Imaginary Johnny

Imaginary Johnny has slowly but surely evolved from an electronica-laced solo project to full-fledged rock band. With a past that includes three distinctive and critically acclaimed albums, it’s evident on the upcoming release, Only Chimneys, that Imaginary Johnny has arrived at a unique balance of poetic songwriting and powerful minimalist performances. Sporting its longest-standing and most cohesive lineup yet: Adam Sylvia on guitar, Ismail Lawal on drums, songwriter Stuart Wolferman on vocals and keys, and Marc Alan Goodman on bass, Imaginary Johnny paints a broad landscape, with private meditations one moment that erupt into defiant anthems the next. Sylvia’s guitar playfully weaves in and out of the main melodic thread – subtle but unmistakable. Lawal is similarly restrained and is as lyrical and expansive with his drum kit as Wolferman is vocally. With postmodernism having devoured anything resembling sincerity, IJ’s candor stands out. The band’s quiet ferocity along with the tightly crafted songs with themes of outcasts and tiny moments add up to something bigger and combine to create a sound that is undeniably honest.