Working on Christmas Eve is for chumps. As I sit in front of the computer, watching the rain outside turn all the lovely snow to brown crap on the roadways and putting this week’s Rock Rhetoric on paper, the rest of the world is joyfully wrapping presents while sipping eggnog and listening to cheesy Christmas albums they picked up at Stadium Thriftway for $5.99.



Or so it feels.



But, even though I can slowly feel myself developing a sort of Scrooge-like attitude — growing stronger with every minute that passes — I’ll try to trudge on diligently. If nothing else, this week’s subject of Rock Rhetoric — Johnny Stranger — deserves it.



If the name Johnny Stranger sounds familiar — but also like one you haven’t heard in a long-ass time – that’s not just because you spent your teens smoking weed out of a Mountain Dew can (although it probably doesn’t help).



Johnny Stranger is a band born in Washington but transplanted to Boston by the powers of life. In the beginning — and in the Evergreen State — leader, singer and guitarist Peter Anthony forged a musical relationship with drummer Chad Montermini. Johnny Stranger was born. The only problem was Montermini was soon to move to Bean Town to attend Berklee.



What to do?



The answer, as I’ve already alluded to, is move the band to Boston. A year after Montermini relocated for school, Anthony followed. (It took him a while to come up with the cash, as I’m sure you can understand).



And Johnny Stranger lived on.



An impressive and attention grabbing slew of guitar driven rock ‘n’ roll (the kind that reminds me of my youth in the ‘90s) jarred and combusted at a pace reminiscent of today’s, ProTools birthed popular radio — with a hint of funk thrown in for flavor — Johnny Stranger sounds like a band that’s grown into its britches. Johnny Stranger’s riffs are chunky and tight, and though Anthony admits there were some growing pains along the way, the band has reached a point where the power can be felt.



Starting next Tuesday, Dec. 30 and running through Friday Jan. 2, Johnny Stranger has four straight days of shows scheduled back in the Northwest, starting at Java Flow in Olympia on the 30th, moving to Le Voyuer on the night of the 31st, then playing WWCA Theater in Port Orchard on Jan. 1 and closing things out at the Capitol Theater Backstage Friday, Jan 2.



I caught up with Anthony this week to get his thoughts on the band’s move to Boston, their creative chemistry and the return to the place the band was born.



WEEKLY VOLCANO: Describe the situation with Johnny Stranger? What led to your move to Boston, and what are you feeling/expecting heading back to the NW?



PETER ANTHONY: At the core of Johnny Stranger is my friendship with Chad (the drummer). We met in WA and instantly felt a musical connection.  Our trouble was that Chad was moving to Boston to attend Berklee.  We did JS long distance for a year, when we recorded 'Lucid'.  But we were always planning on moving the band to Boston.  It just took me a year to save up the funds.



Boston has been a very intense experience for Johnny Stranger.  It became immediately apparent that we had to sound better, play better, and communicate better in order to grow.  We had two excellent musicians join the group and I feel like we are starting to sound like the band we've always wanted to be.



Our return to the NW is very exciting!  We are looking forward to seeing our Oly fans and making new friends at the shows.  JS is sounding better than ever and we can't wait to share our journey with people.  I think our fans will be able to hear how we've evolved.



VOLCANO: How did your string of NW shows come together? There are quite a few of them. I imagine it's going to be an endurance test of sorts, but also quite fun.



ANTHONY: We are playing four shows in a row (Dec. 30-Jan. 2), which I'm really excited about.  We have a bigger catalog of material to draw from (around 18 songs), which will help us make every night unique.  People tell me that there's a buzz about the shows.  A lot of our fans have been working diligently, trudging through snow to pass out our fliers.  We're hoping to see a really big turnout.



VOLCANO: Talk a little about the makeup of this band. How does the creative process flow for you guys and why does it work?


ANTHONY: I'm the songwriter for the group and I'm generally the person who dictates our creative focus.  When I have a new idea I will work on it alone until I feel it is ready.  Then I'll play it for Chad, whose response to the song determine whether or not it is something we focus on or leave by the wayside.  Next I'll sit down with Kate and Martin and run through the song acoustically, oftentimes with Chad tapping along.  The three of them are excellent at hearing a song's potential and they can take it to the next level.



VOLCANO: What's the record situation like with you guys? Is 2007's Lucid your last disk? What are your plans for the future? How does the writing work in Johnny Stranger? Is there a leader, or is it completely collaborative?



ANTHONY: We have been working on our third album for quite some time.  The title is Galacticus 9.  Thematically, we were thinking of 1950's sci-fi movies. The album tells a story set in a far away galaxy (which will be illustrated beautifully in a kind of comic book package).  It is our best work — I think — and we expect to release it this spring.  We have some other projects in the works — ones I think our fans will really love — but I have to keep them secret for now.



VOLCANO: Boston or Olympia? Who wins in a cage match?

ANTHONY: Olympia.  Definitely Olympia.



[Java Flow, Johnny Stranger, Burning Twilight, Tuesday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m., $3, all ages, 207 Washington St. N.E., Olympia, 360.705.1867]



[Le Voyeur, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m., no cover, 404 Fourth Ave. E., Olympia, 360.943.5710]



[WWCA Theater, Thursday, Jan. 1, 8 p.m., $10, 521 Bay St., Port Orchard, 360.769.7469]



[Capitol Theater Backstage, Johnny Stranger, Guts, Violent School, Burning Twilight, Friday, Jan. 2, 8 p.m., $5, 206 Fifth Ave., S.E., Olympia, 360.754.5378]