JOHN, comprised of John Newton (drums, lead vocals) and Johnny Healey (guitar, backing vocals), have announced their fourth album, A Life Diagrammatic. It follows 2021’s Nocturnal Manoeuvres and is set for release on 22nd September via Brace Yourself and Pets Care Records. The release in September will be accompanied by a tour of UK record shops in the week following the release as well as the band’s debut in North America throughout October. Full tour dates are listed below:
News of A Life Diagrammatic‘s imminent arrival is accompanied by the new single ‘Service Stationed‘ which features guest vocals from Leona Farrugia of the ever-rising Anglo-Maltese quartet ĠENN. It’s a propulsive example of JOHN at the peak of their powers, building an inescapable atmospheric presence from undulating guitar riffs, pounding drums and Newton’s distinct guttural bark, all packaged in a neat three-minute, shining exterior.
John Newton expands on the track:
“We immediately liked the propulsion of the song in the rehearsal room, I liked to think it mirrored the driving motion of the band’s outlook. Trying to challenge ourselves by not automatically relying on repeatable tried and tested methods. I think that’s one of the reasons why we’re still a band after a decade.”
“Simultaneously, the idea of a forward projection is contained in the thematics of the song too. There’s a pretty vampiric desire for progression in our present day, which is there to consistently generate new capital – even if it’s simply a masquerade of recycled matter proclaiming newness. This is often a fraught quest, diminishing quality in favour of retaining attention. It’s something that has penetrated musical culture and this flash-in-the-pan attitude is something we’ve tried to steer clear of throughout our creative journey.”
“The song lyrically nods to the figure of William Morris: a figure who fought against the tide of industry in history. He was buried not far from my home town – a housing estate built over the railway tracks which transported his body to his resting place. A somewhat appropriate symbol I thought, especially as I wondered what he would’ve thought of the convenience culture that has accelerated since his death.”
JOHN Tour Dates:
July
8th | Bordeaux, FR – Jalles House Rock Festival
September
22nd | Southsea, UK – Staggeringly Good Brewery (Out-Store)
23rd | Brighton, UK – Resident (In-Store)
24th | Bristol, UK – Rough Trade Bristol (In-Store)
28th | Kingston, UK – Banquet Records (In-Store)
29th | Nottingham, UK – Rough Trade Nottingham (In-Store)
30th | London, UK – Rough Trade East (In-Store)
October
3rd | Phoenix, AZ – Linger Longer Lounge
4th | Los Angeles, CA – The Echo
5th | Santa Ana, CA – Constellation Room
7th | San Francisco, CA – Brick and Mortar
10th | Seattle, WA – Sunset Tavern
11th | Portland, OR – Mission Theater
13th | Salt Lake City, UT – The DLC
14th | Denver, CO – Skylark Lounge
17th | St. Louis, MO – Off Broadway
18th | Chicago, IL – Schubas
20th | Toronto, ON – The Baby G
21st | Columbus, OH – The Basement
24th | Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie
25th | Washington, DC – DC9
26th | Brooklyn, NY – St. Vitus
January
5th-7th | Bognor Regis, UK – Rockaway Beach Festival
For more information on JOHN please check out their facebook and instagram.
