Band Spot Light: Johnny Madcap And The Distractions

June's spotlight is a band that is an amazing representation of the LA local music scene. When the band Madcap stopped playing in 2005 Johnny Madcap the band's main songwriter and singer was left a bit disillusioned by the record industry and fairly fed up with LA's scene of who's who's and who's not's.

So later that year he decided to pack up his things and move to California's high desert. Like an outlaw on the run he disappeared into an environment that was sheltered from the big city where the only bright lights you'd see were the stars in the sky. Always writing songs he spent his nights guitar in hand writing whatever poured out of his, at the time, tortured soul. A few years later one of these nights were not like the rest. While at his house strumming around on a catchy little chord progression he started singing a line over and over "I need some distractions, I wanna go dancin', I wanna turn it way up loud tonight!". That was a song called Distractions and was the first of 10 songs he would write that night. 

From sunshine to rain the songs poured out of him and seemed to click for the first time in a long time. Like any outlaw the outlaw life comes calling again and if that's what you are you accept it. Johnny had no problem with this. He moved back to his hometown of Los Angeles with a suitcase of songs but no band to play them. Out of the scene for a few years the landscape had changed and his particular brand of Elvis Costello styled pop anthems had taken a back seat to an emo/screamo type of aggressive screaming style rock that had taken over and the haircuts were now certainly longer than what he was rocking. But a good outlaw needs a good gang and so Johnny searched on into all the alleyways and dark places he could find for three. The three that would be able to turn these songs into a reality and create the gang he always wanted. The kinda gang that would follow him into the fire. He knew he had that gang when he found Justin chester on bass, Jan Michael Benesch on drums and Patrick James Guerrero on guitar. Together they became Johnny Madcap and The Distractions!

Photo By Jessica Moncrief

The bands first show in Los Angeles at The now defunct Key Club was sold out. Since then the band has toured the country and shared the stage with such acts as Flogging Molly, The Bouncing Souls, The Descendents, The Addicts, The Toasters and many more. A Distractions show is a sweaty mess of dancing, drinking, screaming and singing your heart out. Life is too short to care too much and Johnny Madcap and The Distractions are the perfect soundtrack to accompany that sentiment.

Everyone that comes to a Distractions show is immediately accepted into their dysfunctional family of not the who's who's and the who's not's anymore but the who cares. Johnny Madcap and The Distractions are a party on CD, on vinyl and definitely on stage. The band is bringing back the danger as well as the heart and soul of rock 'n' roll and not to mention the songs are some of the catchiest you will hear. Anthems for anyone whose ever been broken and need to belong to something again. Well we have a gang for you to join. Johnny Madcap and The Distractions are looking for someone to make bad decisions with. Is it you?

The band has just finished recording their new record which will have a release date this summer. You can find all their previous releases on itunes, amazon, spotify, etc.... and if you'd like to order merch click  HERE.

You can catch the band Friday June 20th at The Redwood in Downtown LA for Johnny Madcap's birthday party. This is gonna be wild! come out and experience what the Distractions do best and that's rock. Keep up with Jonny Madcap and The Distractions on Facebook HERE.

 

 

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