Dean Johnson & Esther Rose

CRITIC'S PICK:
Thurs. Dec. 11
Dean Johnson & Esther Rose, Vinyl - "He looks like Sam Elliott but sings like Vince Gill" reads a detailed Paste article about mid-50s folk singer Dean Johnson. And that perfectly captures Johnson's vibe. His high-pitched sweet, warm, pliant voice and simple yet moving songs were first heard on 2023s debut where they got a surprising amount of positive reaction, especially for a musician who was reluctant to even record. But the response to that album prompted him to release a second one, I Hope We Can Still Be Friends, that's even better. His sparse yet easily melodic sound makes him seem like a singer half his age as he croons like a teenage Leon Redbone trying to appear like Nick Drake. An opening slot on Jenny Lewis' 2023 tour brought some national attention to Johnson's unique folk vocals, songs and stories. This should be a remarkable evening. - Hal Horowitz