Concert review: Guided By Voices at Bellwether

Concert review, Music

The Teacher Delivers An Indie Rock Master Class

Guided By Voices perform a blistering set at Bellwether Music Festival

Review: Dan Bockrath Photos: Gene Dow Photography

In the midst of their set, Guided By Voices leader Robert Pollard thanked the Bellwether Music Festival promoters for inviting them to perform a 75-minute show. With a wink and a nod, he then wryly boasted that the band frequently plays 3-hour plus shows on tour. (They played 54 songs in over two and half hours at their late June concert at the Woodward Theatre…and plan on performing a 100 song show at a sold out New Year’s Eve concert in New York City.)

Photo credit: Gene Dow Photography

Born, raised and currently living in nearby Dayton, Ohio, the former 4th grade school teacher and his band ripped through 29 songs in their allotted time.  At 61 years old, Pollard maintains the swagger to be one of the best rock and roll frontmen in the business. Confidently strutting the stage, he threw in several Daltryesque microphone swings and managed to sneak in one of his signature high kicks. He has slowed down a bit on the legendary beer chugging, but did take several dips into the cooler throughout the evening.

photo credit: Gene Dow Photography

The band opened with three hard charging songs from their fine 2019 double album Zeppelin Over China before tearing into crowd favorites Cut-Out Witch and Tractor Rape Chain.  Pollard then matter-of-factly announced that the band will be releasing their 3rd record in 2019 in the fall titled Sweating The Plague (the 24-track Warp And Woof was released in April).  They then performed the first single, the anthemic “Heavy Like The World”. You can listen to it here.

Sweating the Plague will be the ultra-prolific Guided By Voices 29th studio album. And Pollard seemed rather proud of his ability to make three records in one year as he wondered aloud why some other bands put out records once every seven years.

Back to the show.

Long-time fans were treated to many favorites from the GBV catalog, including Echos Myron, I Am a Tree, Chasing Heather Crazy, The Best of Jill Hives, My Kind of Soldier, Motor Away and Teenage FBI.  Doug Gillard was a beast as always on lead guitar and relative newcomer Bobby Bare, Jr. was windmilling his heart out on rhythm as the dual guitar attack, accompanied by bassist Mark Shue and drummer Kevin March, provided a face full of melodic rock and roll to charge up the relatively mellow sun-kissed crowd. (GBV were sandwiched between STRFKR and headliners Beach House, so many of the younger fans were a little thrown off by ol’ Bob and his band of misfits).

  • Gene Dow took this photo…
  • And this one…
  • Yep, Gene Dow again.

The band was just hitting their stride of greatest hits when they were told they only had three minutes left in their set. With that, Pollard broke into the opening of “Glad Girls” to send the fans off in style.

Setlist link: https://www.setlist.fm/setlist/guided-by-voices/2019/ohio-renaissance-festival-grounds-waynesville-oh-639f9297.html

Silver. Purple. Fade to black.

Music

You probably wouldn’t guess it based on the haphazard “style” of my weekly music posts, but there actually IS a wee bit of planning involved in them. I use a Milanote board to capture my digital scribbles and random brain droppings.

Not quite as scary as the stalker photos on a serial killer’s basement wall… but close

Just yesterday morning (to paraphrase James Taylor), I wrote down this note about an album I wanted to mention, because I was thoroughly enjoying it:

Purple Mountains is the new project from David Berman, who headed the band Silver Jews from the late 80s through the oughts. The self-titled album Purple Mountains, which came out a few weeks ago, was David’s first new release after a decade-long, self-imposed break from the music industry. And it’s brilliant. Here’s a great blurb from Kayleigh Hughes’ review of the album on Consequence of Sound:

David Berman is one of our greatest living songwriters and he’s returned in beautiful, melancholic form as Purple Mountains to speak to the lifelong nihilistic depressive in all of us. Several moments on the album suggest his return to music-making came almost without a choice. Things haven’t been going so well for him these days, he says, and he’s just, well, he’s writing some stuff about it.

Then last night, my “I know the things you do” smartphone served up this headline:

On the cusp of his first tour in forever, David passed away. So sad.

David formed Silver Jews with Stephen Malkmus and Bob Nastanovich, who later started the band Pavement. Bob’s statement sums up a lot of people’s feelings:

“I was saddened to hear that David died. Stephen called me to tell me this afternoon.

For most of my life, I was amazed by David as a person, a humorist and a writer. It was enlightening to have such a talented friend at a young age and realize that the talent wasn’t always a blessing.

David battled mental illness for nearly all of his life. He had professional help and the unyielding support of hundreds of good friends. He had many loving and devoted fans.

Please try to cherish your memories of him and his words and music including his last album Purple Mountains.

I know I will and I’m grateful that the list of good memories and stories is long.”

I read this article from The Ringer when it came out a month ago. It provides a lot more insight into David’s struggles, and is well worth a read. He’s gone, but his music lives on.

This week in Live Music: August 5-11

Concert Listings, Music

Before we get into this week’s live tuneage, let’s dwell for a moment on last week’s live shows. Big shout out to the list members (and friends of list members) who came to the Eric Bachmann house show at my place: Jacqui, Ken, Jeff, Bob, Dan and Martha, Rico, and Rico’s buddies Cody and Louie. What a great gig! And getting a chance to chat with Eric afterward was just as cool… I’m going to begrudgingly forgive Neko Case for her antics last time she played Taft, as Eric (who was in her touring band) gave us the backstory.

Eric Bachmann at Damian’s house

The Cereal Killers performed a stellar (albeit too brief) set in Mt. Adams on Friday. We need to get them a recurring gig – any suggestions for a venue that might be amenable to hosting a killer band that plays great tunes from the late 70s/early 80s indie/college rock pantheon?

Cereal Killers in Mt. Adams… that’s not Eric Bachmann on guitar, it’s his doppelganger Matt Hueneman.

And finally, a shout out to list member Dan “Come to the Trevor Bauer Power Hour” Lewis for checking out the Ben Levin Trio at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel in Madisonville. That hotel feels out of place next to a UDF, but their restaurant/bar patio is a very cool spot to hang out… especially when Ben Levin is playing.

OK, on with the show(s)… Tonight, Max Frost is playing the 20th Century Theater, with Swells as the opener.

On Tuesday, The Regrettes are at Madison Live, Joe Bonamassa is playing Fraze, Knotty G’s are at Stanley’s, the Local Music Showcase at Sawyer Point features Jordan Wilson Coalition and Brother Smith (6:30-10 p.m.) and Tesla (the band, not the car… actually maybe both) is at Rose Music Center.

Jake Speed & the Freddies are this week’s featured band in the Wednesdays in the Woods series at Burnet Woods. The Royal Hounds are playing Southgate’s Revival Room with NP Presley and The Ghost of Jesse Garon.

On Thursday, JJ Grey & Mofro are playing PNC Pavilion with Jonny Lang and Marc Brussard. List members Whit and Barb Gardner will be at that show. Joyce Manor is playing Woodward that evening, with Saves the Day and awakebutstillinbed, the band named after my teenage kids. Jamestown Revival plays Top Cats, and Madison Theater will host the Squirrel Nut Zippers.

This just in: list member/junior correspondent Madeleine Meeks informs our news desk that The Dip will be playing a free show at RiversEdge in Hamilton! Ohio on Thursday evening, and they’ll be playing an intimate gig at Plaid Room Records on Friday night. They are, per Madeleine, “seven young, gorgeous men from Seattle playing jazzy, old timey, classy, sexy tunes”… that blurb sounds a lot better coming from her than from me.

The summer is flying by, and it’s Bellwether Weekend… and Railbird weekend. Bellwether kicks off Friday in Waynesville at the Renaissance Festival grounds, home of giant turkey legs and jousting… and perhaps jousting with giant turkey legs.

The Bellwether schedule is below, headliners include Real Estate and Cake on Friday, and Guided By Voices, Pinback and Beach House on Saturday. I’ll be in attendance both days.

Railbird is Saturday and Sunday at Keeneland in Lexington, KY. Here’s the list of performers:

There are a slew of local shows on Friday as well:

  • JJ Grey/Jonny Lang/Marc Broussard play Rose Music Center
  • Willow Tree Carolers are at Camp Springs Tavern
  • Vesperteen headlines the free show at Fountain Square
  • ghost man on second is playing Lucius Q
  • Wyatt Edmondson is at Stanley’s with Electric Son
  • The Darling Suns, Heavy Hinges and Darity are playing Northside Tavern
  • Ben Levin Trio plays BrewRiver

And there are plenty of gigs on Saturday too:

  • Chuck Cleaver, Lisa Walker and Mark Messerly of Wussy are at MOTR, playing solo stuff as well as collaborating on some Wussy tunes.
  • Santana plays Riverbend with the Doobie Brothers. List members Whit and Barb will be at that gig too… they are cuckoo for concerts this week.
  • Black Flag is playing Riverfront Live. Speaking of Black Flag, this is a cool mini-doc about their artwork.
  • Common is at Madison Theater
  • The Newbees have a 15th anniversary show at Southgate
  • Megan Wren is at Southgate too, in the Revival Room
  • 500 Miles to Memphis headlines the Fountain Square freebie
  • John Butler Trio is at Rose Music Center
  • The Gotobeds (named after me talking to my teenage kids) are playing Northside Yacht Club, with Vacation and Cold Stereo
  • Flying Underground and Maurice Mattei & the Tempers are at Urban Artifact
  • The Generics will be at Fretboard Brewing in Blue Ash.
I’m just phoning it in now.

Sunday is a bit quieter, at least from a volume (of shows) standpoint. Death Valley Girls and Moonwalks are at MOTR, and JP Harris & the Tough Choices are playing Southgate, with Jeremy Pinnell opening the show.

A few other notes: Shake It Records is selling the first deck of Cincinnnati Music Legends trading cards, a very cool idea. Read more in CityBeat.

Wham!

I’m really digging the new album from Bleached called Don’t You Think You’ve Had Enough (which is what my kids say to me when I’m reaching for my third slice of cake).

And the latest episode of the 97X podcast features Barb Abney talking about her 25+ year career playing modern rock (97X, the woxy.com, then The Current in Minneapolis, and now KFAI.) All episodes of the “Rumblings from the Big Bush” podcast are now available on Spotify, too.

Have a wonderful week!

Episode 18: Barb Abney the Modern Rock maven

97X, podcast

Barb Abney spent more than a decade at 97X and woxy.com, starting in the summer of 1994 and doing middays from 1998 through 2006, when she moved to Minneapolis to work for The Current for 8+ years as woxy.com moved to Austin.

In this podcast episode, Dave and Damian talk to Barb about dressing for success, her collection of 97X paraphernalia, stalking the Afghan Whigs, and lessons learned in the station’s bathroom.

Barb continues to play great music and support local bands as the morning show host at KFAI-FM in the Twin Cities. You can stream KFAI, so check out Barb’s show weekdays from 6-8 a.m. CDT (7-9 EDT). You can also connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.

Barb on the air at 97X
Brian J., Mike Taylor, Shiv and Barb on the final day broadcasting from Oxford.
Here’s Barb in the outfit she wore to her 97X interview… which she described as “VIP at Lilith Fair”

Eric the Awesome

Music

Eric Bachmann played a house concert at my place last night. The crowd can best be described as “small but mighty”…. about 20 folks. But those few and proud folks were treated to a fantastic night of tunes… and some funny stories as well.

Because I enjoy Eric’s music so much, part of me wishes more folks showed up, so they could experience his brilliance firsthand. But I promoted it the best that I could (flyers at Shake It Records and Everybody’s Records, attempted giveaway on Inhailer Radio‘s social channels, my weekly email x 2) so I’m at peace. Realistically, Eric’s band Archers of Loaf wasn’t exactly a household name, and their heyday was 25 years ago. At the turn of the century (I feel old just typing that), he formed Crooked Fingers… again, not a band where most folks would recognize the name, let alone the music. And he’s been doing solo albums for several years (his newest is No Recover) but the potential audience is not exactly Taylor Swiftian. So, you get what you get and you don’t get upset. I knew a lot of the attendees, and they’re really cool folks. The strangers that I welcomed into our house turned out to be very nice people as well. They all experienced a very memorable, very enjoyable night of music.

The show was through Undertow music, which books house shows for fringe/niche/indie artists like Eric. They handle all the ticket sales, and keep a 15% fee while the other 85% goes to the performer. Surely a better deal for artists than most gigs. Eric sold some merch too, so he made a bit of coin for his efforts. Not many people buy records these days, and streaming is not lucrative at all for most artists. So gassing up the van and hitting the road, t-shirts and vinyl in tow, is the only way to make a buck. And house concerts offer a more intimate, relaxed setting, with less hassles (and an earlier set time) than a dingy club. It may not be the wave of the future, but it’s the wave of today for the unsung singers, and I’m happy to ride it.

He did several songs on piano, several on guitar, and a couple on banjo.

My friend Jacqui was in attendance. She and her husband Dave are my house concert heroes – they’re booking an entire series of house shows throughout the year (they call it Parlor and Patio). And they serve homemade pie at intermission! Hmm, maybe I’ll have to start baking…

Undertow books a lot of house shows, and they’re always looking for hosts. There’s also a company called HomeDitty where you can sign up to be a host for scrappy artists trying to make their way in the music world. If you can’t host, at least attend a few house shows. You won’t regret it. In fact, you’ll enjoy the heck out of it.

Eric Bachmann may not mean much to some of the world (yet!), but having him play at my house last night meant the world to me.

This week in live Music: July 29-August 4

Concert Listings, Music

I’m listing the concerts out of order this week.

Al Pacino, in a restrained performance.

Because the most important gig is on Thursday: Eric Bachmann is playing a house concert at my home.

26 tickets left? Geez, that’s sad. Clearly, I’ve done a piss-poor job of marketing this gig. Did I mention I saw Eric at a house concert in Northside a few years back and it was amazing? It doesn’t really matter if you’re that familiar with his work, you’ll still enjoy the heck out of it… and it’s an early show too, he’ll be on at 8 and done by 9:30. But wait, there’s more… I’m offering my Double D Guarantee: if you aren’t completely satisfied with the show, I’ll refund your $ out of my own pocket. (I make $0 off this show, it’s booked by Undertow and they manage the cash.) Here’s a Spotify playlist of EB tunes, from Archers of Loaf to Crooked Fingers to his solo work. Tell your friends, Romans and countrymen about this show. Because right now, I’m the new Artie Fufkin.

OK, enough pitiful pimpin’. Back to the other shows this week. On Tuesday, Sarah McLachlan will be at Rose Music Center with a full orchestra.

Wednesday, Hibou is at MOTR with Dark Colour and Culture Queer, Jon Bellion is at PNC Pavilion and The Mowgli’s are playing Taft Ballroom. (Don’t ask me why they have an apostrophe in their name… maybe it’s a tribute to Frank Zappa.)

Thursday, you really, really, really should be at my shack for the Eric Bachmann house concert. But I’m contractually obligated to mention that the Legendary Shack Shakers are at Southgate, with JD Pinkus (Butthole Surfers).

Friday is a big evening for live music. Many list members will be at the Beck/Cage the Elephant/Spoon/Wild Belle show at Riverbend. And for good reason – that’s a killer lineup. (Of course, with Riverbend’s ironclad 11 p.m. curfew, you’ll get short sets… even though the show starts at 6.) However, there are several other gigs that evening:

  • Cloud Nothings are headlining the free show at Fountain Square
  • Steel Drivers and the Steep Canyon Rangers are playing Riverfront Live (old Annie’s)
  • Joan Osborne is singing the songs of Bob Dylan (Perhaps you’ve heard of him? Some folks call him the poor man’s Eric Bachmann) at Memorial Hall
  • The Sunburners and the Cliftones are playing a free gig at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • John Cusack was supposed to be at Taft for a screening of Say Anything and a Q&A… but it’s not listed on the Taft Theatre site anymore. Maybe his boombox batteries died.
  • The Harlequins are playing MOTR
  • Last but certainly not least, legendary local band Cereal Killers will be playing the Holy Cross/Immaculata church festival in Mt. Adams starting at 7 p.m. I’ll be at that gig. Admission is free, but you know you won’t be able to resist playing some Bars & Bells, so pack your wallet accordingly.

On Saturday, UB40 is at Riverfront Live and the Ben Levin Trio is at the Overlook Kitchen + Bar at the Summit Hotel. You also have your choice of two spoofy names, but just one spoof band: Mac Sabbath is playing Woodward Theater and Def Leggend (‘the world’s greatest tribute to Def Leppard’) is at Bogart’s. The Cincy Summer Beerfest at Smale Park will feature some live tunes, too.

Sunday, the Camp Springs Tavern hosts an open bluegrass jam (as they do every first Sunday of the month) at 3:30. Blacktop Mojo is at Madison Live, and Kool Keith is rockin’ the Northside Tavern.

That’ll do it for gigs this week. Hope to see you Thursday. And Friday.

Hot Ticket Alert:

Patty Griffin and Scott Miller at 20th Century Theater on Sept. 25.

Episode 17: Dan reed tells more tales

97X, podcast

In the second part of our chat with Dan Reed (a.k.a. “Danny Crash”), he tells more hilarious stories from the early 97X years, including tales about his band Chem-Dyne, his friends Mr. K and Greg Dulli, working at Bogart’s, and learning life lessons (sometimes the hard way) from 97X owners Doug and Linda.

Dan talks about his Hamilton friend/fellow bandmate/fellow DJ Ken “Mr K” Glidewell, who died in 2008 from injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Dave and I both got to know Mr. K from working with him, and he truly was one of a kind.

Here’s a video of Big In Iowa, a local band featuring Mr. K and Bob Burns, who later gained fame via his always-entertaining “Blogger Bog” Instagram account for the TSA. Sadly, Bob also passed away suddenly last October.

Dan Reed also co-hosted a podcast called the Dan & Dan Music Podcast, you can check out the episodes here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dan-and-dan-music-podcast/id976960749

That Dan, he’s a nutty, kooky kinda cat, and we love him.

Hamilton meets Akron
“Call me” – with Blondie’s Chris Stein

This week in live music: July 22-28

97X, Concert Listings, Music, podcast

Howdee!

Before MP3s, there was the original MP

Let’s get right to the tunes, because we also have a lot of non-concert ground to cover.

Monday, Amigo the Devil is at Southgate, with Cory Branan. And for all the phloppy Phish dancers, the Trey Anastasio movie Between Me and My Mind is showing at Bogart’s, and there’s a two-for-one deal on tickets. Please note that the showing is BYOFDGCSPFASHITPL… bring your own five-dollar grilled cheese sandwich purchased from a smelly hippy in the parking lot.

Tuesday, Los Lobos and The Mavericks are playing Rose Music Center. (Oh sure, Rose and PNC’s lineups are 99% identical but this is the one of the few shows that isn’t playing both venues… so unfair!) Emily Wolfe is playing Southgate, Matisyahu and Tribal Seeds are at Bogart’s, and Stanley’s hosts an all-star tribute to Dylan & the Dead (more grilled cheese for my tie-dyed friends!). Speaking of the dead, the man who has looked like a corpse since the 70s (and is now IN his 70s) will be playing Riverbend:

No more Mr. Vincent Furnier.

Halestorm is the opener.

Train rolls into Riverbend on Wednesday (see what we did there), with the Goo Goo Dolls and Allen Stone also on the bill. True story: Goo Goo Dolls nearly came to blows with the sound man at 97X’s “Day in Eden” concert in Eden Park back in 1993 (Superstar Car Wash era), but list member Mighty Joe Sampson intervened (all 140 pounds of him) and cooler heads prevailed. So basically, if not for Joe, Goo Goo Dolls would have wound up behind Si Leis’ iron bars instead of enjoying multi-platinum success. Also on Hump Day, Drivin N Cryin is at Southgate.

On the day of Thor, Conor Oberst is at Taft, Ben Levin Trio is playing The Phelps rooftop (close to where those stately trees used to be in Lytle Park), and the Cincinnati Music Fest (nee Kool Jazz Fest and Macy’s Fest) kicks off at Paul Brown Stadium with hip-hop night, featuring Slick Rick.

Friday is a feast for your ears:

  • Holly Spears plays Camp Springs Tavern (more on this venue later)
  • Angela Perley plays a freebie at Levitt Pavilion in Dayton
  • IDKHow is in Taft’s Ballroom (here’s a fun video from them)
  • Aztec Sun and Krystal Peterson & the Queen City Band are at MOTR
  • Fretboard Brewing hosts a Whispering Beard Preview with Chelsea Nolan (8 pm), Buffalo Wabs & the Price Hill Hustle (9:10 pm) and The Winetree (10:20 pm).
  • Urban Artifact hosts an NPR Tiny Desk Concert preview night
  • The Cincinnati Music Fest continues at PBS with Maxwell and Earth, Wind and Fire
  • Terrapin Moon plays Stanley’s
  • The Sonny Moorman Group and Chuck Brisbin & the Tuna Project play a free show at Sawyer Point (6-10 pm)
  • Uncle Kracker is at the old Annie’s
  • Lizzo plays the Coliseum
  • Zedd plays a post-game concert at GABP
  • The Righteous Brothers & the Temptations are at PNC
  • Last, but certainly not least, Air Supply will be playing Rose Music Center

On Saturday, Heart plays Riverbend with Elle King, Sylmar has their EP release show at Woodward Theater, with This Pine Box also on the bill (with an asterisk), and Pop Empire has an album release show at Northside Tavern. At PBS, Ohio Players are on the bill.

You’ve gotta see the poppin’ and lockin’… it’s killer!

If you’re hankering for some fun instead of funk, Stanley’s hosts a standup comedy showcase from 6-8.

Sunday, Southgate is hosting the Cosmic Honky Tonk Review featuring Jim Lauderdale, Jason Ringenberg (from Jason & The Scorchers) and Chuck Mead (BR549). And the week winds down the same way it started, with a jam band: moe. is playing PNC Pavilion, with Blues Traveler and G. Love.

OK, now let’s move on to the TWILM mailbag. Dan “The Reds are wild card contenders!” Lewis would like everyone to know that the Avett Brothers are playing after the Reds afternoon game on Saturday, September 7th. List member Andy Block surely will be in attendance, as he is an Avett groupie and saw all three nights of their recent stand in Red Rocks.

Jeff Franco sent a link to a new song from Wilderado (Jeff and I saw Wilderado and Sure Sure at Madison Live several months ago – great show!): https://open.spotify.com/album/1I2hGwPg0UwRN8pxBHJQLZ?si=se4-6ohrRDC3PumIQ5kGww

Todd Butler sent in this rave review about the Camp Springs Tavern:

List members Ben Brawley and Joe Sampson are the new Tenspeed and Brown Shoe, they have been looking for clues to the whereabouts of the band Sons of Bill after we put out an APB in a recent post on 97Xbam.com. Joe says lead singer James Wilson has been focusing on his Faulkner studies, but Ben reports that James is playing a solo show in Charlottesville on August 7th, so there is hope of more tunes in the future.

So bad it’s good….

List member/proud papa Dave Tellmann informed us that his son Joe won’t be playing with This Pine Box at Woodward on Saturday… because he’ll be in Europe playing two shows at the Notodden Blues Festival in Norway, and attending a music class led by Little Steven. Not bad for a college sophomore.

Meanwhile, proud son Joe Tellmann would like everyone to know that his dad Dave co-hosts a podcast about the old days at 97X called “Rumblings from the Big Bush,” and in the latest episode the guest is Dan “Danny Crash” Reed, former 97X and WNKU DJ, and former Bogart’s manager, and former local band member (Chem Dyne, Dock Ellis) who is now the afternoon host and music director for WXPN in Philly, and the talent booker for World Cafe. Joe says it’s a very entertaining show, despite the fact that Dave’s co-host is an asshat (Joe’s words, not mine.)

Shout-out to list member Dave Roberto for hooking me up with a Hootie & The Blowfish/Barenaked Ladies ticket (and get-well-soon wishes to list member Kevin Sullivan, who was originally supposed to attend). It was like 1992 all over again:

Have a wonderful week!

Episode 16: Danny Crash crashes the Party Patio

97X, podcast

Dan “Danny Crash” Reed is the self-described “Forrest Gump” of the music business. A proud native of Hamilton, Ohio and eventual grad of Ohio University, he was a young DJ at 97X when it changed formats in 1983, and later became program director (while also playing in local bands). After leaving 97X, Dan worked at Bogart’s, WNKU, WFPK (Louisville) and is now the afternoon host/music director at WXPN in Philadelphia and talent manager for the syndicated World Cafe program. He has 101 stories about the old days – which is why we had to make his interview a two-parter. You can follow Dan on Twitter and Instagram.

As a special bonus, here’s the world famous “Black Concert T-shirt” track from Dan’s band Chem Dyne, courtesy of 97X superfan Mark Griffin.

R.I.P. Johnny Clegg

Music

Below is a blog post from another blog of mine (nobody reads that one either) that originally appeared in November of 2017. I’m posting after hearing the news that Johnny Clegg passed away.

Johnny B. Good. Very good.

“Hello, I’m Johnny Cash.”

“Hello, I’m Johnny Clegg.”

No doubt you’ve heard of (and heard the music of) the former. Chances are, you’re not familiar with the latter. But Johnny Cash is to country music as Johnny Clegg is to South African music. A pioneer, a trailblazer, a true icon. I don’t think it’s hyperbole to call him the Nelson Mandela of music. Back in the Apartheid era, teenage Johnny crossed color lines to learn music and dancing from Zulu men in Johannesburg, and eventually brought it to the world.

“They knew something about being a man, which they could communicate physically in the way that they danced and carried themselves. And I wanted to be able to do the same thing. Basically, I wanted to become a Zulu warrior. And in a very deep sense, it offered me an African identity. It was like a homecoming for me; I don’t know why, but I felt that.”

When he formed an integrated band – Juluka – with Sipho Mchunu, they couldn’t even play in public at first.  Eventually they landed a record deal and toured the world.

When Sipho got homesick and left for his Zululand home, Johnny formed a new band called Savuka, which means “We Have Risen” in Zulu. His songs were at the forefront of the fight for equality in South Africa.

“You could not ignore what was going on. The entire Savuka project was based in the South African experience and the fight for a better quality of life and freedom for all.”

One of the best concerts I’ve ever seen was Johnny Clegg & Savuka at a club in Cincinnati, circa 1993. For some strange, mystical reason, I too wanted to become a Zulu warrior that night. And I can’t dance worth a damn. The passion, the energy, the “goodness” emanating from Johnny and his band was palpable, and the tsunami of positive vibes swept up the whole crowd. “I don’t know why, but I felt that.”

Johnny Cash is gone. Johnny Clegg will be gone soon – he’s battling pancreatic cancer. He just wrapped up a brief U.S. tour and has headed home to South Africa, with one more gig in Cape Town lined up for this year.

NPR has a nice profile of Johnny’s career. (The quotes in this post are from that piece.) Please check it out.

Thank you Johnny, for sharing your music and your love with the world. Don’t stop dancing.