WL 371 - Sunday, July 15 - 11pm
Purveyor of: Casio-rock for beautiful losers

B. A. Johnston, the strange and hilarious one-man show from Hamilton, is the self-proclaimed definition of “frycool.” For years his loser anthems and deep-fryer waltzes have amused and confused audiences wherever the Greyhound goes. Evan Dickson had the opportunity to diss B.A.’s hometown, then try to smooth things over with manly sports talk.

My sister lives in Hamilton and she’s always telling me stories about street fights and other crimes that she witnesses. Have you seen any violence or theft lately?

While you would think Hamilton is full of violence and theft really it is not so much. Probably the most violence occurs in Hess Village, a large number of bars on a street filled to the brim with douchebags. Your car windows can get smashed, especially if you have cigarettes on the dashboard.

When I think about guys like you, Wax Mannequin and Mayor McCa, it seems like The Hammer is developing an admirable tradition of one-man-band weirdoes. Do you think it’s the air or something?

The air just gives Hamiltonians mutant lungs; it's perhaps more the water, that fresh, fresh water of Hamilton Harbour.

You tour on the bus a lot; tell me about some people you’ve met or overheard on your long Greyhound sits.

Touring on the Greyhound can be tough and trying. I have done 50 show tours on the bus. Usually it's filled with the crazed, fucked up and dying. And you. Once a man covered in burns and blood sat beside me for 12 hours. He punched in his sleep.

How many of your songs are about deep fryers or deep frying?

Several.

Do you follow sports? Some people think indie rock and sports don’t mix, but we’re not in high school anymore. Nerds can like sports and jocks can like listening to pretty music and crying. What are your favourite sports teams and players?

Hamilton Tiger-Cats, Toronto Blue Jays, London Majors, Hamilton Bulldogs. All time fav Ti-Cat Paul Osbaldistan. Going-to-sporting-matches is the new going-to-shows as well, mark my words. I would way rather watch Baltimore Orioles highlights on TSN than watch my own show.

Do you actually still live with your mom? What is she like? Also, how old are you?

Yeah, its like a crappy all-inclusive resort for losers. She is a spry 73. I am 51.

What are some of your favourite places to play in Canada?

Oshawa - The Velvet Elvis rules. So much booze and cool people.
Sudbury - The Townehouse Tavern. They give you a bed to sleep in that Stompin' Tom had sex in.
Edmonton - The Black Dog Freehouse. Edmonton invented cute girls with glasses.
St. Johns - The Ship. They have a smiling dog on their beer. It rules.

By Evan Dickson