In a move that’s sure to stir the hearts of many, Will Johnson and the surviving members of the revered Magnolia Electric Co. have officially joined forces under the new moniker Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co. Today, they’ve unveiled a roaring new version of “The Big Beast” and announced a forthcoming 7-inch record, slated for a September release.
The two-song 7-inch, featuring “Wooden Heart” and “Twenty Cycles To The Ground,” will drop on September 19th. These are full-band renditions of tracks from the 2009 collaborative album Molina and Johnson, a record whose accompanying tour was unfortunately curtailed due to Jason Molina’s struggles.
In September, the newly formed Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co. will embark on a four-show Texas tour (September 18-21, 2025). This run of dates is a poignant tribute to their shared history with the late Jason Molina, tracing the same well-worn Texas trails that Molina and Magnolia Electric Co. frequented during their prolific seven years of touring. Notably, 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of a ten-show Texas tour in 2005, which was part of a larger world tour supporting the albums What Comes After the Blues and Trials and Errors. Fans can anticipate multiple sets, offering a solemn yet celebratory evening in memory of Molina, their bandmate, collaborator, and friend.
This fresh collaboration, featuring Will Johnson alongside original Magnolia Electric Co. members Mike Brenner, Jason Evans Groth, Michael Kapinus, Mark Rice, and Pete Schreiner, convened in Texas earlier this year. The sessions saw them laying down new studio versions of both Molina’s and Johnson’s songs, echoing the spirit of the 2018 Goshen Electric Company collaboration between Magnolia and Tim Showalter of Strand of Oaks.
The new recordings were helmed by Johnson’s longtime collaborator Britton Beisenherz, who handled both recording and mixing, with mastering duties taken on by Magnolia’s go-to engineer, Matthew Barnhart. The iconic artwork of Will Schaff, whose distinctive style has become synonymous with Jason Molina’s body of work, graces the cover.
Johnson, who just last month released his 10th solo album, Diamond City, has a deep history with Molina, making this new venture a significant chapter in the enduring legacy of one of indie rock’s most beloved and missed voices.
Pre-Order: Magnolia & Johnson Electric Co. – “Wooden Heart” / “Twenty Cycles To The Ground”
Tour dates are on sale today at 10am CST:
Magnolia and Johnson Electric Co.
“The Big Game is Every Night” Texas Tour 2025
Thursday, 9/18 – Austin, TX – 29th Street Ballroom
Friday, 9/19 – San Antonio, TX – The Lonesome Rose
Saturday, 9/20 – Denton, TX – Rubber Gloves
Sunday, 9/21 – Houston, TX – Continental Club