I’ve been working long hours this week. Really long hours, getting in at 5AM and not leaving till 11:30PM. And it has taught me this. That shit is for the birds. Especially since my job consists mostly of heavy lifting, menial photocopying, and making sure overpaid, oversensitive actors get whatever they want. It wears on you. It wears on the soul a bit. You can only take so much before you start to go crazy. During these weeks when I get out of work I don’t want to do anything. I don’t want to think; I don’t want to interact; I want to turn my brain off completely. I don’t need artfully done emotional tunes in times like these. You know what I do need? Jonny Fritz. Or as he used to be known, Jonny Corndawg.
Look. Not all of the artists I write about here are going to be world beaters. Sometimes I just wanna kick back and listen to a drunken folk dude sing songs about dog boners. Is that so wrong? I certainly don’t think so. Corndawg…errr Fritz, won me over with his Press Bio line. I’d write my own bio on the guy, but honestly I’m not going to top him. Here are some of the highlights.
Bio:
“Jonny Fritz (formerly Corndawg) is a country singer, not a singer-songwriter. Born in Montana and raised in rural Virginia, Jonny dropped out of school in 2001 and toured solo for many years on his motorcycle”
“Jonny’s music is more in the vein of that obscure 70s gay country that housewives would discover on a Bear Family reissue in 20 years “
“Now touring the USA in a retired UPS truck, Jonny Fritz and his Nashville-based band, The In-Laws, are winning over new fans night after night. In addition to pursuing the lost art of the Real Deal, Jonny is an airbrushing, leather-working, marathon-running, truck-driving American. Born and Bred”
First off, touring America alone on motorcycle sounds like both the loneliest, and at the same time, most badass thing you can do. Secondly, I didn’t know there was gay country. If this is gay country, then I guess I’m a full-fledged gay country fan. And finally, how do you pursue the lost art of “The Real Deal”? What does that mean? What is the Real Deal? Is this one of things where if I have to ask, I’ll never know? He is a man of mystery and I don’t think he’s trying to be mysterious at all. I blame the vagabond beard for his mysterious vibe.
Although he has been touring since 2001, he didn’t release his first record until 2011 titled I’m Not Ready To Be A Daddy. With the exception of the tracks Family Tree and Oversteppin’ the album is quite solemn. It is a call back to the days of quiet blue grass. The backing band is heavy with harmonica, fiddle and slide guitar, instruments that mainstream country seems to have kicked by the wayside in exchange for designer cowboy boots and poppy hooks. This DIY video really gives you a glimpse at Corndawg’s (Fritz’s) whole way of life.
Last year he began doing shows with Deer Tick, Middle Brother, and Dawwes. His newest effort Down On The Bikini Line released in 2012 is a lot different than the previous record. It’s more upbeat, jovial, and downright funny. Like in Hip-Hop, guys in the country game take themselves far too seriously. Which is weird considering how many rhinestones are donned on a regular basis. This is not the music you’ll find on CMT or the Country Music Awards. This is the country music from the juke joints of the Appalachians. Fast paced and packed with double entendres. The opening track Shaved Like A Razor happens to be a little toe tapping diddy about moving too fast and general hair follicle maintenance.
Back to the fiddle, where has the fiddle gone? Sure Mumford and Son is doing their best to keep it legit, but again, I feel like they are a band that has a hard time laughing at themselves or anything else for that matter. Why are they constantly mean muggin’? Relax boys, music is supposed to be fun boys.
Chevy Beretta is another great track. Sure the music seems simple and innocent enough, but then the lyrics kick in where Fritz lays out the raucous story of his life and the lives of others in a small town. My favorite line is:
“smoke drugs/ made love/ fuckin underwater/ and I can safely say that I’ve done it all/ in a Chevy Beretta/ small town loud music/ I’m runnin’ up the down escalator at the mall”
I’ve lived in a small town before and I can honestly say things get wackier, faster than they ever do in a big city. That is what boredom will do. So much down time and then suddenly, things escalate quickly.
The final song I want to talk about is the track Silver Panty Liners. The vocals on this track are lovely. It is reminiscent of old southern church hymns. It reminds me a lot of that song Down In The River To Pray. Has the same rise and fall. The sweet harmony almost has you forgetting that the song is about holding off on going down on a girl until she means something to you.
Here’s him performing it with Dawes
If you want the album version, check it out for free here.
These songs make me laugh, and they allow me to escape the bullshit hours that I’ve been working this past week. That’s what music is for me currently. An escape. It takes me out of my own head and puts me in a better space. Hopefully Corndawg (Fritz) can do the same for you. I know he changed his name to Fritz, but once you go by Corndawg, I’m not just gonna stop calling you Corndawg.
Big hugs,
Kelly
 LINKS