With I’m Having Fun Now (Warner Bros.), Jenny And Johnny are following in the grand tradition of girl/boy singing duos, a select conga line that stretches as far back as Sonny & Cher and X’s Exene Cervenka & John Doe to more recent warbling tandems like Mates Of State and She & Him. Jenny Lewis and Johnathan Rice are living proof the trend is still on the boil. Lewis cut her teeth in L.A.-based combo Rilo Kiley and has recently released two exciting solo efforts. Rice, a Scotsman transplanted to America as a teenager, has also issued a pair of solo albums and produced Lewis’ sophomore release, Acid Tongue, before teaming up with her for what could turn out to be the gold standard of indie-rock duos. Jenny And Johnny will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our Q&A with Rice.
Johnny: I saw Rage Against The Machine a few weeks ago at their first L.A. show in 10 years, and it was one of the greatest shows I’ve ever seen. They harnessed the manic energy of the crowd and used it to make this beautiful missile of music and message. It was a concert to raise money and awareness about that hateful piece of legislation SB 1070, such a negative and spiteful bill. Sometimes “fuck you” is the most intelligent thing to say. One of the only bands I love as much now as I did when I was 14. A band that made you feel cool and empowered for being informed.
