Who is ALLAN JOHN
ALLAN JOHN is a 5 piece alternative acoustic rock band, that is wrapping up its debut album (in the same way that one might say the earth is wrapping up its current circuit round the sun). Current status: Masters of all 12 tracks – complete. Album artwork – complete. Next steps: publishing and distribution deals. Watch this space, but not too intensely – your eyes begin to water after a few months. (And we’ve also completed a music vid – LEGEND!)
At the risk of sounding clichéd, the music is most certainly not. The focus is on original, unique song writing and an energetic acoustic feel, that falls somewhere between Jack Johnson, Dave Matthews and the Foo Fighters (that is to say all three these bands hear a thump now and then, but no public statements have been released on the matter to date.) Our sights are set internationally as far as distribution and touring go, but home will always be South Africa.
The lead singer/songwriter/guitarist, Allan Muir, plays a mean acoustic guitar, but uses a generous electronic voice. He also has attractive kneecaps, a tan and short hair, while the bassist, Morné Venter, does not (have short hair), and has perfected a method of extracting energy from the other band members for use in his stage performance. (Watching him can leave your neck feeling like you’ve just watched a fast rewind of Wimbledon on one of those old VHS machines). The drummer, Corneil Clasen, has two sticks, a kit and a chameleon named Elvis (now deceased – long live the King), and is always on time for practice. By that we mean he keeps time like a Swiss metronome on the pill. Waldo Boshoff (ex Waldo 89), can make any piece of scrap metal sing by pursing his lips together and forcing air out between them under pressure. He may be found at scrap metal merchants across the country, entertaining mechanics on Saturday afternoons. However, his preference is brass sheeting, rolled into the shape of a trumpet, with valves stolen last autumn, from a Ford Mustang V6.
And then, the most recent and classical addition, Siobhan Lloyd-Jones is a feminine individual with an unexpectedly violin streak. Her bow, while bringing hitherto unforeseen dimensions to the band’s already full sound (from the little wooden box of strings she keeps under her chin), moves at lightning speed, and has been known to penetrate the bodies of careless neighbouring musicians, creating new orifices on occasion. As such, the band members usually jump at every opportunity to take a bow. Her bow.
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