“[Carmichael] wails defiance on the homespun “Send the Bastard Running,” the anti-war broadside “Necessary Casualties” and the countrified “Hell on Earth,” while lamenting his fortunes on the plaintive “Damn It Man,” the beautiful title track and the bitter break-up ballad “Fists Up, Chin Down.” If [Carmichael’s] edgy delivery seems to overwhelm the more tender emotions here, it also helps him make a powerful first impression.” music & musicians
Contact: jcarmichaelmusic@pm.me
“Each song plays like a petal picked from a flower as [Carmichael] in turn speaks to his father, mother and brother, old and new lovers, the government, God, and lastly, his independence.” Daily Sundial
“He’s got a punk side”
Mike Herrera, MxPx
J. Carmichael writes ballads about love, God, and a world spinning out of control. Defiance, perhaps to a fault, echoes in his music, from the way he writes, to the instruments he plays, to what he writes about. J grew up on Nashville Now, 90’s punk and indie and he is influenced by the songwriting giants of many genres. Just as comfortable at a fiddle festival as he is at a punk rock show, never content in the confines of a genre; J has released 3 full length records and a handful of EPs with another album coming in 2025. J spent 2008-2013 recording albums and playing shows from Washington State to Texas playing as an opener for: Lucero, Tumbledown (Mike of MxPx), Scott Biram, and yet to break out alt country sensation John Moreland. After becoming a father J took several years away from performing and recording and served multiple communities in Idaho and Washington state driving ambulances and fighting wildland fires. Some souls however, are bound to roam and share stories and songs along the way. In 2024 J set out on the road again with a pile new songs and looks forward to doing more of it in 2025.
“His meaningful and sometimes blunt lyrics sound like Cake, if that band used fast mandolin or banjo… He’s not afraid to bring rock elements into the equation to back his furious picking. “Wait Darlin” is an example of how he can move from southern rocker to country western front man as if they were both from the same genre.”
Daily Tarheel
