John Faye Explores ‘The Yin and the Yang of It All’ in New Book
John Faye put a surprising twist on his book release show. Pierre Robert gives us the highlights.
Pierre Robert and John Faye at the Ardmore Music Hall for John’s book release show, April 25 2023
"Music gave me my voice—not just the transmitter of lyrics and melodies from the songs I write but my place in the world, my sense of belonging somewhere, and believing in something."
John Faye's impressive discography portrays an ever-evolving troubadour: The Caulfields, IKE, John & Brittany, and Those Meddling Kids are just a few of the many projects he's lent his voice to. Now, he's venturing into a different medium by publishing a book.
John's career in summed up in The Yin and the Yang of It All: Rock'n'Roll Memories from the Cusp as Told by a Mixed-Up, Mixed-Race Kid. The memoir is "about the discovery of a voice, a tribe, and a musical ethnicity that runs far deeper than his Korean/Irish roots." The Philadephia music scene is prominently featured in the book, as John has spent most of his life in our city, working to uplift the community and nurture new artists.
Pierre and Sara were at the release show at the Ardmore Music Hall where he presented the book in a unique format. The various bands that have played with him over the years were all present, providing an instrumental backdrop as John read selections from the book. In between readings he'd perform songs from a corresponding era of his discography before reaching for the book to read another highlight. This wasn't a quiet poetry reading by any means - this was a full electric performance, turned up to eleven, with the energy to match.
Below are highlights from John's book release show. The Yin and the Yang of It All is available in hardcover, digital and audio formats. Order your copy here.
Setlist: John Faye's Book Release Show
Those Meddling Kids
Orbit
Puzzle Piece
Translation
The Caulfields
Book of Your Life
The Day That Came and Went
Figure It Out
Devil's Diary
President of Nothing
Born Yesterday
Sug & Sam
Lightning in a Bottle
Those Meddling Kids
Church and State
One Way to Avalon
Into Philadelphia
Sell Your Soul as an NFT
The Caulfields
Love Will Keep Us Together (Captain & Tennille cover)
Pierre Robert and John Faye
John reads from his memoir
The Origin of "Into Philadelphia"
"Philadelphia Freedom was real, and I was feeling it for the first time all over again."
"Book of Your Life"
Pierre with WMMR Alum Cyndy Drue
John performs at the Ardmore Music Hall
Reading from 'The Yin and the Yang of It All'
Pick up the book now!
Read - or listen to - The Yin and the Yang of It All here.
