The "other" John Williamson is not to be confused with the True Blue legend of the same name, just a guy from Warilla whose voice has similar characteristics and is making people happy during lockdown.
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Williamson sat in his lounge-room on Saturday with his guitar in hand and a bespoke hat crafted with tea-bags (instead of corks) to ward off flies, strumming to dozens across the Illawarra who tuned in to his Facebook live concert.
"I was pretty bloody excited to be honest, I thought to me-self 'this is like karaoke all over again'," the character told the Mercury. "I thought 'I'm just going to get on the Internet and have a sing' and see who wants to join me."
What transpired was a collection of popular songs from Metallica's heavy metal to Lady Gaga's pop hits in a style the real John Williamson would appreciate, intertwined with comical banter.
There was one bloke who thought it was a Christian concert but I just let him know I'm not there to weigh in on politics or religion.
- The 'other' John Williamson
"There was a few hundred comments," the performer said. "There was one bloke who thought it was a Christian concert but I just let him know I'm not there to weigh in on politics or religion ... just there to have a good sing."
The musician's alter ego, Daniel Southern, has a commercial recording studio at home which has made it easy for his "friend" to now perform regular live streams via social media for the "fans".
"It's definitely taken on a life of its own, so lockdown has prompted John to continue on," Southern said. "It's great to know we've made some people smile."
The father-of-three said prior to lockdown he would be at a gig every other weekend with his partner Naomi, either playing in a band or going to watch a friend's band.
"I drum in a hardcore punk band [Under the Influence] and sing in another band [Mixed Tape for the Drive] and all my friends are in band as well," Southern said. "We've been making the most of the situation and connecting with people through Facebook live and Zoom chats ... and it's been good to be able to do that."
So until the day Gladys lifts her prohibition on dance floors, music halls and being able to hug random strangers in the street, the "other'' John Williamson is going to release more covers, play more concerts and welcome "guests" into his lounge-room.
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