Years ago, John Magnuson was in a Minneapolis band called the Carpetbaggers. John wrote and sang many of the band's songs. The Carpetbaggers enjoyed some notoriety in the mid-to-late 90s when the band did three tours with Son Volt and shared the stage with such notables as Los Lobos, Alison Krauss, and the Gear Daddies.
November 2020: Barely Noticeable
In November of 2020, John released an Americana Indie/Folk-Rock-ish record (with splashes of twang) called Barely Noticeable. As Bill Kopp said in his review of Barely Noticeable, the album's songs "balance twang with rock-steady melodic values. Magnuson’s musical approach draws from classic country to be sure, but it’s not hard to spot a musical kinship with eclectic artists like John Hiatt and Nick Lowe in his songs. His uncluttered arrangements keep the focus on his vocals and lyrics."
John has played shows on several Twin Cities stages since the release of Barely Noticeable. He primarily performs with his eponymous trio+ consisting of Paul McFarland (Run Westy Run, Lolo's Ghost), John Sandbo (Curtiss A and the Dark Click), and JJ Benson (Lolo's Ghost and many others).
October 2024: Waiting For The Water To Recede
In October 2024, John will release a new record called Waiting For The Water To Recede. It’s anothercollection of original songs that balance rock-steady melodic values with twang.
Standout tracks include:
• the darkly driving “The Curb To Which I Have Been Kicked”
• the swampy honky-tonk of “Ain’t Afraid”
• the voodoo rock of “She’s Got A Little Johnny In Her Hands”
• a song about finally getting past pain and loss called “The Farther Away I Get From You”
Waiting For The Water To Recede was produced, engineered, mixed, and mastered by Rob Genadek. It features Paul McFarland, John Sandbo, Mike Crabtree (Carpetbaggers, Matt Caflisch Band), Paul Bergen (Erik Koskinen, Molly Maher, Becky Kapell), and Jeff Victor (Peter Himmelman, The Honeydogs). The cover art is by Jane Meyer, and the graphic design is by Don Bratland.
Complete track listing:
1. Waiting For The Water To Recede
2. Neither Of Us Ever Leaves
3. The Curb To Which I Have Been Kicked
4. The Farther Away I Get From You
5. The Blues I've Always Had
6. Ain't Afraid
7. The Arbiter Of Morality
8. Like A Diamond In A Pie
9. She's Got A Little Johnny In Her Hands
10. Sins Of Cowardice
11. Heading For A Fall