If you’re looking for something different and refreshing to listen to these days, look no further. Experienced and talented duo Johnny Irion and Mike Stinson landed on our radar recently with their outstanding song, “The Bottle and Me,” from their new album, “Working My Way Down.” Upon hearing this record for the first time we knew it was something special and we needed to share it with you.
Regardless of what you are a fan of, Johnny Irion and Mike Stinson bring a great variety of styles and tastes to their music that not only demands your attention but keeps you coming back for more. The vocals are amazing and the instrumentation is incredibly catchy. The lyrics are original, well-written and mesh perfectly with the vocal melodies. The vocalist has one of the richest voices you could ever hear and this song shows off all the melodic tones of his stunning voice and shows how talented this duo is when it comes to writing songs. The production of this song is professional, and the quality is interesting. Johnny Irion and Mike Stinson are professional artists, their energy is different, and they have an impressive passion for their music. Share the song with your friends, and don’t forget to follow Johnny Irion and Mike Stinson online to stay up to date on any future updates or releases!
ABOUT THE DUO:
Long ago in a land far away, also known as the mid-90s San Fernando Valley, Mike Stinson and Johnny Irion lived and wrote songs in an old farmhouse behind a rehearsal studio called The Alley. Already accomplished musicians working as sidemen in other bands, there they studied the elements of songwriting by dissecting the greats and honing their chops into a uniquely cool country-fried-rock sound of their own.
Perhaps it was primitive, but there was something undeniably pleasing about their vocal blend. Augmenting their lineup for club gigs was Mike’s running buddy and day-job partner Andy Butler-Jones, whose prog rock band Bigelf is the stuff of LA legends. A bonafide songwriter of the highest caliber inspired by the sound Mike and Johnny were creating, Andy penned a handful of songs that nailed the band’s vibe and fit wonderfully.
A marriage, a million miles, and the sudden, tragic death of Andy Butler-Jones all conspired to sideline the band. Mike and Johnny kept in touch and now, twenty five years later, they’ve finally made the record they always wanted to make.
Mike and Johnny recorded Working My Way Down to analog tape on Johnny’s Studer in the rolling hills of Berkshire MA — mixed by Johnny’s neighbor Paul Koldiere (Radiohead, Morphine, Hole) and featuring guest appearances by members of Chatham County Line, Social Distortion, and Andy’s longtime Big Elf bandmate Damon Fox who now plays with The Cult.
The musical chemistry they stumbled on years ago has only ripened with age and experience. The vocal blend still has the undeniable power and the combination of Mike’s drumming and Johnny’s guitar playing reveals why they gravitated toward each other in the first place. Behold Working My Way Down, twenty five years in the making and well worth the wait.
