#Soniclunch Episode Five: Theo Katzman creates the magic for epic series finale.
"Modern Johnny is a feeling," says Theo Katzman in regards to his third LP, Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe. "He's an archetypal character who represents the plight of the singer-songwriter trying to make it in today's music world."
Modern Johnny is not an alter-ego, per se, but he and Katzman do have some striking similarities. Born in the mid-80s, both were raised on the rubble of 90s rock radio, the remains of their parent's record collections, a handful of 'Greatest Hits' CDs, and several hard drives worth of miscredited MP3s from Napster. Both left home for [INSERT BIG CITY] with a "songs-can-change-the-world" attitude. Both find themselves stumbling through the free market in the age of social, the age of streaming... the Age of Vibe. And it's a confusing climate out there. Billy Joel hasn't released an album in nearly three decades, Stevie Wonder is ranked 230th on Spotify, and The Beatles are best known for their appearance in the XBOX video game Rock Band. To be clear, Modern Johnny isn't necessarily what the kids are asking for: He's too heart to be hip, too hip to be pop, too pop to be rock, and too rock to be art. TOUGH SITCH. But no matter the zeitgeist, both Katzman and Johnny forge ahead of the only way they know how: in pursuit of messy, honest, exuberant human emotion through popular song. The result is Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe.
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SONIC LUNCH
Started in 2008, Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch is a free summer outdoor concert series at the corner of Liberty and Division in downtown Ann Arbor Thursdays from 11:30am to 1:30pm, August 5 to September 2. Sonic Lunch features a live band from an impressive array of talent in the region, as well as national and international acts. Each week, lunch will be available on-site for purchase from a local vendor. Sonic Lunch concerts are free and suitable for all ages. Seating is available but lawn chairs are welcome. Join the crowds for an energizing mid-day break or just relax and enjoy the sounds.
Sonic Lunch is a collaborative effort spearheaded by Bank of Ann Arbor. ann arbor’s 107one and Morning Host, Martin Bandyke, provide promotional support and host each event. Perich + Partners provides colorful art As a result, Bank of Ann Arbor’s Sonic Lunch has become one of the coolest summer events in Ann Arbor. www.soniclunch.com
ABOUT BANK OF ANN ARBOR
Bank of Ann Arbor is a locally owned and operated bank with total assets and assets under management of over $3.4 billion, serving people and businesses in Southeast Michigan with offices at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Washington Street in downtown Ann Arbor, in the Traver Village Shopping Center, at the corner of Stadium and Liberty Streets, on West Ellsworth Road in Pittsfield Township, on West Michigan Avenue in downtown Ypsilanti, in Plymouth on Ann Arbor Road, on East Michigan Avenue in downtown Saline, and on Woodward Avenue just north of 14 Mile Road in Birmingham, Michigan. UniFi Equipment Finance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the bank and headquartered in Ann Arbor, is a well-established company with a national presence in the small ticket vendor space. UniFi has funded more than 85,000 transactions, totaling over $1 billion. www.boaa.com / www.unifiedge.com. Visit us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.
