"That music lives in your soul, the vibrations can heal, inspire and make you a new person. It can take you on journeys, build dreams, show you the path of life. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever known is music."

Johnny Wheels: Swamp Blues Rock Music

New album titled Keep On Pushin’ (2022), from Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys, is a head-turning initial release from a Pacific Northwest band determined to claim its spot among the area’s many notable acts. The band’s front person, Johnny Wheels aka Johnny Kennicott, is a singer, songwriter, and harmonica player who grew up avidly observing his musician father’s rehearsals until his untimely death when Johnny was just six years old. The seed was planted, however, and the young boy experimented on various instruments and sang with the radio, building his skills with encouragement from his father’s friends. Tragedy struck again, though, when 12-year-old Johnny broke two vertebrae in a devastating accident and was paralyzed from the chest down.

(Johnny “Wheels” Kennicott / Photo by Jake Blair)

After months and months of therapy, his love for music resurfaced and he was bound and determined to get back to it. By the time he was 20 he was holding his own with other musicians, joining bands and writing songs. All of his hard work has led to Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys, in which Johnny is flanked by his key collaborators Brandon Logan on guitar and Taylor Frazier on bass. This dynamic trio wrote all of the songs on Keep On Pushin’, from southern soul grooves to percolating slow blues to barn burning rock shuffles. The band co-produced the album with renowned blues drummer Jimi Bott, who has multiple awards and nominations for his work behind the board.

Interview by Michael Limnios

How has the Blues and Rock music influenced your views of the world?

The blues music and culture has really given us a true deep feeling… music personally has saved my life and made me a better person... maybe in a sense music has keep me a dreamer and hide me away from the true harsh reality of the world…. It has also shown me the beauty of the world and how world peace could be achieved through music.

How do you describe your sound and songbook? Where does your creative drive come from?

My sound is my own… I’ve crafted that sound throw the love of blues, rock, funk, soul, country... to describe it would be swamp music… blues rock I guess…

My personal creative drive comes from a love of music that was shown to me as a young child by my father who passed away when I was 6. The drive to be like him and do everything we dreamed of together…. A real rockstar.

What touched you from the sound of harmonica? What's the balance in music between technique and soul?

I’ve always been drawn to the sound of a harmonica, from gritty blues to campfire county I’ve always enjoyed a true harmonica player. For me the playing is learning and understanding technique and playing with pure feeling and soul. I can only play what and how I feel in that moment no matter how much technique I learn and know.

"My sound is my own… I’ve crafted that sound throw the love of blues, rock, funk, soul, country... to describe it would be swamp music… blues rock I guess… My personal creative drive comes from a love of music that was shown to me as a young child by my father who passed away when I was 6. The drive to be like him and do everything we dreamed of together…. A real rockstar." (Photo: Oregon-based blues rock band, Johnny Wheels & The Swamp Donkeys)

What do you miss most nowadays from the music of the past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

The realism of music seems so far gone… the feeling of music seems to be drifting away in favor of computer generated or altered sounds… I miss how music brings millions together as one.

My hopes are we keep getting better and discovering more. That we don’t go away from playing and creating with our hands and voices. My fears are it will become impersonal.

Are there any specific memories of your career (gigs, jams, studio sessions) that you would like to tell us about?!

We have a feature spot in the independent film Lorelei that came out in 2020.

We have won 2 muddy awards…

In 2020 we finished in the top 8 at the International Blues Challenge in Memphis TN.

We have had regular jams and gigs with Jim Belushi and Dan Aykryod.

In 2022 we released our first full album Keep On Pushin’.

What is the impact of music on the socio-cultural implications? How do you want the music to affect people?

Music plays a huge part in everyday life as well in huge movements. It can move communities and countries as one. I want music to bring world peace.

What are some of the most important lessons you have learned from your experience in the music paths?

That music lives in your soul, the vibrations can heal, inspire and make you a new person. It can take you on journeys, build dreams, show you the path of life. The most beautiful thing I’ve ever known is music.

"The blues music and culture has really given us a true deep feeling… music personally has saved my life and made me a better person... maybe in a sense music has keep me a dreamer and hide me away from the true harsh reality of the world…. It has also shown me the beauty of the world and how world peace could be achieved through music."

(Photo: Johnny "Wheels" Kennicott)

John Coltrane said "My music is the spiritual expression of what I am...". How do you understand the spirit, music, and the meaning of life?

Music to me is church… praise, spirituality and music go hand in hand. If I didn’t have music I wouldn’t have life. Nor would I have the will for life.

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