Fulton Bryant-Anderson
Guest Writer
Sweat dripped down Theo Katzman’s brow when he put the talkbox into his mouth. He wasn’t Joe Walsh but it sure felt like it.
Known primarily as a guitarist and vocalist for Michigan funk collective Vulfpeck, Katzman also maintains a prolific solo career. In between his solo career and Vulfpeck, Katzman collaborates and produces for a multitude of artists, like Carly Rae Jepsen, Rhett Madison, and Joey Dosik.Â
Joe Dart’s bass solo rumbled into a full-band explosion. The rain hadn’t subsided and it was accenting every note that passed from his brain to his dancing fingers.Â
On January 10, 2020, Katzman released his third album, Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe and started its subsequent tour (which was cut short). That rainy winter day is etched into the minds of concertgoers at Capitol Hill’s Neumos Crystal Ball Reading Room. It was a blend of Katzman’s image, the bands intelligent musicianship, and melodramatic lyrics that cultivated a nostalgia driven by the duality of uplifting light and sorrowful darkness.Â
Never breaking a sweat, never fumbling a stick, never missing a note, Jordan Rose stared into the audience from his trap set.Â
At the center of Katzman music is creative and calculated musicianship. This comes from his talents as a multi-instrumentalist and the musicians he invites to record with him. The track (I Don’t Want To Be A) Billionaire represents Katzman and his crew. It opens with Louis Cato’s drum break before climaxing into the choral refrain that includes Caleb Hawley, James Cornelison, Joey Dosik, Laura Mace, Katzman, and Cato. The sing along is cemented by Vulfpeck alum Joe Dart’s bass work who’s melody with Katzman and Cato drives the song forward. Extending the band is Lee Pardini of Dawes on keys. Pardini’s choice of playing piano, electric organ, and clavinet bounce off one another to create a diverse sonic landscape. (I Don’t Want To Be A) Billionaire reminds listeners of heavily produced 70s-80s pop rock like Steely Dan, The Eagles, and Toto.Â
“LEE PARDINI!” yelled the individual from stage left.Â
A self-proclaimed lover of the musical duality that is sad lyrics and upbeat instrumentation. Katzman’s Modern Johnny Sings is built on this concept. Sliding into a major chord, Katzman wrote a body wiggling tune in The Death of Us. The lyrics contemplate the ending of an age-old music trope, relationships. The handclaps before verses make it upbeat; the end of the relationship is worthy of applause. Melodrama is metaphorized through a card game as Katzman sings:
“I tried hard to play my cards just right. Beginner’s luck usually gets me through the night But after one kiss, it hits the fan. A flush of bleeding hearts in my hand I grab Band-Aid, but what’s the rush?…”Â
This beckons listeners to lost love, friendships, and nostalgia inducing events while distracting them with its upbeat instrumentation.Â
Rhett Madison joined Katzman and crew on stage, it was time to shoot some Plain Jane Heroin and sing along. I never knew my vocal range; until now.Â
To complete his nostalgic overtones, Katzman created the persona of Modern Johnny for his most recent release. The album cover has vibes reminiscent of A Clockwork Orange with its typeface and film grain to give it a vintage art-house feel. As Modern Johnny, Katzman dresses in earth tones with a retro striped shirt and scarf embellishing himself in the classic 70s pop cover designs from Polydor or Atlantic.Â
Pardini moved to the side as Katzman took over his keyboards. Katzman was inches away from me, singing and playing to us all.Â
With Modern Johnny Sings: Songs in the Age of Vibe, Theo Katzman created a persona that encapsulates what the world loves about nostalgic pop music: uplifting instrumentation through accomplished musicianship, dreary lyrics, and an aesthetic that is unparalleled. Katzman maintains a deep discography but some great starting songs are: Hard Work, My 1-Bedroom, You Could Be President and his Vulfpeck classic: Back Pocket. His music is readily available on streaming services and available from his online shop theokatzman.annarbortees.com.Â
