are the music maker and possibly the dreamer of dreams!
    author: Luciana

    i've been "out of circulation" for quite some time and just recently started checking out the local scene again and boy....i'm hitting myself in the head i didn't know about these awesome guys sooner!roight in my backyard every wednesday!!!such a treat!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Where have you been all my life?
    author: Wendy

    Where have you been all my life? Your sound, style and originality is exactly what I have been waiting for, I am so glad I found you good old boys. I love the fact you cover of one of my favorite rock bands of all time, ACDC. I can't stop listening to it and can't wait for the next one!

  • Very nice boys, keep it up...
    author: T. Waits
  • These guys Rock! Very original.
    author: Reverend Horton Heat

    We had the pleasure of having Chrome Johnson as an opener in CA, they blew my mind! We even asked Danny to play a song with us one night. This is a great cd. It's got a great live feel, but it sounds really good too. The cd is packed full of mostly original material, and the songwriting is top-notch. These guys are going places!

  • Junkyard/Psycho/Spaghetti Western/Alt-Country/Rockabilly/Delta Blues
    author: Rockabilly Grrl

    This CD is the most refreshing one I've heard in YEARS! These guys seamlessly weave so many great styles together without sounding like they're jumping from one thing to the next. Also, the sound quality is excellent. The atrwork and design is really nice, and they even include the words. I really like that! Inside, there are some nice pictures of the boys in the band - very easy on the eyes, especially the main man - Danny. They're from San Francisco, but they sound like they're from the deep south, where I'm from! How do they do it?

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