On The Verge

Jonny Burke

Austin, Texas
The Endless Road
www.jonnyburke.com

When some musicians start touring on a regular basis, the grind of playing different cities each night can feel monotonous. Jonny Burke is not one of those musicians. “Every tour I’ve done, I can remember a specific moment from every place I’ve played,” says the singer/songwriter who’s performed in 47 U.S. states since 2008. “What I am doing right now, is with a few other guys—and we’ve been surfing on couches. Every night is a different adventure.” Burke’s debut album, Distance and Fortune, came out in February and has roots in a wide range of genres: from Southern-style rock to Chuck Berry-inspired anthems. But don’t let that “debut” label fool you, Burke is no stranger to playing in public, which he’s been doing since he was 15. It’s fitting then that the majority of Fortune was written while traveling and playing music. His time on the road was a big influence on the record’s lyrics and title. “I really have been lucky to land opening tours for some friends of mine—in the end, I have just been very grateful for the good fortune that has come my way.”