CINDY STAGOFF
Freedy Johnston, left, and James Mastro at 503 Social Club in Hoboken, Oct. 14.
Singer-songwriter Freedy Johnston, a Kansas native who now lives in Jersey City, has enduring ties to the Hoboken music scene. He has said that he learned how to tune his guitar “onstage at Live Tonight on Washington Street (in Hoboken) in the late ’80s” and that his first “big-time gig” was at Maxwell’s.
On Oct. 14, as part of his “Tuesday Night Live” series, he visited Hoboken’s 503 Social Club — an intimate gallery and performance space — to perform songs with and interview its owner, James Mastro (see video below). As with all “Tuesday Night Live” shows, this one had a live audience and was also streamed, online.
The series takes place at a different venue and with a different theme, each week, with no admission charge. Other collaborators in the series have included Boo Reiners (broadcast from the Hoboken Historical Museum) and Mark Spencer (broadcast from his Tape Kitchen studio in Brooklyn).
At 503 Social Club, Johnston and Mastro exchanged casual banter about “The Passenger,” Mastro’s photo exhibition currently on display on the gallery’s walls. In addition to performing some photography-themed covers (Paul Simon’s 1973 “Kodachrome”; Ringo Starr’s “Photograph,” which was co-written by George Harrison), they also played several of their original tunes, including Johnston’s soulful and poetic “This Perfect World,” which exemplifies his masterful way of making tragedy sound captivating; and Mastro’s “Gangtster Baby,” which beautifully expresses the passionate and all-encompassing focus you feel when first encountering a new love. Johnston’s rendition of Jimmy Webb’s “Wichita Lineman” showcased his haunting voice and arresting performance style.
Mastro discussed the origins of a few of photos that those in attendance were curious about. One was his gumball machine photo (see upper right-hand corner of photo above). Johnston responded positively to Mastro’s suggestion that it could serve as an album cover.
I did an in-depth interview with Johnston in 2023 about his then-new album Back on the Road to You and his career up to that point. And I spoke to him again, this week, about “Tuesday Night Live” and other current projects, including the production of and fundraising for a documentary about him.
MICHAEL STAHL, portraitsbymichaelstahl.com
FREEDY JOHNSTON
Q: How are you, Freedy?
A: I’m the same, Cindy. It’s all too much and all of the time. When the siblings Stupidity, Cruelty and Duplicity work together, they usually get their way. Something Bono might have uttered, what? But still true.
Q: Can you tell me about your Tuesday gigs? When did that start? What is the concept?
A: I started the “Tuesday Night Live” webcasts about a year ago. It took more than a few gigs to work out the technical details. I was also (at first) playing solo in my living room to a camera, which is not that fun. You want to play for the crowd. I am thankful that the angel Geri Fallo stepped in and offered to book the shows. It changed everything.
Our first “TNL” with a crowd was Sept. 9 at Collective in Hoboken, and we’ve been at a different location every week since. We offer about 20 free seats through Eventbrite and have a tip jar. It’s going great. Upcoming guests include Richard Barone, Glenn Morrow and Warren Zanes.
Q: What will you discuss with Zanes?
A: Warren is an impressively accomplished guy, wouldn’t you agree? And a great dude as well. This show is at Little City Books and I’ll ask him about his book about Bruce (Springsteen), titled “Deliver Me From Nowhere.” And he’ll play a couple of songs.
Q: It seems like you’ve found some intimate settings to connect with an audience. Do you prefer a stage or a smaller room?
A: After doing them in the living room so much, any kind of venue is great. For these, I wouldn’t really want a stage. It’s more of a house concert setup. We did the Hoboken Museum with the awesome Boo Reiners. Glenn will be playing with his band at the Bar/None Records office, pushing my audio engineering skills to the max. Richard Barone is at Tunes record shop.
DAVE LOWENSTEIN
Freedy Johnston’s mural in Kinsley, Kansas.
Q: Last we spoke you were planning to paint a mural in your hometown. How did it go?
A: Yes, that did happen. With a grant from the State of Kansas, we painted a mural in Kinsley in August ’24. I worked with Dave Lowenstein, a muralist who’s been painting as long as I’ve been writing songs. It’s his mural design from my initial idea. The town is the same miles from San Francisco and New York, so the east end of the wall is a billboard of NYC, and the west side of San Fran, with stylized icons of the town in between. It is beautiful. It’s titled “Destination Home.” It’s 68′ by 13′. Dave is a deeply great artist, and I learned a lot from him about painting and life.
Q: Did you see old friends and family while painting? Was that stirring in a good or bad way?
A: A documentary was begun with the painting. Being filmed is not my favorite thing. But we got used to it and loved it, of course. I saw many people from my days (in Kansas). It is a very happy 106-degrees-in-the-shade memory.
Q: When did you start painting? Is that something you do with regularity? If so, is there any connection between your lyrics and your paintings?
A: I went to Kansas University ostensibly to study painting. But I only lasted a semester and a half. That’s when I began my long career in food service. And decided I wanted to write songs instead of paint. I’d finished a couple of big abstract paintings, like 5′ x 6′, and I sold one to a friend for maybe $50, and gave another one to my friend Jeff, who may still have it. But I stopped painting when I left school. My high point was when I used my dorm sheets for canvas because I couldn’t afford to buy any. It got around the studio and the grad student painters all came by to look.
Then, one day in 2008, for some reason, I bought a pad and pencil and started drawing again.
I was in Austin — one of my stops on my odyssey around the country. It took years to get it back. I have about a dozen paintings that I am trying to finish. It’s a huge dream to have my first art exhibit.
CINDY STAGOFF
Freedy Johnston performs at the Fall 2021 edition of the Hoboken Arts and Music Festival.
Q: Can you tell me about your documentary? How did it come about?
A: Director Michael Ferraro and Hollywood cameraman Collin Davis drove out from L.A. with a car full of borrowed cameras and lights. Honestly, until they got there, I didn’t realize they were making a real film.
Q: What were a few enjoyable moments when filming it?
A: It’s kind of one long and fun memory. Three weeks sharing a big, ranch-style Airbnb — one of two in town, which was kept at 64 degrees at all times, against the Kansas heat. 106 degrees one day. Several over 100. We worked 8-hour days and then went to Rustlers Bar and did karaoke with some of my high school friends.
Q: I think you mentioned to me that you are working on a new album. If that’s so, tell me about that process. Have you started to record it?
A. I’m, as usual, trying to finish 10 songs. Getting close. Hope to record in the winter. I’m working with old pals again on this one. Kevin Salem is producing. Graham Maby and Brian Doherty are on the crew. Really can’t wait to be back in the studio.
For more on “Tuesday Night Live” and Johnston’s other projects, visit facebook.com/OfficialFreedyJohnston.
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