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COCA Spotlight: Cory Johnson and band put positive spin on New Year’s Eve with Upside Avenue

In 2021, Cory Johnson is resolving to build and open his new music recording studio, Alchemy Sound Studios. Johnson’s musical potions are as varied as his passions. His career is a mix of producing, playing…

In 2021, Cory Johnson is resolving to build and open his new music recording studio, Alchemy Sound Studios. Johnson’s musical potions are as varied as his passions. His career is a mix of producing, playing and instructing on a number of instruments for a multitude of projects.

However, his focus has narrowed to his latest band, Upside Avenue, which will play New Year’s Eve at The Craft House. 

“I can’t wait to play over at Craft House because they’re trying to support the music community so much,” says Johnson. “We’re looking forward to playing our first original song, and hopefully that’s the beginning of us moving into this new project. That’s the first stepping stone that got squashed in February.” 

Upside Avenue is a rotating roster from Johnson’s pool of musical friends. For New Year’s Eve, they will go onstage as a trio. Aaron Buckman will share vocals, guitar and bass with Johnson while JC Hannon plays the drums. 

Johnson says the band has been in the works for over a year. It all started when he began playing solo acoustic music under his own name at gigs around town. When he released his first album of original songs under the name, Upside Avenue, he wanted to fold in more members. 

Many band members overlap with a wedding band that Johnson is also a part of and has played in across the southeast. In January, the band set the date for their first practice, but were shut down by the pandemic. They never got to learn a single original song that Johnson had written. 

“To learn original music takes hours of practice,” says Johnson. “Cover music doesn’t take as long. We’re going to debut the newest original that I’ve written at our New Year’s gig.” 

Read the rest of the story by visiting the Tallahassee Democrat

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