We’re expecting big things this year at The Chronic from Mr Snippet, aka Johnno Casson. We first came across the proud Colchester fella @15QueenStreet. A pop-up gig at the lovely Revolver Retro shop confirmed our belief that Snippet has that rare combination of musical talent and a reasoned local perspective. Put simply, he loves his music and he loves Colchester. He also boasts a dandy wardrobe selection of polished brogues. He is a man after The Chronic’s heart. And possibly our soul as well…
News comes our way of a couple of a recent projects from Snippet. This is a chap that is highly creative, and at an incredible pace as well. Wait five years for a Stone Roses album, and then a further fifteen for the reunion tour? Pah. Snippet publishes tracks and videos online in the same amount of time that it would take Ian Brown to get out of bed in the morning.
His latest offering is a lovable ska-tinged beat of a track, Life is Free. Written, Played, Recorded and Produced by Snippet – as Prince was rather fond of saying back in the day – Life is Free is all the work of one man and his Colchester back room operation. It took just forty-seven minutes to turn around. Phew. Rock ‘n Roll. Imagine what could be possible if Snippet turned his hand to writing a Colchester rock opera.
On the video front and Snippet recently had Ady Johnson, Colchester’s favourite son, round to the glamour of his garden shed for afternoon tea. Having pretty much conquered the local music over the past year, Ady played a farewell gig (of sorts) at The Bull after Christmas, ahead of an assault on the London muso scene. We wish him well – Ady has put in a tremendous amount of effort in helping to promote and support local music in our town. Snippet is his own man (and wardrobe) but hopefully he can continue the good work of Ady over the coming months.
Meanwhile, the Shed Vid Vol 4 features Ady, as well as Snippet’s simply superb This is Essex tune. Written out of an unashamed love for living in our area and the ease of access to the nearby Essex Riviera (yeah, yeah) This is Essex could become an anthem for these parts come the early summer months. The snapshot in the video below also features some hit and miss images from *cough* a hyperlocal photographer.
So yeah – it’s all good stuff. Expect Snippet to gig, gig and gig around the town in the coming months, and keep an eye on Ady in the big city as he takes his beautiful Worry Dolls album out to the masses.
It’s not where yer from, it’s where yer at, as Mr Brown once said, having spent a decade in composing his most memorable Mancunian sound bite…
