Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers

The Haunt, Ithaca, NY.....

Such a great concert. Richman was performing as a trio with the Modern Lovers, and that really made this performance head and shoulders over all all of the other times I've seen Jonathan. (I've seen him in a guitar + drums configuration, and you might not think simply adding a bass would really flesh out the sound, but it did.)

 

Jonathan was touring in support of his latest album It's Time For, which featured one of songs that illustrates some of Jonathan's core principles that are foundational in his music: "Corner Store" (he re-recorded the song four years later for Jonathan Goes Country, but it was originally from It's Time For). "I know it costs more money to shop there but this was love, this was love," Jonathan croons on the song's bridge. "I know you had to pay more money, I'll pay money, I'll pay more. I don't care what the mall has got, I want back that corner store." Modernity replacing humanity is a way to sum up one key Jonathan theme through many of his lyrics. Simple ways being abandoned for complication and frustration. Plus, you have Jonathan's sensory awareness: "I smell a ghost smell from the ground, that old wooden smell from the old corner store." His lyrics often urge us to slow down and be more cognizant of our world through your senses. Smell more, hear more, taste more, see more, feel more.

While I don't have a setlist from this 1986 show, I likely would have noted and remember if he didn't play "Corner Store" and the album's lead-off track "It's You," both songs we were featuring on my college station, WICB. 

I remember that before one song, Jonathan began introducing it, "Now we're going to play--" and someone shouted out a song title. Without missing a beat, Jonathan said, "Okay," and they launched straight into the request. Afterwards, the entire room started shouting out song titles until Richman had to caution us that he wasn't playing any more requests. 

I went to the show with my girlfriend Alyssa, and after it was over, I had to head straight to WQNY's studio for my overnight shift. I had to be on the air from midnight until 6 AM Sunday morning, so a long night for me.... 

 
 


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros

Image
Point State Park, Pittsburgh, PA.... It was the opening night concert for the Three Rivers Arts Festival, and it was a beautiful evening in Pittsburgh (if overcast). It was one of the most crowded TRAF shows I've ever attended.  setlist: 40 Day Dream That's What's Up Man On Fire Janglin' A Million Years Carries On Fiya Wata I Don't Wanna Pray Truth Up From Below If You Wanna Child Jade Mayla Better Days Home Om Nashi Me
Read more

Rusted Root, Donnie Iris, The Clarks, Joe Grushecky, Bill Deasy, Poverty Neck Hillbillies, Good Brother Earl, B.E. Taylor, Margot B., Crave

Image
Mellon Arena, Pittsburgh, PA..... The P.L.E.A.S.E. Benefit concert for Hurricane Katrina relief.   my credential from the show    "P.L.E.A.S.E." stood for "Pittsburgh Lends Emergency And Saving Efforts" and was an attempt to raise money for the American Red Cross following the devastation of the New Orleans area in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. (80% of the proceeds were going to the Red Cross while 20% was donated to efforts in Western PA to help people still recovering from Hurricane Ivan in 2004. Around $100,000 was raised.) Many of the region’s leading names in multiple music genres came together several weeks after the Louisiana flooding, bringing out around 8,000 people for this unique show. Not only was the crowd entertained by the musical acts, but current and former Steelers players made appearances, including Franco Harris, Louis Lipps, Andy Russell, Craig Bingham, and Jeff Reed. (All the Steelers players whipped up the crowd talking up the team's...
Read more