It is Sunday night at the Hurricane and Johnny Maddox and The Fantasy Band breaks into "Just Like Me", a challenge to the crowd to get up and move.

For years the clubs Sunday night jam has drawn musicians who want nothing more than to belt out some rock and blues tunes and trade some licks.

But there is a difference lately. The musicians are coming together, inspired by a fistful of original songs penned by Marathon resident Johnny Maddox. Rumor has it something going on and they ‘re looking for bigger and better things to sink their chops into.

Don’t expect to see Johnny and His Fantasy Band Touring with Eric Clapton anytime soon –although that wouldn’t bother Johnny. He’s been peddling his debut CD and original songs from coast to coast with some pretty strong interest from people in the Biz. .

"If it is meant to be, it will be," Maddox said. That’s how this whole album and the Fantasy Band came together." The album is a collection of rock and soul infused pop songs focused on the familiar themes of unrequited love, requited love, fantasy and DUI.

Johnny lists contemporary bands and artists like Clapton, Creed, MatchBox 20, Joe Cocker and Tina Turner as some of his musical influences. " Even country great like Hank Sr. & Jr., Garth and Dwight Yokem give him a thrill," says Johnny. With these influences on the album, and the tone of the songs like "Just Like Me" reflect that, if only vaguely. Most of the tunes like "Sugar Cookie" and "Hey Trooper Man" seem to owe more of a debt to the soul of music, the gritty country music of the Midwest, Motown and Memphis rock and roll. The cohesion of the band come from artist’s giging and jamming together in one venue or another for years – 10 or 15 in some cases – allows Johnny and the band to run through the tunes real tight and switch up members with ease.

John Bartus looms large on the music scene throughout the Florida Keys. Bartus inspired by Johnny’s talent’ both co-produced and performed on the album.

When Bartus agreed to record Johnny over a year ago, "he was won over by the presence and the appeal of Johnny’s voice", Bartus said.

Johnny’s voice carries a gritty powerful style and charter that makes him stand out from the rest.

A number called "Goin’ Back" swim s with emotion, and calls for the obligatory slow dance, or just a chance to sit back and think. The song showcases as well as any track on the album Johnny’s vocal and songwriting ability.

In all Artistic Fool is a must have CD for my box. Who know ‘s, their just might be a new shinning star in the sky’s over the Florida Keys.

By TRAVIS JAMES TRITTEN
Free Press Staff Writer