Pelican Johnny

After playing drums for VA Beach area rockabilly band, Two Tone Cadillac (winner of a 2007 Portfolio Music Award), as well as a slew of punk bands, a handful of cover bands, and playing guitar (and drums) in different rock'n'roll (and r&b) projects, and playing the odd solo acoustic show, singer/songwriter Pelican Johnny Roberts took off for flight in spring of 2009. Making first-take live recordings in his bedroom, and playing basement and other-parts-of-the-house shows around Richmond, VA, this is one down-home bird - literally. After creating a positive buzz (or a warble?) around the River City with his raw, passionate live shows, Pelican Johnny moved on to playing at art galleries, night clubs, and bars, and has played with world-wide touring acts - such as Joe Buck of Hank William III's band. He even got so lonely as to woo Charles "The Kid" Howell (High Street Lowlifes, Blackheart Saints) into joining the flock playing upright bass. In 2010, Johnny Roberts took a hiatus from his Pelican doodies to dedicate time to playing with Two Tone Cadillac, honky-tonk outfit- The Johnny Trash Trio, and national recording country artist - Chris Lozano (and the Dixie Playboys). He also helped start the Norfolk sleaze rock'n'roll band, The Sleaze Stacks, in which he wrote and played guitar. At the end of the year, Pelican and The Kid recorded and played shows under the name The Catahoula Jazz Band, a hot jazz and western swing project. In 2011, Pelican Johnny returned from his hiatus and was selected as a top 10 semi-finalist in the Sea Level Festival Emerging Artist Songwriting contest. This culminated in his performance at the Chrysler Museum of the Arts as well as his intimate storytellers-style show at the 2011 Norfolk Acoustic Music Festival. During the summer, he played several shows in duo format with the dainty and delightful alt-country act, Kelly Lee Keel. The end of 2011 found the ol' bird migrating to the Philadelphia area where he flied solo, playing around town (including a show with Joe Jack Talcum of the Dead Milkmen) as well as drummng for NJ punk band, Tonight We Strike - with whom he also played in NYC. 2012 found Pelican Johnny returning back to the Virginia Beach area - but not for long. A midwest tour with Kelly Lee is scheduled to kick off at the end of April. Also, stay tuned for a new album! Ca- Caw! Hermit-Driven Punk-Americana Sappy Stuff! New album, Relentless Heart, coming soon! Listen to 4 tracks at www.pelicanjohnny.com