Tales From The Fest: Exclusive Review of “Death to JHOFF” and an interview with Johnny Hoffman and the Residents

Question: What has twenty fingers, four legs and isn't afraid to break genre? Answer: Johnny Hoffman and the Residents. I caught their live set at Capital City Punk and Core Fest and after we chatted I was given an advance copy of their EP, “Death To JHOFF,” set to release on May 31^st. I was stoked to listen to it and soon as I was back in the comfort of my luxurious Big City Pent House in Seattle (read: small apartment) I popped the CD into my expensive Stereo System (read: laptop) and gave it a go.

Death to JHOFF opens up with a song that cooks. 1347 kicks in with a shrill a “Lets Go!” and takes off into a hard driving rock and roll tune. There are two beautiful left turns that come out of nowhere. A monologue and then the speed is pulled out at the end, allowing the inner metal head in all of us to bang our heads along. This dynamism plays out beautifully and is an excellent introduction to an EP that demonstrates the fearlessness with which Johnny Hoffman and the Residents approach their craft.

The second track “Suzy” is a catchy pop-rock tune drawing on elements of the Black Keys, early White Stripes and a heavy dose of some surf rock. You’re gonna be singing this one to yourself whether you like it or not, but I assure you, you’re gonna like it. It’s a fun tune to listen to, if I still had a skateboard (yeah yeah, sk8 or die, I know) this would be a tune I’d listen to while bombing hills.

Track three is a cover of “What I like about you”, original recorded by the Romantics and released in 1979 by their label Nemperor. Johnny Hoffman stays very true to the original, at first, before launching into a break down and solo about half way into the song. “What I like about you” is one of those songs that is so ubiquitous in our culture, and has been covered several times on top of that, that its easy to hear the “Hey! Uh-huh-huh” and then tune out and nod along. This cover demands your attention at exactly the point when you would start to tune out. The guitar starts to squeal, the tempo changes, a steady distorted rhythm guitar chugs along (that’s chugs, not chugga-chugs, this isn't crabcore) behind the squealing solo that drives the song out giving way to... is that a horn section? Jesus. Trust me, the horn section isn't what you're thinking. It's soft and lets the song down nice and easy. This is a really interesting cover of a song that I honestly was not too excited to hear.

The first half of the EP is very obviously rock and roll. While it explores different aspects of rock and roll, the second half is where everything starts to get interesting. “Hind Sight” begins with vocalist Skye crooning “You can call me crazy, or you can call me fine, I’m losing all my memories, I’m running out of time.” A guitar whines and starts into a slow riff, Joe delivers a short verse and then rapper Madshroom jumps in and raps over the steady back beat and melodic guitar. This song has a lot of creative energy behind it, and it is a great example of how the band is willing to work with other artists and avoid being pigeon holed.

“All is well”, the penultimate track, starts out nice and steady with a calmly delivered verse before launching into a heavy and chaotic chorus. Reverb on the vocals brings a nice amount of space as well. At the end we are treated again to that lovely hard rock guitar that flies so gloriously over the thumping beats.

The last track “Hey” is a love song that balances nicely against the rest of the album. Switching from a soft verse that Joe sings softly over and contrasted by a chorus with a distorted guitar and Dylan’s crashing symbols, along with the shouted refrain of “Yeah!” the song slowly lets go of the listener. A really solid note to end on.

Johnny Hoffman and the residents are not afraid to break the mold, that much is clear. In my opinion, they are at their best when they embrace their old school hard rock influences; Joe letting the guitar rip and Dylan slappin' skins. But I’m also a simple man with simple taste. There is a complexity that this band is reaching for ,and while they haven’t quite gotten to it yet, I’m very excited to hear what else comes out of these guys.

At the fest, I can’t remember what was holding me up from catching the first half of their set. I might have been interviewing CFA or balance, I might have been waiting on some food by the grill, or maybe Shaun was talking my ear off about stitching together shoes. At any rate, their live performance was great. Both members play their hearts out for the crowd.

Afterward I tracked them down by their car outside to talk about the Fest, what their influences were, and what was in store later for them.

Fringe Music: So how are you guys liking the Fest?

Dylan: I’m having an awesome time, just soaking up the sun and the energy in there. This is one of the liveliest crowds we’ve played in front of in at least the last four shows.

Joe: Yeah I honestly didn’t think we’d mesh very well, but we had a great time.

FM: When I was listening it almost sounded like you guys had a White Stripes-y kinda sound, is that intentional?

Joe: We actually listen to a whole buncha shit, I actually listen to a lotta 80’s disco shit so. It kinda, doesn’t really translate very well I guess

Dylan: We get it all the time just being a two piece in general. They see a drummer and guitarist and think the White Stripes. But honestly we’re going more towards the Black Keys. Just being our own entity and more or less a DIY approach.

FM: Well you guys definitely had a different sound than some of the other bands here tonight, and its really refreshing to hear it. Can you talk more about your influences?

Joe: We kinda go album to album. Led Zepplin to Captain Beefheart, Jazz…..No country though, I’m not a big country fan.

Dylan: When I get asked this I say the most selfish answer. I listen to our music, and I get influence off of Joe when he comes up to me and he says he has a new song or a riff and I’m just like, playin' along to it. So that’s kinda what I influence myself with.

FM: Cool! So whats coming down the pipe for you guys then? Is there a new album or EP?

Dylan: We actually just released [our new EP] “Death to JHOFF” and this has been in the making for the last, probably 6 or so months and we just got some fine tuned recordings so its six tracks and a super do it yourself approach.

Joe: We can’t get a label though cuz we sound different on every track. We have a rap track, hard rock, we have a punk track. And there's a cover too.

FM: That’s awesome. Any big shows coming up after the fest?

Joe: We’re playin' the Aquasox Stadium in Everett on June 14^th and then Everett again at the Creative Underground Theater on the 31^st.

Dylan: That one’s gonna be the “debut show” [for the EP]. Tonight is a sneak peak of “Death to JHOFF,”on the 31^st we’re gonna have merch and we’re gonna sell the EP and its gonna be a big show.

FM: That sounds like it’ll be a great time. How long have you guys been together?

Both: A couple years now

Joe: We really started going for it the last 6 months. We’re hoping to do a September west coast tour and 

then east coast in march [2015] and then hopefully get some record label behind us.

Dylan: And if we can’t get the record label its no sweat, we already made it this far. So I mean, we’ll just keep taggin' along and push out the music, ya know?

FM: Sounds awesome guys. Last question, if you could say anything to 300 people what would you say?

Joe: Check us out and come to our show.

Dylan: Show me your boobs.

Check out Johnny Hoffman and the residents next month at the Aquasox Stadium on June 14^th and the Creative Underground Theater on June 31^st. Check back here soon for an interview with Thistopia and many more bands from the Capital City Punk and Core Fest and beyond!