Sam Wenc remembers Johnny Coley [1950 - 2025]

I came to Johnny's work with the release of Antique Sadness on Sweet Wreath in 2021.  I was working on an album design for Henry Birdsey's Old Saw project and when I sent him my first draft, he said the cover bore a bit too much resemblance to the Johnny Coley record that just came out.  I checked it out and from there I was hooked.  That summer I couldn't stop listening to Antique Sadness - I showed it to everyone I knew.  Johnny's words echoed through my days. Striking and bold tenderness; his writing displayed to me someone standing in direct confrontation with what was in front of him.  As if he was just in some perpetual conversation with life and these little songs or poems were just snapshots.  How the person(s) both real and imagined in his world became appendages for touching experience, 
Immortal Creatures, Immortal Field.  He wrote a lot about the body.  His body, the bodies of lovers, the bodies of strangers, the bodies of the natural world.  He made whichever body he was describing so sensitive and open that you couldn't help but position yourself in direct contact with it.
 
It was a blessing to release his record Mister Sweet Whisper with Mississippi Records.  I wasn't sure how it was going to be received, wondering if fans of the label would scratch their head at a record described as "southern nightmare jazz and spoken word poetry". Nonetheless, I was pleased as Johnny's work (and the work of the Sweet Wreath crew around him) became a bit more widely recognized and elevated.  The work of Jasper, Joel and others has been an inspiration to me and finds deep resonance with the work of Mississippi - helping provide ever so subtle a platform for true, deep, curious humans to transmit their voice from whatever pocket of the world they find themselves.  
 
Thank you to Jasper and all who cared for Johnny and helped guide his work.  Thank you to Johnny for being an open spirit and sharing himself with others - it's not an easy thing to do in this life.
 
- Sam Wenc / Mississippi Records

Please follow this link to read a collection of remembrances of Johnny, put together by our friends from Sweet Wreath

Listen to Mister Sweet Whisper

Portland scene report via Eric Isaacson at the Mississippi Shop:

Hello all,

   Mississippi East wrote me asking to report from the ground here in "war torn" Portland, Oregon. They aren't the only ones. I’ve been receiving messages from around the world - "Are you okay?" "What the hell is going on out there?" "I'm sending love."

   So, here's my view from the ground.

   To point out the absurdity of the military occupying Portland, protesters have donned goofy Frog or Unicorn costumes to dance in front of police lines, called Emergency Naked Bike Rides and posted hilarious videos of "war torn" Portlanders sipping lattes, walking their well groomed pups, and doing tai chi in the park. Those actions have broken through to the mainstream media. What’s not being shown is how Portlanders are also raising funds for the families of those kidnapped by ice gestapo, organizing communities to support and defend our neighbors, and practicing the old tactics of shutting up, staying aware and not complying ahead of time. 

  A mere two days after 200 National Guard Troops were called to our city for no real reason, Mississippi Records hosted the 8th annual Dead Moon Night celebration across the street from the record store. It was organized two weeks before the event. The genesis was a drink with Toody Cole.

Toody - What are we doin' for Dead Moon Night this year?

Me - I dunno....maybe we'll just have bars play Dead Moon all night and have some kinda drink special.....

(Toody is silent and looks off in the distance for a second, obviously disinterested in this idea)

Me - I mean, we're gonna have a big awesome concert. Would you play?

Toody - (with no hesitation) Sure! 

I started organizing, getting musicians on board to cover one Dead Moon song each - a mix of legends I've admired since I was a teenager, younger bands recommended by dedicated rocker Neisha Desouza, and musicians who hang out at our corner bar that I ran into. 

This being the first big Portland gathering since the military was deployed gave me visions of troops suddenly appearing at our celebration to bust it down. Television anchors dissecting the lyrics to Dead Moon songs for antifa messaging. Toody playing Fire In The Western World as we got tear gassed. I'll admit, part of me kinda wanted this to happen. A quaint celebration of an official city holiday with puppies and children and old folks getting busted up by the army. Our celebration would have been the most obviously benign they could target. 

  Instead of a military malay, the show was a good wholesome time. Around 400 people showed up. It started with The Mistons covering Poor Born, with the sing along chorus - I'M PISSED OFF PISSED OFF PISSED OFF. IT’S JUST THE WAY I AM. Next up Amy Beth and The Creeps played a ferocious version of Frankenstein, singing into microphones made from old telephones. Dan Wilson sang a tender 80 second version of I'm Out Nine. Vague Fague went all in on Psychedelic Nightmare. Legendary Sam Coomes played a tripped out version of My Escape. Hell Nancy sang a beautiful affectation free version of Echoes Of You. Dr. Amazon absolutely DESTROYED with a long experimental version of Animal. Noxema rattled off a perfect version of The Deadline. Sad Horse got sweet with You Can't Do That. 

During Dr. Amazon I got teary eyed thinking of their singer Amy who passed away recently (and played bleating horn on the original Rats recording of the song). Watching Sean Crogan of the Miston's took me back to when he worked at Escape From New York Pizza downtown in the early 90's. He and his best pal Elliott Smith were the first older cool guys who were nice to me when I was an awkward teen, giving me slices and inviting me to house shows. Seeing Noxema made me feel like I was at a basement punk show watching those same musicians rock many moons ago. Seeing Sad Horse reminded me of the first time I saw them play. Mid set, my pal Ron Burns leaned over and shouted in my ear - "you gotta put out a record by these guys while Elizabeth's still a sloppy drummer. She's gonna get too good at playing and lose the magic....." (he was wrong - she's still got it)

 There's been a lot of talk about how the right's power grab will fail because we got the culture. And it's true. They have AI generated videos, angry unfunny comedians, and ranty podcasts. We have rock n roll and art. True freedom.  

Dead Moon Night made me feel like there's a cultural continuum here in Portland that's far stronger than any army gathering in the hills. The key now is to make sure we keep our edge and use it to spread the message that it's more fun to party with anti-fascists, gender nonbinary folks and diverse immigrant communities than to fight against us. 

At Dead Moon Night, Toody took the stage and played three songs with three different backing bands. The three song cycle kinda summed it all up. Listen to Fire In The Western World, Dagger Moon and Dead Moon Night in a row, and you will understand more about where we're at than through any diatribe. These three songs say it all.

…and, unrelated to Dead Moon and the politics at this moment….more about the weather…..here’s a Fall playlist for you.

• Eric Isaacson / Mississippi Records Portland Shop

Friday, October 24
PORTLAND:
A PEOPLE'S HISTORY OF NORTH AMERICAN MUSIC 

WITH HEADLINING MUSICAL GUEST TOODY COLE

PLUS A SHORT FILM COLLAGE OF MICHAEL HURLEY

AND SOUNDSCAPES BY HARLAN SILVERMAN AND BARRY WALKER JR.

OCTOBER 24TH      *      7:30 PM      *      HOLLYWOOD THEATER      *      $12

The final Portland performance of Mississippi Records’ whirlwind telling of the entire history of North American music in just 80 minutes. You can watch a PREVIEW HERE! Get yer tickets now...... HERE!

Sunday October 26, NYC:

WILLEM NYLAND LISTENING PARTY
presentation by Matt Marble (American Museum of Paramusicology)
Sunday * October 26 * 6-8pm
326 Spring St, NYC [above the Ear Inn]
SOLD OUT!!!

Wednesday, November 5
AMSTERDAM

THEY'RE DREAMING ME
20 years of Mississippi Records archives
Live presentation by label head Cyrus Moussavi 
on the music of Emahoy Tsege Mariam Gebru, Abner Jay, Brother Theotis Taylor, and more
+
Alick Nkhata Album Release Celebration with Jamal Khadar (NTS Radio)
+

VERY SPECIAL MUSICAL GUESTS & DJ sets by Mississippi Records & Jamal Khadar

Wednesday 5 October  * OCCII AMSTERDAM * Amstelveenseweg 134

DOORS: 20:00 * START 20:30

TICKETS

November 6-9
UTRECHT, NETHERLANDS:

MISSISSIPPI RECORDS @ LE GUESS WHO? FESTIVAL

• ASSIKO GOLDEN BAND DE GRAND YOFF

  • Thursday, 6 November 21:40

  • Friday, 7 November 21:15 (with Lonnie Holley)

  THE GOLDEN AGE IS IN US [Mississippi Records Live Presentation]

  • Friday, 7 November 11:15

  I SNUCK OFF THE SLAVE SHIP [Mississippi Records / Lonnie Holley Film Screening]

  • Friday, 7 November 14:30

  THE SPACE LADY

  • Friday, 7 November 19:45

  • Saturday, 8 November 21:45

  THE COSMIC TONES RESEARCH TRIO

  • Friday, 7 November 00:15

  • Sunday, 9 November 19:45

The Merkaba Brotherhood and a screening of Gratitude To The Mystery

OCTOBER 26TH

8:00 PM

AT MISSISSIPPI RECORDS 

     Roman Norfleet (from The Be Present Art Group and The Cosmic Tones Research Trio) presents a screening of Gratitude To The Mystery, a short documentary about him and his various music and art projects. 

   After the film, The Merkaba Brotherhood will take the stage, Roman and legendary musician Brown Calvin's new duo

!!! Amazing spiritual music that'll get you floating on a higher level. A beautiful show not to be missed!