Duquette Johnston - “Year to Run”

SXSW 2022 - OEB Score: 7; Popularity Index: 2

Pairs Well With…Phosphorescent, Hiss Golden Messenger, Wilco

Duquette Johnston sounds comfortable in his own shoes on the first few tracks shared from his upcoming record The Social Animals, explorations in Southern rock tones with injections of grunge, blues, and alt country informing this trio of songs alone. The soul-assisted “To My Daughters”, Gen-X inflected “Mystics”, and hooky rock number “Year to Run” are among the strongest in Johnston’s catalog, featured from his third record, but first proper release in nine years from the patient songwriter formally of the 90s indie rock band Verona. There’s grace and mature precision stemming from these songs that predicts a well-rounded, impactful record on the way come February 25th. (Kevin McStravick)

2020 Review: Birmingham, Alabama singer-songwriter Duquette Johnston melds breezy pop and swampy Southern rock on his 2019 record Etowah, a DIY-edged record of Americana ballads and ramblers. Johnston’s invitation of garage rock (“Oh 19!”), classic R&B (“Babies and Diamonds”), and lonely ambience (“Golden Son”) gives Etowah’s generally pastoral folk settings balance and life, extending beyond alt country landscapes to a personal, bedroom-rock vibe.