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A lot of people can play guitar, some can even write songs, but it’s rare to come across someone who can do both extremely well and who can sing. That is, really sing from the inside out — with a voice full of passion, conviction, power and soul. Allmett is all that and more. His talent for crafting smart, hook-laden pop masterpieces along with the ability to sing them with confidence, deep soul, and an intensity not often heard on the radio makes Allmett a force with which to be reckoned. “Allmett can sing anything and smother it in old school smooth soul,” raved Atlanta’s In Sitemagazine. “His soul grooves sizzle with white hot intensity. He beckons you down a path you’ll never want to stray from. Jon Allmett is that good.” After moving to Chicago early in 2002, Allmett began working on new material, showcasing it at clubs around the city. When the songs were road-tested and ready, he co-produced and recorded his new solo album, NOWHERE IS TOO FAR, with former bandmate Aaron Thompson. From the immediately pleasurable sounds of Sermon to the hook-filled pop of Sex And Soulfood, to the emotionally charged, autobiographical Open Wound, Allmett writes with a keen eye and sings with intensity and forceful purpose. The radio-friendly arrangements and intelligent lyrics are at once thought provoking and danceable, the stories both personal and universal. Born in Surrey, England, and raised in Houston, Texas, Allmett began singing at age six. He studied voice and classical music at the Houston School for Performing and Visual Arts, and first performed at age 12 during his sixth grade talent show. His love of music from the Beatles to Stevie Wonder to Sting to Pink Floyd to Paul Simon to Leonard Bernstein led him to begin writing songs and playing guitar at age 17, and he became skilled quickly. He joined the Marines, and, while stationed in Japan, formed his first band, Buzzcat, with Japanese nationals. His singing brought him to the attention of fellow Marines as well as locals and led him to even sing a few gigs with the legendary vocal group, the Drifters, when they performed in Okinawa.
Even though he hasn’t been in Chicago very long, Allmett has already attracted a large following. Now, with NOWHERE IS TOO FAR and plenty of new material to showcase, Jon is touring the greater Chicagoland area as an acoustic duo with drummer Scott Besaw (a former Broadway Blue Man), and is building an even stronger following through his ability to create a personal connection with his audience through his music, humor and charisma. With his penchant for writing pop-savvy, hook-filled songs and singing them with passion and soulful depth, Allmett is poised to become the newest musical sensation to emerge from Chicago - even if it is by way of the rest of the world. |
From England to Houston to Japan to Atlanta to Chicago, singer/songwriter/guitarist Jon Allmett brings an enormous amount of life experience to his music. His pop-ready, soulful mix of smart, well-crafted songs has already earned him (and his former band, Garrison Field) critical acclaim and ravenous fan support in Atlanta. With his move to Chicago in early 2002, Allmett launched the next phase of his unstoppable ascension into the upper echelons of the music world.
In the short time he’s been playing professionally, Jon’s turned many heads and made some pretty influential friends along the way. He opened for and sang back-up with John Mayer, who was completely blown away by Jon’s voice. In 1998, Allmett placed second at an open mic contest in Atlanta. The first place winner was none other than india.arie. The two became fast friends, and when Jon’s band Garrison Field recorded their first CD, OPEN, arie sang back-up on two songs. The strength of the CD led The Southern Local Area Band network (SLAB) to name Garrison Field 1999’s Band Of The Year, declaring Allmett and his bandmate’s music as “very funky, very danceable and very addictive. Completely and totally outstanding.” The band’s next album, 2002’s DAWN, received even more widespread critical and popular regional acclaim. Music review site Blah3.comcalled the album “remarkable. Smart well-produced rock with perfect vocals.” 2Walls.com said the CD was “good old-fashioned rock music, a welcome breath of fresh air. Exceptional guitar work, instant hooks, funky and soulful.” Garrison Field toured heavily around the Atlanta region and attracted a large following. In addition to india.arie and John Mayer, some of the other artists Allmett shared stages with include Peter Frampton, Corey Glover, Edwin McCain, Jeffrey Gaines and Simon Phillips.
