Thomas Johnson returns to B.R. – A Louisiana boy through and through.

Thomas Johnson is a Louisiana boy through and through. However, his roots have spread far and wide working for the National Parks Service, spending time over the past few years in California, North Carolina, and now Texas. Despite his dedication to his nine-to-five, he has also managed to spend extended periods touring, both as a guitarist in Eric Lindell’s band and as frontman of his former Baton Rouge group, Thomas Johnson and the People. For those familiar with Johnson, his upcoming run of Louisiana shows in Baton Rouge, Lafayette and New Orleans may sound a little different than one might expect.

At the heart of mostly every song is a simple folk song, but what varies greatly is the manner in which the artist chooses to present it. Since moving to Austin several months ago, Johnson has been working on new material that explores the possibilities of his vision. His efforts to find unique and novel ways to present his writing have yielded refreshing results. One thing is clear from these recordings—Johnson has absolutely no interest in being a simple, strumming balladeer.

In his new project Killer Whale, Johnson is widening the sonic footprint of his sound. In the process, he has taken a keen interest in recording methods and electronic instruments not commonly associated with folk music. Although guitar and vocals remain the heart of his songs, Johnson’s new material incorporates digital and analog drum machines, synthesizers and densely layered vocal effects.

You can hear tracks from Killer Whale’s latest EP, Giant Waves, via the artist’s bandcamp page.

This Thursday at Chelsea’s, Johnson returns to Baton Rouge to explore his new sound accompanied by a drummer, synthesizer, and pedal steel, which promises to make for a truly unique and intoxicating combination. The evening’s bill also features several other excellent acts, including local favorite Denton Hatcher, The Kid Carsons from New Orleans, and Caleb Caudle. The show starts at 10:30 p.m.