JOHNNY FALSTAFF
Listen to Tonight When people think of the name Falstaff, their minds might immediately think of Shakespeare, or beer. Shakespeare’s Falstaff seemed to scorn morality largely because he had such a hearty appetite for life. Lemp Brewing Company registered the trademark and logo of Falstaff Beer in 1903, because the founder felt the Shakespearean character embodied the more positive aspects of drinking after prohibition. Shakespeare’s character coined the phrase “Eat, Drink, and Be Merry”.
When Texans hear the name Falstaff, we automatically think of Johnny Falstaff. A name synonymous with Texas Honky Tonk and Country Music. Johnny is a true Texan, being born in Alice Texas, and raised on the outskirts of Houston.. Johnny learned music from his father, a rockabilly/R&B guitarist. As a young boy, he would sneak his father’s guitar out of the closet, and teach himself how to play; careful to always put it back the exact same way, so he wouldn’t be caught. When he finally asked his dad to show him how to play, his father started him out on the song “This Ol’ Man”. As his fans can tell you, that first song would be a far cry from where he musically ended up.
After a four year tour in the army, Falstaff returned stateside. In the mid nineties, he formed a band called “The Sundowners”, which rocked and reverberated with the influences of Buck, Merle, and Ray Price. Though never officially released, the band made many recordings and celebrated tours throughout Texas and the West Coast. When asked what made him gravitate toward that particular genre of music, Falstaff replied “No one was doing it anymore, and it’s always been what I liked. If I wanted to hear it, I was just going to have to do it myself.” With a voice that is a cross between Chris Isaac, and Dwight Yoakum, he certainly could pull it off. The year 2000 marked his first solo release called “Bad Tonight”. His guitar style garnered him notice with Davin James, and it was not long after, he was offered a guitarist spot with the singer/songwriter; a four year tour ensued.
Upon his return to Texas, Falstaff put together a new band, wrote and recorded the self titled EP. It featured three of his older songs, and three new tracks. “I wanted to give it and old-school feel,” Falstaff said, “Productions these days are great and mighty and huge and beautiful and all that. I wanted to go the opposite direction and be stripped-down and bare.” Success in that endeavor was achieved. The first single “Shine” was met with great reviews, and his audience seemed to understand the intent behind his recording style. “That was one of the quickest and easiest songs I ever wrote. I didn’t really overanalyze it or get too deep with it.”
The past year Johnny Falstaff has toured everywhere from the Big Easy in New Orleans to Germany. He joined Kim Carson on a month long European tour, and enjoyed the same fervor for his music there, as he does here in the Lone Star State. Houston Press has nominated him for both Best Male Vocalist, and Best Country and Western. On the heels of all of this, he has still managed to find time to work on a major film project with good friends Hank Schyma (Southern Backtones) and John Evans, about the darker side of Texas Music. An all around Renaissance man, Johnny Falstaff embodies all that defines the name.
When Texans hear the name Falstaff, we automatically think of Johnny Falstaff. A name synonymous with Texas Honky Tonk and Country Music. Johnny is a true Texan, being born in Alice Texas, and raised on the outskirts of Houston.. Johnny learned music from his father, a rockabilly/R&B guitarist. As a young boy, he would sneak his father’s guitar out of the closet, and teach himself how to play; careful to always put it back the exact same way, so he wouldn’t be caught. When he finally asked his dad to show him how to play, his father started him out on the song “This Ol’ Man”. As his fans can tell you, that first song would be a far cry from where he musically ended up.
After a four year tour in the army, Falstaff returned stateside. In the mid nineties, he formed a band called “The Sundowners”, which rocked and reverberated with the influences of Buck, Merle, and Ray Price. Though never officially released, the band made many recordings and celebrated tours throughout Texas and the West Coast. When asked what made him gravitate toward that particular genre of music, Falstaff replied “No one was doing it anymore, and it’s always been what I liked. If I wanted to hear it, I was just going to have to do it myself.” With a voice that is a cross between Chris Isaac, and Dwight Yoakum, he certainly could pull it off. The year 2000 marked his first solo release called “Bad Tonight”. His guitar style garnered him notice with Davin James, and it was not long after, he was offered a guitarist spot with the singer/songwriter; a four year tour ensued.
Upon his return to Texas, Falstaff put together a new band, wrote and recorded the self titled EP. It featured three of his older songs, and three new tracks. “I wanted to give it and old-school feel,” Falstaff said, “Productions these days are great and mighty and huge and beautiful and all that. I wanted to go the opposite direction and be stripped-down and bare.” Success in that endeavor was achieved. The first single “Shine” was met with great reviews, and his audience seemed to understand the intent behind his recording style. “That was one of the quickest and easiest songs I ever wrote. I didn’t really overanalyze it or get too deep with it.”
The past year Johnny Falstaff has toured everywhere from the Big Easy in New Orleans to Germany. He joined Kim Carson on a month long European tour, and enjoyed the same fervor for his music there, as he does here in the Lone Star State. Houston Press has nominated him for both Best Male Vocalist, and Best Country and Western. On the heels of all of this, he has still managed to find time to work on a major film project with good friends Hank Schyma (Southern Backtones) and John Evans, about the darker side of Texas Music. An all around Renaissance man, Johnny Falstaff embodies all that defines the name.
