Dean Johanesen
Products Used: My first order of custom picks was with the White Derlin .8 gauge picks. I ordered those as a special gift to send out with my Kickstarter rewards packages and the response was great from those. I used the picks myself from that order for a good solid year for playing as well as giving out for promotion.
In 2013 I was accepted for an endorsement from the good folks at Clayton USA and I ordered a new round of celluloid picks in black at the 1.0 gauge with a revamped version of my logo.
I have enjoyed using these picks as well as giving them out to friends and fans. The extra bonus of the custom picks in my Kickstarter rewards packages was very well received too. The picks have held up really well, especially with the amount of shows I am doing which is typically 3-4 nights a week and I plan on trying out more of the materials Clayton offers with different logo designs to keep the look and feel of things moving and changing along with the imagery and sound of my music.
“I have been using the custom picks now since 2012 and have not used any other pick since then. They have been great to use for my promotional items (surprise gifts in my Kickstarter reward packages, hand outs at gigs etc.) and they have held up great and seem to have stuck around longer than any other picks I have owned too. Great job Clayton and thank you for your support.”
Originally from New York, accomplished singer/songwriter/guitarist Dean Johanesen has made his home in many parts of the US including, Indiana, Nevada, Georgia and now residing in Florida.
Johanesen’s mother delivered motor homes when he was young and the family traveled around listening to many different artists and kinds of music. Led Zeppelin to Simon and Garfunkel, classic country to musical soundtracks provided the soundtrack to his youth and his diversity of influences had an effect on Johanesen’s interests musically as well as giving him a feel for the road.
After relocating to Florida following a stint of living and performing in Atlanta, Johanesen fronted The Human Condition, a well-regarded acoustic-based rock group that touched on elements of country, Americana, and singer-songwriter influences. The group’s final line up incorporated elements musically that had the band taking part in “jamband” based festivals combining Johanesen’s songwriting instincts with elements of the band’s improvisational strengths.
In 2013, Johanesen released his first solo record with intentions of getting back to the importance of the storyteller songwriting format while a recent passion for gypsy jazz music in the vein of Django Reinhardt has put Johanesen on a musical path with a focus on new stories of old times. Non fictional characters from the ‘20s and ‘30s, circus performers, the side show, Prohibition, the war of currents all placed in a backdrop of gypsy swing.
Opened For * Robbie Krieger (The Doors / Jam Kitchen) * Glen Phillips (Toad The Wet Sprocket), Mason Jennings
Donovan Frankenreiter, Howard Jones, Martha Wainwright, Peter Mulvey, John Waite, Kevn Kinney (Drivin’ & Cryin”), Steve Forbert
Festivals * Multiple unofficial showcases at SXSW – 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 * Florida State Fair – 2009 * Suwanee Songwriter Competition Finals – 2006 & 2008 * Orange Blossom Jamboree – 2012 & 2013 * Sarasota Folk Festival – 2012 * St. Petersburg Folk Festival – 2013 (scheduled for 2014) * Mississippi Songwriter Festival – 2013 (scheduled for 2014) * Smoky Mountain Songwriter Festival – 2013 (scheduled for 2014) * Groovefest WMNF 88.5FM – 2013 * Back 40 Music Festival – 2013 * Bayfest – 2011, 2012, 2013 * Friday Fest – 2009
Touring – 2013 * MARCH (SXSW) – SW tour through N. FL, LA & TX * APRIL – SE tour through N. FL, NC, SC, TN & GA * JUNE – SE tour through N.FL, GA & AL * SEPTEMBER – SE tour through N. FL, MS, LA, GA, NC, SC &TN * NOVEMBER – SW – Tallahassee, FL, Beaumont, TX, Houston, TX, San Antonio, TX, Austin, TX, Panama City, FL & Gainesville, FL
Touring – 2014 * MARCH (SXSW) 2014 – SW tour N.FL, San Antonio-TX, Austin-TX, Houston-TX, * MAY 2014 – Booking small run for Decatur Arts Festival in Decatur GA. * AUGUST 2014 – Tour in support of Smoky Mountain Songwriter Festival * SEPTEMBER 2014 – tour in conjunction with MS Songwriter Festival.
Regional tours being planned for 2014 – August, September, November
Links:
Website: – www.deanjohanesen.com
Facebook: – http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dean-Johanesen/229941070433735
Twitter: – http://twitter.com/deanjohanesen
Instagram: – http://instagram.com/deanjohanesen
YouTube: – http://www.youtube.com/user/djohanesen/videos
Reverbnation: www.reverbnation.com/deanjohanesen
*Image credits to Max Kelly
