True Grit
Through his art and music, Jon Langford communicates his inherent sense of Americana
Punk-rock veteran, raw roots pioneer, and all-around Renaissance man, Jon Langford has spent some 20-odd years cutting a distinctive and rough-hewn path through rustic American music. It's odd, of course, given his Welsh origins and the early days of his seminal group the Mekons, who answered the grandiose posturing of their peers The Clash and The Sex Pistols with the classic “Never Been in a Riot.” But unlike most of the first-wave British punk bands, the Mekons demonstrated both a remarkable staying power and a catalog that serves as one of the cornerstones of the alternative country universe, with Langford finding himself in the unlikely role of indie-rock godfather.
It's almost amazing that this bloke among blokes would ever find time for another trade, given his myriad side projects (Waco Brothers, Pine Valley Cosmonauts, etc.), but Langford has in recent years forged another path in the art world. His primitive yet striking paintings and headstones have an ancient quality that recalls the “weird, old America” of Harry Smith, Woody Guthrie, and Hank Williams Sr. And Langford seems intent on keeping his subject matter rather focused; his portraits of country music icons such as Williams, Patsy Cline, Bill Monroe, and others echo a time when Nashville wasn't a scrubbed hub of squeaky-clean pseudo-cowboys and divas. The hickoid dementia of the past comes through loud and clear, helped no doubt by Langford's own time spent as a punk foot soldier.
From June 1 to July 8, The Attic Gallery, the art space owned and operated by Jerry Dale and Julie McFadden, hosts a Langford exhibit, in what proves to be a rare coup. What's most striking about his work is how a man from Britain can so effectively tap into a strain of bizarro Americana that seems so indigenous, like the psychedelic tent-revivalism of Howard Finster. But as Langford himself put it in a recent interview, his paintings are “autobiographical.” In reference to a gravestone he painted, in which Williams is pictured signing a record contract while surrounded by skulls and candles, Langford explains, “I don't have any idea what it was like when Hank Williams signed his contract, but I know what it felt like when I signed with a major label.”
There is perhaps some irony in the fact that Langford may have finally found a “respectable” craft; in addition to exhibits in several major cities, he was commissioned by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame to design the program for its 1999 induction ceremony. For Langford, a man who has thrived on his iconoclast status, it might be the closest he ever gets to that “hallowed” hall, but it wouldn't be for lack of vision. Like his paintings, Langford has always demonstrated perhaps a little too much vision for the smug spectators on either side of the aisle.
An artist's reception for Langford's exhibit will be held June 1 from 6 to 9 p.m. at The Attic Gallery, located at 2302 12th Ave. S. Perhaps more surprising, though, is the promise of a post-reception Mekons gig at The Sutler. “Special guests” are rumored to make appearances, although no one's naming names.
—William Tyler
Crimson tidings
Last summer, 12th & Porter scored a major coup: a three-night stand by prog-rock pioneers King Crimson that served as a warm-up for their European tour. The gigs drew Crimson cultists from as far away as Europe and Japan, and demand for tickets was so furious that the club's Web site crashed repeatedly under the strain.
If you were one of the many fans who cruised the sidewalks outside the sold-out shows for tickets, you'll get a second chance. Guitarists Robert Fripp and Adrian Belew, drummer Pat Mastelotto, and touch guitarist Trey Gunn will perform another series of warm-up shows at 12th & Porter June 14-17. They'll be testing new material and preparing for a summer tour, including a reported seven shows as opening act for Tool.
The 12th & Porter Web site lists tickets on sale for only the Thursday and Sunday shows, so fans should proceed in an orderly fashion to www.faisons.com/newsite/lineups.htm, where tickets are available for $20 plus $2.50 handling. For more information on King Crimson and its ever-expanding catalog, consult the Web site of its label DGM at www.disciplineglobalmobile.com.
—Jim Ridley
Also upcoming and noteworthy
Under the banner Electric Lounge, Leon Jackson has been tirelessly working to promote live electronica, dance music, and hip-hop—a welcome addition to a music scene occasionally devoid of groove. According to Jackson, his latest booking is one of his biggest and best yet: progressive house/trance deejay Sandra Collins, June 23 at 328 Performance Hall. She'll be topping a bill that also includes Orlando's Sean Cusick, along with Vixen, Jennifer Taylor, and Axon. Count on an evening of pulsing, pumping, Dionysian rhythms. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster and are $10 through June 5; after that, prices go up to $15 for advance tickets or $20 at the door. For more information about Electric Lounge's bookings, e-mail electriclounge32@aol.com.
Finally, Tom Petty returns to town, playing AmSouth Amphitheatre July 15. Tickets go on sale this Saturday and are available at www.sfx.com.
—Jonathan Marx
Comments (0)