The First Tour of Alexz Johnson
SKIPPING STONE TOUR The First Tour of Alexz Johnson
8 Photography by Jessica Earnshaw Edited with Sylvia Plachy
I met Jessica Earnshaw working on set in Toronto, Ontario in 2004. We’ve been friends ever since. Seldom without a camera in her hand, Jessica’s casual captures have become an accurate documentation of time throughout my journey in the music industry. Having practically grown up together, I have become comfortable having the camera tell it’s story – regardless of what’s happening beneath the surface. When the Skipping Stone Tour came about, it was naturally important for me to invite the audience into this story, as I wouldn’t have been able to do this tour without my fans. These photographs are close to my heart, as they capture such a free and fearless time; they flood my ears with the music that was being made each night on the road. It’s impossible to express how special these moments are to me, and to be able to share them through my best friend’s eye, is a gift. I hope you enjoy these photographs, and take with you something true.
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As a photographer I’ve always been fascinated with the relationship between the person behind and in front of the camera. The person in front usually puts up barriers and the photographer either photographs that or attempts to take them down. Often the barriers put up become an interesting part of the person, but sometimes, particularly when we are used to someone’s well-photographed persona, we want something closer, something rarer and more elusive. I have known Alexz a very long time. When you are this close to someone, walls disappear. They become one in the image. Following Alexz’ experience with my camera gives an untouched peek into what it’s really like to be an independent artist willing to put everything on the line to follow a dream. I am driven as well, and astonished by the human heart that keeps going, and going, and going.
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Alexz Johnson’s band includes: Adam Christgau (drums), Jay Foote (bass), Misty Boyce (keys) and Kirk Schoenherr (guitar). 7
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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS: I want to thank the following people for their support in the creation of this book: Bruce Byers, Drew Leahy, Zak Johnson, Michelle Dunn Marsh, Daniel Carmin-Romack, Jennifer Modigliani, Pete Pin & Andrew Fedynak. I thank Adam Christgau, Jay Foote, Misty Boyce and Kirk Schoenherr. Thank you to Alexz Johnson for trusting me to photograph such a special time in your life, as you always have. And a very special thank you to my editor Sylvia Plachy for taking on this project – your generosity of spirit and advice has meant a great deal.
For more on Alexz Johnson, please visit AlexzJohnson.com for her music, concerts, and latest updates. For information on Jessica Earnshaw, visit JessicaEarnshaw.com
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Photographs and Introduction ©2012 Jessica Earnshaw Forward ©2012 Alexz Johnson Lyrics courtesy and copyright ©2012 Alexz Johnson Produced in a first printing of 100 copies by El Sereno Graphics Photo editing and sequencing by Sylvia Plachy and Jessica Earnshaw Book design & layout by Rtwerk
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any manner in any media or transmitted by any means whatsoever, electronic or mechanical (including photocopy, film or video recording. Internet posting, or any other information storage and retrieval system) without prior written permission of the author.
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CAPTIONS: Cover – Vera Project, Seattle WA.
pg 35 – Schubas, Chicago IL
pg 62 – Cafe 939, Boston MA.
pg 2 – The Basement, Columbus OH.
pg 36 – The Basement, Columbus OH.
pg 6 – Old Town Rock, St. Louis MO.
pg 37 – Jammin’ Java, Vienna VA
pg 8 – Utah. Reroute to Seattle WA.
pg 38 – Hotel Cafe, Los Angeles CA.
pg 63 – (clockwise) 12th & Porter, Nashville TN. / Vera Project, Seattle WA. / Cafe 939, Boston MA. / The Basement, Columbus OH.
pg 9 – Enroute to Boston MA.
pg 40 – Jammin’ Java, Vienna VA.
pg 10 – Enroute to Seattle WA.
pg 41 – Jammin’ Java, Vienna VA.
pg 11 – Enroute to Boston MA.
pg 42 – New York, NY.
pg 13 – Enroute to Denver CO.
pg 43 – New York, NY.
pg 14 – Twin Peaks, San Francisco CA.
pg 45 – Moe’s, Denver CO.
pg. 15 – Twin Peaks, San Francisco CA.
pg 46 – 12th & Porter, Nashville TN.
pg 16 – Wyoming.
pg 47 – Brick and Mortar, San Francisco CA.
pg 18 – Moe’s, Denver CO. pg 19 – Schubas, Chicago IL.
pg 48 – (clockwise) Cafe 939, Boston MA / Webster Hall, New York NY / Webster Hall, New York NY / Webster Hall, New York NY
pg 20 – Old Town Rock, St Louis MO.
pg 49 – Old Town Rock, St Louis MO.
pg 22 – Old Town Rock, St Louis MO.
pg 75 – Brick and Mortar, San Francisco CA.
pg 50 – Webster Hall, New York NY.
pg 23 – Webster Hall, New York NY.
pg 77 – Utah.
pg 51 – The Basement, Columbus OH.
pg 24 – Mission Theatre, Portland OR.
pg 78 – Vinyl, Atlanta GA.
pg 53 – Hotel, Chicago IL.
pg 25 – StageOne, Fairfield CT.
pg 54 – Enroute to St Louis MO.
pg 27 – Schubas, Chicago IL.
pg 55 – Enroute to Columbus OH.
pg 28 – Cafe 939, Boston MA.
pg 57 – Vera Project, Seattle WA.
pg 29 – Vera Project, Seattle WA.
pg 58 – (top) Webster Hall, New York NY. (bottom) Old Town Rock, St Louis MO.
pg 30 – Webster Hall, New York NY. pg 33 – Schubas, Chicago IL / StageOne, Fairfield CT.
pg 59 – (clockwise) Media Club, Vancouver BC. / Hotel Café, Los Angeles CA. / Vera Project, Seattle WA. / 12th & Porter, Nashville TN.
pg 34 – StageOne, Fairfeild CT.
pg 61 – Jammin’ Java, Vienna VA.
pg 32 – StageOne, Fairfield CT.
pg 64 – Moe’s, Denver CO. pg 65 – Webster Hall, New York NY. pg 66 – The Basement, Columbus OH. pg 67 – StageOne, Fairfield CT. pg 69 – Hotel Café, Los Angeles CA. pg 70 – Mission Theatre, Portland OR. pg 71 – Vinyl, Atlanta GA. pg 72 – Webster Hall, New York NY. pg 73 – Mission Theatre, Portland OR. pg 74 – 12th & Porter, Nashville TN.
pg 79 – Schubas, Chicago IL pg 80 – Pismo Beach, enroute to Los Angeles. pg 81 – Enroute to Boston MA. pg 82 – Hwy 101 to Los Angeles. pg 83 – New York, NY. pg 84 – Jessica Earnshaw & Alexz Johnson. Jammin’ Java, Vienna VA. pg 86/87 – 12th & Porter, Nashville TN. Back cover – Vinyl, Atlanta GA.