Page 34 - the Noise October 2017
P. 34

Jonathan Richman Returns!
BY BEVERLEY NAPALM
Lucky Flagstaffians! We are once again fortunate to be graced with the presence of greatness this month, with the perennial visit of legendary American singer-songwriter Jonathan Richman at the end of the month. A dynamic and heartfelt performer, it’s hard to overstate the influence Mr. Richman has had within the past 5 decades of popular music.
His first band The Modern Lovers were adored by fans and critics alike. They were also deliciously out of step with their peers. Taking their cues from The Velvet Underground, their stripped down approach to rock and roll was refreshingly pure and charismatic. Although less abrasive than punk, and at face value may be judged contrary to the musical aspirations of punk-rock, he was seen as a direct influence on the genre. This was largely a result of the joyous abandon in the manner in which he celebrated performance, with an embracing wide-eyed uncluttered approach and delivery.
Throughout the late ‘80s and ‘90s, Mr. Richman wisely avoided musical trends and fashions, retaining his integrity as a performer by bypassing the trappings of the major label treadmill. His solo work celebrates ethnic influences, and he progressed musically (in many cases using only the bare essentials to create), while effortlessly managing to remain true to his vision of rock and roll purity. His current performances are a joy to witness.
Playing with just an acoustic guitar alongside Tucson veteran drummer Tommy Larkins (Giant Sand and Naked Prey), his shows are engaging, relaxed and informal. You’ll be on your feet with a smile by the end of the first song. The author caught up with Mr. Richman through his management, as he does not use modern trappings such as email or the internet! Another endearing trait of a unique performer with so much love to give his listeners.
I’ve seen you twice now at Firecreek, and it’s a wonderful and exciting setting to see you per- form in. Is it a conscious decision, at this stage in your career, to play smaller intimate venues?
Sometimes it is. For example, when given a choice of two stages to play on at a music festival, one stage to an audience of 5,000, the other to 10,000, I’d pick the 5,000. And if one 1,500 is available, I’m likely to choose that one. Yes, intimate is good.
Your enthusiasm watching you perform is always inspiring. How do you remain positive, especially in the current climate, given the darkness that is seeping into American culture?
I dunno ... is darkness really “seeping in” to our culture? And if so, is not light seeping in,
Jonathan Richman | PHOTO BY ANGELINA CASTILLO
too? As for me, these times don’t seem darker than any other time. And me, I don’t try to stay positive much, it mostly just happens.
I have to ask about Tommy. He seems so stoic and solid, enabling you space to enjoy your own performance. I wonder how much of your set is improvised? And how much of that is down to Tommy?
Tommy’s not stoic or anything. He just looks like that. We improvise a lot of what we do — we don’t use a set list or anything like that. Sometime I say: “Tommy, give me a beat!” and then we make stuff up from there.
I think you are a great communicator musically and visually. One comment almost everyone makes after seeing you perform is that you appear to directly look at every single person in the room at some point in the evening. I have also seen you sing in several different languages. Italian, Spanish, and Arabic? (I think? Maybe I missed a couple?). Where did the idea to sing in other languages come from? And do you see it as an extension of your natural ability to communicate?
I think you put it well: my singing in the various languages I sing in (you left out Ojibwe and Hindi and a few more) does seem to be an extension of some natural ability to commu- nicate. An ability I don’t yet fully understand, myself. With the different languages come dif- ferent cadences, different words in the phrase getting the rhyme. These change the melody. The changes in the melody, as well as the different sounds of words and the idiomatic ex- pressions that some languages have which are not really translatable into other languages, all bring out different emotions in the singer. (Me, in this case.) And the different languages just sound so cool.
Jonathan Richman plays Firecreek Coffee 31 October. It is an exciting venue that could al- most be tailor made for his performance. So once you get done trick or treating, hop along and treat you ears! This event is limited to advance tickets, and will sell out, so it is recommended you purchase advance tickets. Doors 8pm. All ages.
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