John Common

John Common is a songwriter, musician and singer based in Denver, Colorado.

Born in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Common spent most of his youth in Pensacola, Florida. When he was thirteen years old, Common found his older brother's Epiphone acoustic guitar in a closet and began writing songs. While in Pensacola, Common founded and fronted the psychedelic roots rock band Bunkhouse Jones. Featuring drummer Matthew Baranowski, guitarists Aaron Monte and Richard Abercrombie, Bunkhouse Jones released two records and toured clubs and small venues in the South. After finishing school, he traveled around the country to New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Burlington, and other towns writing, busking, playing shows and making lo-fi recordings. After a stint working on a small family farm in Denmark, Kansas, he made his way to Colorado.

As the singer, songwriter and guitarist for the Denver-based roots rock/alt-country band Rainville, he built a reputation for writing gritty, honest songs. Rainville released two albums to critical acclaim nationally and in Europe, and toured from 1999 to 2004.

Common began exploring different musical and lyrical territory in 2005. This new creative direction surfaced on Good To Be Born and Why Birds Fly – the first two records released under his name on Free School Records in 2006 and 2007 respectively.[1] He is releasing a new record entitled Beautiful Empty under the name John Common and Blinding Flashes of Light in 2011.

Common's band, Blinding Flashes of Light, is a large group of musicians, artists and friends drawn from Denver's indie music scene.

Discography

  • Beautiful Empty – 2011
  • Spill (EP) – 2007
  • Why Birds Fly – 2007
  • Good To Be Born – 2006
  • The Longest Street in America (Rainville) – 2003
  • Collecting Empties (Rainville) – 1999

Awards

  • 2010 Top 20 Albums (Beautiful Empty) – Colorado Music and Radio
  • 2010 Mover and Shaker – Westword
  • 2010 Denver Post Top 20 Underground Bands
  • 2010 Westword Best Indie Folk/Acoustic Artist
  • 2009 Westword Nominated Best Pop Artist
  • 2009 Denver Music Scene Top 10 Songwriters
  • 2008 Independent Music Awards Vox Pop winner for College Record Label "From These Words".
  • 2008 Telluride Bluegrass Festival Troubadour Finalist
  • 2008 Westword Nominated Best Singer/Songwriter
  • 2007 Lyons Folks Festival Finalist
  • 2007 Mover and Shaker / Best Local Release – Westword
  • 2007 Best Local Release – The Denver Post
  • 2006 Most Intriguing Discs – The Onion
  • 2006 Westword Nominated Best Singer/Songwriter

Collaborative Projects

  • People's Kazoo Orchestra
  • Common Box Project
  • Beautiful Empty Film Conspiracy
  • Tom Waits Rain Dogs Tribute
  • Blinding Flashes of Light

References

  1. ↑ Wenzel, John (July 27, 2007). "A fanfare for the Common singer-songwriter". The Denver Post. Retrieved July 31, 2010.
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