Greg Johnson to come home for one-off show

Do you like piña coladas? Greg Johnson does. Photo / Supplied

With the fan-funding of his forthcoming album in place, Los Angeles-based Greg Johnson is returning for one New Zealand show in November.

He'll be playing at the Powerstation - under the title The Ultimate Cocktail Club with Greg Johnson & Friends - on Friday November 12, a week or so after the release of Secret Weapon, his ninth album, which has been presold at various price levels to his fanbase to help pay for its production, manufacture and release on his own JMA label, as well as online marketing.

Johnson says he has raised "the same amount as the average major label deal advance" from the packages pitched at $30, $50, $300 and $3000.
The $3000 "executive producer" option finally went this week.

Among the many extras the anonymous philanthropist will get is a custom-written theme song for answerphone or cellphone as well as a T-shirt declaring "I executive-produced Greg Johnson's new album and all I got was this lousy T-shirt!"

Most punters, he says, bought the $50 double deal while 10 per cent opted for the $300 "Super Deluxe Version". The Powerstation show, with cabaret seating downstairs, will feature Johnson fronting his biggest band yet as well as featuring various guest appearances from his musical mates.

"The stage at the Powerstation gives us lots of room to kick this show up a notch. I'm an old fan of the venue, and it finally gives me an opportunity to have a bar on the stage itself, I may even invite a few audience members to join me for a drink mid-set."

*Tickets go on sale on Monday September 13 via Ticketmaster.