Wednesday, May. 07, 2008

Does love of music trump fame?

By Jeremy Dutton

Is fame the overriding goal for any musician? It seems like it is these days because what good is your music if people aren't hearing it --? You know, the old tree crashing in the woods adage.

But this week I heard a story on the radio about the enigmatic Jandek. He's a Texas-based musician who writes a freaky blend of folk-blues music that with even more than one listen comes off as apparent noise.

This guy has built a rep in the indie world that is no less legendary than old folk tales of John Henry and Davy Crockett. Jandek declines interviews and the one that he has done doesn't divulge any details about his personal life.

“I kind of have declined interviews and things like that because I just put out a product and that's it. I don't want to get too involved,” Jandek said in the interview conducted 22 years ago by Spin magazine.

He's got to have a side job to support his scant record sales, but even that is off-limits to any probing. But for a guy with this status, who according to NPR has put out 51 albums on a label called Corwood Industries, how could this be? It seems obvious that creating this mysticism might be a tool to drive record sales, but it's not working -- his music still is more obscure than the legend of secretiveness.

So … why? Why with all of this clamoring for more about this guy (there's even a documentary about him now), would he shun fame and just keep making records? The answer perhaps may lie a little closer to home. Week after week, Tri-City bands play the same handful of venues, hoping to grow their audience bit by bit. Sometimes they do, depending on the night. But by and large, the same small crowd can be seen at each show by a given band.

I went to see Blue is Cold recently at Kimo's, and judging by the previous three times I've seen them, it's the same group of friends and a few converts that have always been there. They, too, obviously have side jobs, and they continue to make their music without that drumbeat to know more about them.

They make music because they love music. But the question they or any other lucky local band may face one day is if that big-label deal comes knocking, will they answer it? Who wouldn't trade in a 9 to 5 plus weekend gigs when they fit, for the life?

I'd like to ask Jandek what he'd say, but he won't return my calls. Big month for Kimo's

Speaking of Kimo's, the sports bar put together an impressive month of great local acts. Blue is Cold brought in Portland's Scotland Barr and the Slow Drags. Lions and Eagles also played earlier this month. Upcoming acts are Daydream Jared on Dec. 15 and the return of Pasco pop wunderkind Chase Thompson on Dec. 22. Whole lotta success

If you haven't heard, Led Zeppelin got back together for a reunion gig -- not a tour. By all accounts, the recent show came off as a massive hit. One BBC report said many of the millions who registered for tickets were willing to give their organs to witness the triumphant return.

I spent a lot of time in college panning Zep as vastly overrated -- thank goodness my wife was able to slap me straight. Now after years of listening to several albums and specifically to BBC Live outtakes of Dazed and Confused and Communication Breakdown, it's easy to see their place in rock hierarchy. But her converting me still won't change our bitter fight about who was more important to Fleetwood Mac. I'm in Lindsey Buckingham's corner and she's in Stevie Nicks'. It's really no contest though. Haven't you heard Tusk? I mean seriously.

- Jeremy Dutton: 582-1525; jdutton@tricity herald.com