Jonny Burke’s in songwriting for the ‘Long Haul’

Jonny Burke and bandmate Alejandro Adams. Photos by Theresa Mackin

Jonny Burke is the lead singer/guitarist of, funnily enough, Jonny Burke. Along with drummer Alejandro Adams and bassist Ronnie Johnson, Burke is touring with James McMurtry this summer/fall.

Despite my best efforts to try to speak with him after his Phoenix date on Sept. 21, the stars did not align and I got stuck doing an email interview. Thankfully, Burke’s warm and friendly manner shows through in his answers from Seattle, and there’s always the next time he comes to Arizona.

And he says “Correctomundo” – what’s not to love?

Chelsey Heath: How did you start your musical career?
Jonny Burke: I started playing guitar when I was about 6 years old with chords my Dad taught me, learning how to play songs from his old record collection on a little pawnshop guitar.

I started playing in bars around my hometown of New Braunfels, TX about 10 years ago at age 15. It was something I just felt overwhelmingly and unexplainably compelled to do. I’ve been to every state in the continental U.S. since then, playing shows and sharing my music with anybody that’ll listen.

How did you end up touring with McMurtry?
Of course it’s great to be opening for James McMurtry this time around. I first opened for him in my first band the Dedringers in Texas and then later on national tours. After the Dedringers (which were described as “If Hank Williams, Woody Guthrie, and Kurt Cobain started a band,” for the record) split up, I’ve been fortunate enough to continue touring with James in every region of the country.

Favorite concert experience in Arizona?
That was my favorite concert experience in Arizona – the other night (Sept. 21) at the Rhythm Room. It seems every time I come back to Phoenix or Tucson the last show we did is my favorite, we always have a blast there.

For your song “El Paso” – what was your inspiration and what do you want the listener to get out of the song?
I wrote that after too many long hours in the van back driving through the Southwest a couple years back. I’m not sure how the story came to me but the imagery of the whole region is very powerful and I’m sure that had a lot to do with it.

Songwriting is really a mystery to me and I hope it stays that way. Good music is a special form of communication between people and I am grateful to be able to share what comes out.

There has never really been anything I’ve sat down to specifically write about. I usually just have a line in my head or a melody that won’t leave me alone so I put it down and see where it takes me.

I’m just a simple loner and I came from Arizona just the other night
I pulled into town and I stayed awake until it came the morning light
Then I walked downtown and I got myself some coffee to go
Had to run from the cops my man
I’ll tell you when it rains sometimes it snows

And this road is getting smaller but I’ve got five hundred dollars for a wedding ring
For a girl in Marfa, Texas, I’ll tell you she’s the nicest thing that I’ve seen
But I might blow it on some cocaine and go forget the whole thing like I usually do
Go get me a big bag and snort it off the table ‘til it’s through

Now I’m holed up in El Paso, stuck in this whole fiasco
In some faraway place
Runnin’ from the cops, my thoughts, my family and the rest of the human race
I might just get to heaven if I could only roll a seven in this motel room
Where I found this book, gave it a glance
It tells me it’s my last chance to keep from doom

At a truck stop in New Mexico I’d wandered through the ice and snow and saw it there
Like some mirage I’d seen before, floating high above me in the desert air
A girl there said my smile was nice and for the right price she’d make it wider
She said I’d grin from ear to ear and we could go and get some beer and I could lay beside her

Now I’m holed up in El Paso, stuck in this whole fiasco
In some faraway place
Runnin’ from the cops, my thoughts, my family and the rest of the human race
I might just get to heaven if I could only roll a seven in this motel room
Where I found this book, gave it a glance
It tells me it’s my last chance to keep from doom

© 2000 Jonny Burke (Dedpan Music, BMI)

For your song “Long Haul” – what was your inspiration and what do you want the listener to get out of the song?
Not sure where that came from either, but since I have written that it has become kind of a mantra for me personally that when things aren’t going too well, it doesn’t matter because I’m in it for the long haul.

I look forward to a long life filled with wonderful people on a great journey. You can’t let the trivial shit get you down.

That truck stop preacher’s raving
Up ahead underneath the lights
I got no time for demonstrations
Baby’s waiting up for me tonight

I’m in it for the long haul
I’m in it ‘til the last one falls
Keep talking’ I can’t hear at all
I’m in it for the long haul

You can laugh and you can linger
You can point and you can scorn
But watch it when you point that finger
At the lady of manor born

I’m in it for the long haul
I’m in it ‘til the last one falls
When she’s talkin’ I can hear it all
I’m in it for the long haul
I’m in it for the long haul

Ain’t gonna do it in vain or feel any pain
Coming through
I’ll give all I can give, I’d give it all
For you

I’m in it for the long haul
I’m in it ‘til the last one falls
Keep talkin’ I can’t hear at all
I’m in it for the long haul

© 2009 Jonny Burke (Dedpan Music, BMI)

Since everyone was a startup once, can you give any Arizona local bands looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Since you asked about tips for the guys and gals out there starting out in the music industry- it’s a crazy and beautiful time for music right now!

There is no set way to do things, no set formula for success- so the only thing you can do is go out and do it for the love of the music. Fame and money don’t matter. If you can go out and play music and continue doing it and be happy no matter what cards you draw in this crazy world, consider yourself a success.

It’s a hard row to hoe, so my advice is always do it only if you don’t think you wouldn’t be happy doing anything else.

Anything you would like share, from new merch to upcoming shows/tours or songs/albums?
After I recorded The Long Haul EP, I put it up for free online and drove around the country selling it at shows while I slept on couches. I’ve had a great response since then and have been lucky to continue doing what I do.

I have an album I’ve been working on all year called Distance and Fortune with producer Marc Ford in California. We are planning on releasing it this February so keep your eyes peeled, we’ll be posting some free downloads online this winter sometime!

Also catch up with Burke on @jonnyburkemusic and on MySpace.

*Photos by Theresa Mackin