Derek Pulliam is the man behind the multigenre band Johnny On Point based out of Iowa City. While Derek is the only official member, there’s also a revolving lineup that plays with the band. Notably, Johnny On Point is often joined by Delta Nine (Ryan Persinger) who is a member of local Iowa City band 5 In A Hand. Delta Nine is also credited with contributing to Johnny On Point’s album “Keefin it Real,” which
they recently released as a free download via their Web site at www.johnnyonpoint.com
This new album consists of four songs, each one broken into four parts that are distinct yet
manage to come together as a cohesive composition.
As implied by the band’s genre, the songs consist of many sounds not often heard meshed together in one piece of music. In “912pm” for instance, J.O.P. combines electronic music with an occasional hint of beautiful guitar play, and ghostly vocals that function almost as another instrument. The sonic turmoil created by these sounds fulfill the promise on the band’s Website that their music will “melt your mind.”
Such mental distortion is also created in the title track “Keefin It Real” where more traditional electronic music is interspersed with sounds that previously only existed in alien spacecrafts and Lipps Inc.’s “Funky Town.”
Overall, this purposefully disjointed album manages to work. An easy metaphor for the experience of listening to this album is that of a roller coaster ride. It makes quick and drastic changes. However, at the end of the ride there’s no queasy feeling, just the desire to try it again with the hope of discovering how exactly all of these different sounds are able to coalesce into a pleasing aural journey. The plenitude and depth of sounds also ensures that this album will not get played-out quickly. Each listen reveals a new enjoyable element previously unnoticed.
Listening to “Keefin it Real,” it’s hard not to imagine how J.O.P.’s hectic tunes would sound live. All J.O.P. concerts contain a significant element of improvisation. The band goes into each performance with a basic layout, then adjusts based on the energy of the show.