Pug Johnson may not be “El Cabron,” which roughly translated to bastard, but he certainly knows how to write a song as one.
“It seemed like a fun, mischievous type of a guy who would have a lot of good stories,” Johnson explained of the concept for his album. The funny stories work quite well, especially when he later adds some depth to the character.
El Cabron, at the peak of his childish antics, is not the type of guy you’d want to be around as a woman. On “Last Call,” Johnson well-worn trope in which it seems like he’s about to drop an f-bomb. Brilliantly, he flips the script again by using the cop out to get even more explicit: “Get out of your head/get into my truck/I know a nice spot where we can go suck/on some Dos Equis beer/maybe an ear or a toe.”
“He can’t just say the expected thing,” Johnson said of his character. “He’s got to go for a little bit of a shock factor.”
The joke works better than almost any other time it’s been used because by the end of the refrain, every listener and possibly even the woman he’s singing to wishes he would’ve just said fuck and kept it more normal.
“El Cabron” strikes on a few more songs including “Pipeliner Blues,” a song that leads to a double entendre about laying pipe, and “Buy Me A Bayou,” in which the title of the track is rhymed with “something worth kissing I could lie to.” Johnson identifies with the character he’s created, to an extent.
“I was never too wild or anything, but that’s a subjective question,” said Johnson. “I’m sure my wife would say I’ve been El Cabron all the way.”
So Johnson may not be singing “Thanks to the Cathouse (I’m in the Doghouse)” from experience, but “Waxahatchie” sounds a bit more like something he could relate to. In that song, a man smokes his life away and is oblivious to the fact that his woman is growing frustrated.
“I disappointed a lot of women,” Johnson admitted. “Patience is definitely a virtue. I’m more patient now than when I met my wife a few years ago.”
Mindy Johnson, who serves as Pug’s manager, is an important part of this album. She was able to turn Pug’s life around both personally and professionally. Pug credits Mindy for getting him out of a rut of performing only locally and convincing him to become more professional. The two currently travel together as husband and wife, talent and manager.
“Mindy came in and believed in me more than I believed in myself,” said Johnson. “There was a point where I didn’t think I could make it as a solo act. I didn’t think I was interesting enough.”
Mindy’s belief was a powerful thing for Pug, who in turn wrote a song called “Believer” for her. “You made me a believer/you made me more than I could be,” he sings.
It’s this love story that makes “El Cabron” much more compelling than a collection of clever and funny songs. Johnson shines perhaps even more brightly describing his evolution into a loving husband. “Believer” describes the transformative effect of love and support on someone who’s given up on themselves. It’s a relatable song delivered with conviction.
“Change Myself Today” is the emotional capstone of the album. It’s an acknowledgment of failure both emotional and professional. The slow and sweet music backing Johnson’s earnest vocals make his determination come through.
“Being a pretty awful [man] for a while and having to live with that can be pretty good motivation,” said Johnson of his inspiration.
While the depths of his debauchery were certainly exaggerated for humor on this album, I suspect the highs of his newfound purpose are entirely real. Hilarity and sincerity make for a more than interesting enough solo act; Pug has nothing to worry about. In fact, I’d say his lines about sucking ears and toes are quite unforgettable.
Above is the full episode as aired on WUSB’s Country Pocket, including both my interview with Pug Johnson and the songs we discussed, starting with “Last Call,” which genuinely made me laugh out loud by inverting a cliche. The interview begins with the second video in the playlist. You can hear the show live every Tuesday at 12pm on WUSB 90.1 FM or check the blog to watch it as a YouTube playlist. Visit http://www.WUSB.fm and https://pugjohnson.com/ for more.
Country Pocket 