REVIEW: The Bard of Boston and Venice Beach, Jonathan Richman Returns on ‘Only Frozen Sky Anyway’
REVIEW
REVIEW
☆ BY JOEY POVINELLI ☆
Photography Credit: Jenny Jimenez
OUT OF THE HUNDREDS OF LIVE ACTS— I’ve witnessed, only one turns off the venue's A/C so the audience can get better acoustics. Only one regularly faces away from the microphone and sings directly to the room. There’s only one Jonathan Richman.
With an acoustic guitar in his hands and a look of childlike joy that seems frozen in awe of music itself, Richman commands a room through pure infectious energy. Setlists are spontaneous, with the band in lockstep, playing what they feel, and the audience hanging on every word; listening closely so they don’t miss a moment. Richman’s reverence for music is infectious, and his freewheeling song selection makes every performance singular.
Richman’s latest record, Only Frozen Sky Anyway, captures the live experience and continues to flesh out the distinct sonic playground and direct songwriting he’s cultivated for himself as a solo artist.
If you’re familiar with any of Richman’s previous 18 records, you know the score. His tracks are deceptively simple as you will only find acoustic guitar, bongo-like percussion, and vocals that sound like Lou Reed if he stayed innocent. Songs are normally about exactly what they're titled: in “That Older Girl,” he muses about an older girl he had a crush on; on “David and Goliath,” he makes a Biblical tale into an accessible folk song about the little guy, and “Night Fever” interpolates the Bee Gees song of the same name, reframed into an introspective Saturday night out. Even on recording, Richman’s production and delivery make it seem as if he is in the same room, singing directly to you. He even breaks out a little Spanish (one of the five languages he speaks) on “Se Va Pa'volver.” Some great artists live to provoke, but Richman builds bridges; music is his way of reaching out. He also doesn’t do it alone: the record includes features longtime collaborator Tommy Larkins, and a reunion with Jerry Harrison, of the Modern Lovers, on keyboard.
Only Frozen Sky Anyway arrives with company. Five previous albums arrive on streaming for the first time, including Ishkode! Ishkode!, SA!, Want To Visit My Inner House?, Cold Pizza & Other Hot Stuff, and Yatasamaroun.
Don’t take my word for any of this. Listen to Only Frozen Sky Anyway now and catch Jonathan Richman live in a city nearby:
01 Jul Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
02 Jul Aladdin Theater Portland, OR
31 Jul UC Botanical Garden at Berkeley Berkeley, CA
03 Oct Shrine Social Club (Shrine Ballroom) Boise, ID
04 Oct Zootown Arts Community Center Missoula, MT
07 Oct Royal Canadian Legion No.1 Calgary, AB
08 Oct Myer Horowitz Theatre Edmonton, AB
09 Oct Roxy Theatre Saskatoon, SK
11 Oct West End Cultural Centre Winnipeg, MB
15 Oct West Theatre Duluth, MN
16 Oct First Avenue Minneapolis, MN
17 Oct Englert Theatre Iowa City, IA
18 Oct Delmar Hall St. Louis, MO
19 Oct The Whirling Tiger Louisville, KY
21 Oct Manny’s State College, PA
23 Oct Lark Hall Albany, NY
24 Oct Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA
25 Oct Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA
26 Oct Somerville Theatre Somerville, MA
28 Oct SPACE Gallery Portland , ME
29 Oct SPACE Gallery Portland , ME01 Nov Alderney Landing Theatre Dartmouth, NS
