Live Music Review: B.A. Johnston – April 17, Governors Pub

On Tuesday, Hamilton’s B.A. Johnston graced Sydney with another of his beer-soaked sweat-stained performances at the “Governor’s Peanut Mansion” (Governors Pub). Johnston has been including Sydney as part of his cross-country tours for over a decade now, developing a solid sing-along fan base for his raucous shenanigans.

Before his set at Governors, Johnston stopped by Caper Radio for an interview. He shared a few songs and a few stories for the crew at Caper Radio and for the crowd listening in at home.

Johnston’s set started off with his Rocky Balboa entrance, a Hamilton Tiger Cats flag draped around his shoulders, sparklers in hand lighting up his mutton-chopped face. It moved quickly into some of his classic sing-along ballads, including “My Heart is a Blinking Nintendo” and “Your Roommate is a Couchetard”. He rounded it off with a taste of songs from his new album, Hi Dudes!; “Truffle Shuffle”, an homage to the 1980’s classic The Goonies, and “Showcase Showdown”, a tribute to The Price is Right, demonstrated some of the album’s inevitable hits.

The night ended off with Johnston honouring a request to play “Sesame Street Fight” (which can also be heard on Hi Dudes!). He invited the crowd to join him in the narrow women’s washroom for an even more intimate setting for the song.

You can check out B.A. Johnston’s fancy newish website. The new album Hi Dudes! is available on itunes, zunior, and through Mammoth Cave Records. Or you can buy it from B.A. directly next time he’s in town.