The first time I heard JJ Grey sing “Lochloosa,” I felt like I was standing barefoot in Florida mud right beside him. When I first heard Marc Broussard sing “Gavin’s Song,” I cried like I was sitting in the next room, watching him write it for his son. That’s the power of these two artists—my all-time favorites—and the reason their music has shaped me as both a person and a musician.

Both JJ and Marc grew up in the South, and their songs are painted with the colors, textures, and soul of that upbringing. They don’t just sing about a place or a feeling—they take you there. That’s what inspires me most: their ability to turn real life into living, breathing art.

One of the best pieces of songwriting advice I’ve ever received is simple: write what you know. Anything less, and you’re just pretending. JJ and Marc embody this truth. In “Lochloosa,” JJ aches for home with lines like, “Home sick but it’s alright…Lochloosa is on my mind.” Marc’s “Gavin’s Song” is a father’s letter to his son that aches with love and honesty: “I wish you heartache, that leaves you more of a man. I wish I could be there, but I can’t.” These songs aren’t just heard—they’re felt. And feeling is the whole point of music.

Over the years, I’ve grown deeply connected to both of them. I’ve seen them live more times than I can count. I’ve had the honor of opening for Marc a few times. And each time I hear them sing—whether it’s JJ tearing into “99 Shades of Crazy” or Marc pouring his soul into “A Life Worth Living”—I’m reminded of what music is supposed to do: break your heart, lift you up, make you believe again.

That’s what I strive for in my own music. I want to make people feel the way they make me feel. Their work pushes me forward on my path as a musician.

And then, something incredible happened.
I never imagined I’d see JJ Grey and Marc Broussard share the same stage. But they did—joining forces with Anders Osborne and Luther Dickinson in an acoustic project called The Southern Soul Assembly. Watching them connect with each other the same way I had always connected with them was surreal. It lit a fire in me: I wanted to be a part of that circle, that conversation, that tradition.

Hey Mongrels family! 👋

You've been jamming to "Funky From The Top To The Bottom" and following our journey, but I gotta ask... are you ready to come backstage?

For the next 72 hours ONLY, I'm opening our Swamp Groover inner circle tier for just $2.49 your first month (normally $5.00).

Here's what our Swamp Groover family gets that you're missing:
🎵 Early access to new music (hear tracks weeks before Spotify)
🎭 Backstage livestream access
🎁 Eligible for our monthly VIP Bundle giveaway ($150 value)
🛍️ 5% off all merchandise
🗳️ 500 Mongrels Tokens for voting power in our community
📱 Exclusive content you won't find anywhere else
📀 FREE Mongrels Digital Starter Pack!

This isn't just about music - it's about being part of something real, something rooted in the soul of the Mongrels-Nation community.
>> 72 hours. Then it's gone....Don't stay on the sidelines anymore. <<

CLICK THE LINK BELOW to Join The Family 👇

We’ve all been there...

You fall for someone, give them your heart — only to find out they’re chasing someone else. And that person? They’ve got their eyes on someone else too. It’s a cycle of unreturned love that leaves you wondering where you stand.

That’s the place I found myself in when I wrote “My Only Friend.”

It was one of those heartbreaks that knocks the wind out of you — the kind you don’t talk about at parties. But for me, music has always been the one friend I can count on. The one that helps me sort through the hurt and come out stronger on the other side.

Writing this song helped me do just that.

In this new episode of Swamp Funk Stories, I take you behind the scenes of “My Only Friend” — where it came from, what it meant to me, and why I think it might speak to anyone who’s ever felt like love passed them by.

Listen to the song below, and if it resonates with you — let me know. This one’s close to the bone.

💿 Listen below now:

Three years ago this month, Johnny & The Mongrels released something special into the world.

"Magnolia & Pine" wasn't just our sophomore album – it was our love letter to Louisiana, our musical coming-of-age story, and honestly, the record that taught us who we really were as artists.

As I'm writing this in July 2025, fresh off our Heartstrings & Highways Tour and watching "Funky From The Top To The Bottom" continue to connect with new listeners, I can't help but smile at how this album has aged. It's like a fine bourbon – getting better with time and revealing new layers every time you revisit it.

Inside Dockside Studio: Where Magic Happens in Maurice, Louisiana

Recording at Dockside Studio in Maurice, Louisiana wasn't just a choice – it was a pilgrimage. This legendary studio, where everyone from B.B. King to Dr. John laid down tracks, became our creative sanctuary for weeks. Working with producers JoeBaby Michaels and James H Dumm, alongside engineer Justin Tocket, we knew we were in the hands of people who understood our vision.

I remember the first day walking into that studio, seeing the same walls that had witnessed decades of Louisiana music history. The energy was palpable. Jeff Bostic's bass lines seemed to find their groove faster, Phil Breen's keyboards took on this soulful depth, and James Dumm's guitar... man, it just sang in that room.

The studio's natural acoustics brought out something raw and authentic in our sound that we'd been chasing since "Creole Skies." It wasn't just about recording songs – it was about capturing the essence of Louisiana music and filtering it through our own creative lens.

The Collaborations That Defined Our Sound

What made "Magnolia & Pine" truly special were the incredible guest musicians who joined our journey. Corey Ledet brought his squeeze box magic to "Sweet Suga Mama," his washboard rhythms to "Treme' Woman," and his keytar skills to "Funky From The Top To The Bottom." Each collaboration felt like a master class in Louisiana music tradition.

Johnny Sansone's harmonica work on "Jailhouse Blues" gave us chills in the studio – and still does every time we hear it. Anne Harris's violin on "Big Screen" added this haunting beauty that perfectly complemented the song's emotional depth. These weren't just guest appearances; they were musical conversations between artists who understood the soul of our music.

Jason Parfait's saxophone and the 504 Horns on "Love's Got Something To Do With It" created one of those moments where everyone just stopped and listened. You know those magical recording moments that remind you why you fell in love with music in the first place? That was one of them.

From Studio to Stage: How These Songs Live Today

Fast forward to 2025, and these songs have taken on lives of their own. "Funky From The Top To The Bottom" became our streaming breakthrough, hitting 10K streams in 2024 and becoming a crowd favorite during our recent Northeast tour. Watching audiences in New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey connect with music born in Louisiana studios proves that great songs transcend geography.

"My Only Friend," with its deeply personal lyrics about heartbreak and resilience, continues to resonate with fans who share their own stories of love and loss. The collaborative writing process between Jeff Bostic, James Dumm and myself created something that feels both intensely personal and universally relatable.

The album's themes of home, identity, and musical heritage feel even more relevant now as we continue expanding our reach while staying true to our roots. Every show we play, every new fan we meet, adds another layer to these songs' meanings.

Looking Forward While Honoring Our Past

As we celebrate three years of "Magnolia & Pine," I'm struck by how this album became the foundation for everything we're building today. Our current membership tiers are named after songs from both this album and "Creole Skies," creating a bridge between our musical past and our community-building future.

The storytelling techniques we developed during these recording sessions continue to influence our live performances and fan engagement strategies. The authenticity we captured at Dockside Studio remains our North Star as we create new music and connect with audiences across the country.

Conclusion

"Magnolia & Pine" taught us that great albums aren't just collections of songs – they're time capsules of artistic growth, collaborative magic, and authentic expression. Three years later, this record continues to introduce new listeners to Johnny & The Mongrels while reminding longtime fans why they fell in love with our music in the first place.

Whether you're discovering these songs for the first time or revisiting old favorites, "Magnolia & Pine" remains available for digital download at $10.00, or grab the Limited Edition Purple Vinyl for $35. Every purchase supports our continued musical journey and helps us create more authentic Louisiana-inspired music for years to come.

Here's to three years of Swamp Funk, Bayou Soul, and the incredible community of fans who make this musical journey possible. The magnolia trees are still blooming, and the pines are still swaying – and we're just getting started.

There was a time when fear kept me playing it safe—afraid to be seen, afraid to be known.

But something shifted the day I sat down with my brother-in-music Scott Sharrard (Gregg Allman Band/Little Feat) in a New York City writing session. What started as a Stevie Wonder-style funk shuffle transformed into a slinky blues groove, and with it came a deeper truth I’d been carrying for a long time.

"True Life" is a song about breaking down walls—the ones we put up out of fear, shame, or pain—and learning to trust what's real inside of us. It’s about recognizing that every flaw, every scar, every stumble tells a part of your story.

I was honored to record this as a duet with Lafayette, LA Legend Roddie Romero, live in the studio, face-to-face through a glass window. We felt the message move through the room as we sang. It wasn’t just a song—it was a moment of truth.

💬 "Every flaw you have is perfect, every scar tells a story…"

We all carry something heavy, something we think we need to hide. But the real magic happens when we choose to open the door—to our heart, our healing, and our higher self.

That’s the invitation of this song.

This one’s for anyone out there who’s standing on the edge of a breakthrough. I see you. And I hope “True Life” helps you see yourself more clearly too.

➡️ Click below to listen to the full track exclusively in the Backstage Pass area.

Let me know what part of this song speaks to your journey. I'm listening.

Much love,
Johnny