By Southern Britt
Married singer-songwriters Amanda Sudano and Abner Ramirez make up an American folk duo formally known as Johnnyswim. The two took their songs from cross-country tours to their own backyard on August 11, 2020 when the two longed for community and the community longed for song.
The first episode of what they dubbed “Live From The Backyard” debuted a concert’s typical bells and whistles, and more. The two never shied away from a good time, yet simultaneously, the performance was as wholesome as their music. Though the audience was either tuning in via YouTube or Instagram Live, you found yourself looking into a fourth-wall-breaking band, a balloon and light filled stage set amidst the stars’ backyard, and a live acoustic performance. While audience members tuned in, the duo pointed you towards their website for a digital merch table and an exclusive opportunity for live voting where you could vote for the next song played.
While the two went down memory lane (performing original songs from 2005), they sang their most popular bops (including “Bridges,” “Touching Heaven,” and “Take The World”) proving their classic Americana sound only got stronger over the world-wide lockdown. Johnnyswim even introduced a new remix (featuring Tobe Nwigwe– a hip hop/ rap artist with subtle soul sounds) to ensure the virtual experience was nothing shy of a personal one.
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As the virtual audience proposed lost-gems, the two laughed as they forgot a couple lyrics here and there before proceeding to reach for “another first” gin & tonic. Their performance was broken up with Johnnyswim “commercials” to make the virtual experience all the more… virtual? The hilarious, pre-filmed snippets of the couple playing around with artsy graphics via YouTube screen regained the attention of any audience member having a drink in front of their computer. It kept the virtual experience lively, yet reeled you back into the computer (and also gave a look into the personable, yet comedic sentiment of the artists).
Soon after debuting their remix of “Long Gone”, the duo zoomed in Nwigwe and his family after his virtual on-set collaboration to talk about how they are doing. Along with that, the stars talked about faith, racial injustice, and gave away autographed records of their new songs. To add to the pure concert, Johnnyswim was not forced into doing this by management or even a sponsor, rather they paid for the entire production and even fronted money for the digital merch. All in all, Live From the Backyard felt like more than just a virtual concert– but a healing outreach from friend to friend amidst a really hard time for people all over the world.
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Furthermore, Johnnyswim chose to celebrate the little things with their fanbase. Wait, did you really think all of those balloons were just a part of the show? No, it’s female vocalist Amanda’s birthday! The couple, along with the entire production team, celebrated with random birthday rapping and on-set cookies before Abner topped off the virtual performance with a love song to his wife Amanda. The party concluded with the whole production team on stage with cake and confetti singing the birthday song. Before long, the entire set was turned into a “tour bus” to jokingly grant Amanda’s birthday wish of being back on tour.
Johnnyswim performed their second episode of Live From the Backyard on September 10, 2020, creating a personal and joyful ambience once again. The two have not released when or if the next Live From the Backyard will take place; but meanwhile, I will keep going back to the happiness Johnnyswim brought me from their first two performances via YouTube.
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