Statute single from Metropolis and Color guitarist John Sponarski takes a detour from Bakersfield to Laurel Canyon
Johnny 99 continues his successful streak of 2025 singles with “Getting Over You,” a detour from Bakersfield to Laurel Canyon, showcasing his versatility as each a singer/songwriter and guitarist. The extra mellow tones of “Getting Over You” distinction effectively with the hard-core honky tonk of its predecessors “I Wanna Go With My Boots On” and “Simply Like You,” solidifying Johnny 99’s place among the many most essential new voices on the Canadian alt-country scene.
“Getting over somebody is a season,” Johnny explains. “I believe many individuals are uncomfortable with this. Most need these laborious emotions and laborious occasions to be over as rapidly as potential, not solely when it’s taking place to them but in addition when it’s taking place to their pals and family members—‘Let’s simply get again to regular.’ However getting over somebody is a course of. It may be fumbling and it may be troublesome, unhappy, and lengthy. You’ll get there however you shouldn’t rush it and also you actually can’t skip it. I believe we have to turn into extra comfy with sitting in these emotions and be taught to have a good time these seasons of our lives. There may be a number of magnificence there. They’re alternatives to come back to know ourselves in deeper methods, and extra importantly to be taught and to develop.”
Johnny 99 is the alter ego of John Sponarski, guitarist in Metropolis and Color, however as Johnny 99 he has been carrying the torch for traditional nation music for a few years, as heard on the 2021 Johnny 99 debut album Phrases Left Unsaid. The long-overdue follow-up is slated for later in 2025, and as soon as once more, Metropolis and Color followers will possible be shocked to listen to how naturally Johnny, multi-instrumentalist Matt Kelly, bassist Erik Nielsen and drummer Leon Energy immerse themselves in classic nation.
The evolution of Johnny 99 started after Sponarski earned his Bachelor’s Diploma in music and spent the following years touring as one half of the acclaimed duo Portage and Predominant, whose legacy is 2 albums of heartfelt roots rock. After that challenge’s dissolution, John started establishing his popularity as considered one of Vancouver’s in-demand session guitarists, engaged on numerous information and backing up artists reminiscent of Aaron Pritchett, Ben Rogers, and Elliot C. Manner. Since relocating to Toronto, Sponarski has been constructing a brand new group by means of his common “Hippie Honky Tonk” nights on the Bell and Beacon on Queen Road West.
Johnny 99 made his debut in 2016 with a four-song EP as a part of Gentle Organ Information’ Railtown Classes. It showcased the primary glimpses of his timeless songwriting, which totally bloomed when he recorded Phrases Left Unsaid for North Nation Collective. At about the identical time in 2021, John was invited to play on Metropolis and Color’s The Love Nonetheless Held Me Close to, and has been a touring member of the band ever since.
Whereas attending to carry out with Dallas Inexperienced on a nightly foundation has fulfilled considered one of his main ambitions, it’s below the guise of Johnny 99 that Sponarski has been in a position to forge his personal musical identification. It’s nation music that was made to bounce to, while shedding a number of tears as effectively. In brief, it’s honky tonk music, and proper now, few artists in Canada are doing it higher than Johnny 99.