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which led him to ‘Words Left

Unsaid’ and the North Country Collective

Teppei
Contributor

 

f you live in the Metro Vancouver area and love to go to Country shows,

you have most likely heard of or watched John Sponarski, better known as
“Johnny 99.” He has built himself quite the reputation as a top-notch guitar
player—not only in the city but across the country. Luckily for all of us Alt-
Country fans who enjoy songs where poetic lyrics intersect with substantial
storytelling, Johnny 99 has just released his first full-length album titled
Words Left Unsaid. Sponarski spoke with the Other Press to describe both
his artistry and his journey thus far.

The record consists of twelve songs that have been meticulously crafted
the old-fashioned way so each phrase and chord matters. Twelve “hand-
made” songs have been created to last, as opposed to “fast-fashion,” mass-
produced songs. Reaching this point was not an easy, stream-lined trip for
Johnny. It was more of a long and winding one where you must take a few
different forest service roads to reach your final destination.

When Sponarski was a kid growing up in Richmond, B.C., both he and
his family had high hopes that he would be a professional hockey player.
Most of his efforts and energy were focused on playing competitive sports
and playing high-level hockey. Sponarski was fifteen when he started playing
the guitar, around this same time he met a pal while skating. After becoming
friends and talking about hobbies, Sponarski learnt that his new buddy
played guitar as well. So, they decided to start a punk band together. This was
Sponarski’s first approach to music and it was a collective one; he soon fell in
love with it. After being part of that band for about a year, Sponarski decided
to quit hockey, shattering his dad’s expectations for him to succeed in the
sports world.

“Once | started playing guitar it was all over. | did not care about anything
else” says Sponarski. He was lucky enough to have full support from his high
school music teacher, who was married to the bass player of DOA—a well-
known local punk band at the time, together they helped Sponarski and his
band to get gigs throughout the Lower-Mainland and Vancouver Island area.

“By the time | finished high school | was pretty certain | wanted to play
music and | thought that the people | was playing with would follow me on
that path. So | auditioned for VCC in Vancouver and got in with a condition to
take asummer prep program where they provide you with a foundation to
understand what you would be learning in College.”

Sponarski spent the next four years in College, learning music to become
a professional guitar player. The music program was very demanding and
required all of Sponarski’s time and energy. He had to be focused on learning
and playing the music he was taught, which deprived him of the opportunity
to have a band or be creative. “I found myself in this spot where | had spent
four years not playing music. It felt like | had lost this thing that was so
important to me that was having a band and being devoted to creating with
your friends”

 

Album Cover Art by Matthew Colin

After college was over, Sponarski would go from not being part of any
band at all, to playing in eight bands at the same time, but still not creating
any music of his own. “I thought that if | went to school to be a guitar player, |
was going to try hard to get gigs. After a period of five years, | felt totally lost. |
did not have anything of my own, | did not know who | was or what | wanted
or even liked.”

Shortly thereafter, he met Harold Donnelly. Unbeknownst to Sponarski,
this would be one of the most beneficial events for his life and music career.
They instantly connected on different levels and started making music
together. They would gather at Harold’s place once a week to write and play
for hours.

“Having that weekly thing in my calendar was a great thing to keep me
accountable to create. We started writing together and before we knew it,
we started recording. We just wanted to write songs; we did not really think
about having a band, but it just happened. So, we recorded some songs
in Harold’s basement. The band was called Portage and Main. We put out
this first record. Our first gig was at the Anza Club, and it was sold out. All
of a sudden, our songs were being played on CBC. It happened organically
without really trying.”