Jonathan Richman

Press, 5 October 1985, Page 8

Jonathan Richman

Jonathan Richman and The Modern Lovers, supported by Look Blue Go Purple at the Gladstone Tavern last evening. Reviewed by Tony Green. “This isn’t much like the Party Boys, mate!” yelled a typically inebriated fellow at the Gladstone last night, and he was absolutely right. In fact Jonathan Richman and The Modem Lovers were not very much like anything at all. For most people, “Eyptian Reggae” — and perhaps the most famous nonhit ever, “Roadrunner” (which was not played) was all that was known of this band from Boston. But Richman, wearing his dislike of things noisy for all to see, soon wound things up with some of the strangest tunes the pub had ever seen. “Here Come The Martian Martians,” “Ice Cream Man” and a totally minimal

“Louie Louie” were exactly what they suggest — naive anthems to the things Richman holds dear. But Richman and the band played at such a low volume that much of the music was lost on the familiar capacity Gladstone crowd. Even his famous betweensong chat was almost impossible to pick up and for most of the night, many people chose to talk amongst, themselves,, rather than focus on the band. The band’s sound was almost non-existent — drums were limited to a lightlystruck snare — and the smoke from the crowd made more of an impression than' the guitar and bass. " ■•‘■’ .■'■7 It was only towards the end the performance that any real atmosphere descended on the pub, as a series of encores showed the real magic that Richman is

capable of. Best of all was “That Summer Feeling }” which obviously should have been a world-wide smaish, judging from the great reception it got. But all too oft en the tunes and personality were drowned out by the constant talk — often, i only Richman’s boyish chjarm rescued the night from i oblivion. There is real wit and warmth in these songs, but it ;.all seemed j a bit of a waste last night. ■ For a read taste of Jonathan Ric hman, your best bet is to ! track down those elusive L’Ps, especially last year’s “Jonathan Sings.” Look Blue Go Purple opened the ni.ght, and they too suffered from a lack of volume. ~‘ However, the songs from their top I 30 EP, “Bewitched,” received a rousing cheejr, and their future looks irosy.