The fruits of labor

Johnny Badseed and the Rotten Apples release new record and prepare for touring

Johnny Badseed and the Rotten Apples are living examples of the “do-it-yourself” mentality that is required of anyone attempting to play shows and put out records in 2016.

Comprising four friends—Robby Housh, Mark Pride, Brandt Ohnheiser and Jack McCready—as committed to each other as they are to making music, Johnny Badseed in its current form came together around five years ago. Exact dates are lost to time, but it is agreed the band formed after Pride saw the then-trio play a show at the Crystal Pistol. 

“Brandt invited Mark to a show and now we’re stuck with him,” Housh teased.

“I told them they needed a bass player,” Pride said. He was right.

Johnny Badseed and the Rotten Apples sound like a Spaghetti Western set at a basement show in a punk rock squat house, a sound hard to classify that must be seen live to fully to appreciate, when the band is having as much fun as anyone in the audience.

They’ve spent the last year writing and recording the fifteen songs that make up their new self-titled record, the band’s most ambitious release to date. 

Self-financed, produced and released, the album contains a spirit reflective of the band itself. It is also their first studio album, recorded with Jay White at Admiral Sound. 

“We decided that we only really sound good live,” Pride said of the band’s decision to record live instead of tracking out each instrument. This creates a feel on the record that is immersive and authentic.

Recorded over five sessions, the songs evolved and deepened with added instruments like tambourines and harmonicas. In addition to mixing and mastering the record, White contributes slide guitar.

“Jay did a fantastic job making our recordings sound like we do live, which I think is pretty hard to do,” Pride said. “The last album we recorded at Brandt and Robby’s house on Garage Band and Jay also mastered that one. The sound quality is night and day, though.”

The album was created out of pocket with no intention of shopping it to a label.

“I’ve never had any sort of help putting an album out. I don’t even know how that process works.  Record labels kind of scare me,” Pride continued. “We’ve self-funded and self-released everything.”

Keeping a band together for five years in the face of day jobs and families is an impressive feat, and the band continues to make it work.

“That is probably the biggest challenge facing us as a band: Brandt works long and weird hours, Mark has a family, Jack has been working on his house a lot, and I have a lot of Netflix to watch,” Housh said. 

Over the years there have been cancelled practices, canceled shows, things that would break up some bands. In this respect, Johnny Badseed appears built to last. Two of its members, Ohnheiser and Housh, have been playing music together since middle school. When friendships come first, missed practices aren’t as big a deal.

“I guess it’s really not that hard. When you’re passionate about something, you’ll find a way. It’s part of your life. My wife knows it’s important to me, so I try to make an effort not to leave her stranded with three crazy toddlers too often,” Pride said.

For Housh, “the band is a break from all the other stresses of life. We definitely put a lot of work and love into the band.” 

The band is gearing up to play as many shows as possible over a series of regional mini tours to promote the new album. 

“We’re really proud of this record and want everyone to hear it,” Housh said. 

Get the new record on iTunes and BandCamp, and lookout for upcoming show announcements on the band’s Facebook page.

For more from Bobby, read his article on touring with John Moreland.