Jonathan Richman - Appeared in Portfolio Jan 2002
If you’ve heard of Jonathan Richman, chances are you know of him from the movie, There’s Something About Mary. Jonathan was the guy singing in between the scenes of zipper mishaps and hair gel alternatives. The Rhode Island native Farrelly brothers, who directed the movie, probably knew about Jonathan from his days as nearby Boston’s most influential rocker. Back in the early 70’s he started a band called the Modern Lovers playing a unique brand of Velvet Underground influenced punk. The original Modern Lovers made a big mark on what we now consider rock and roll, with keyboardist Jerry Harrison going on to play with the Talking Heads, and Drummer David Robinson later joining the Cars. The Modern Lovers’ biggest hits of the time were Roadrunner and Pablo Picasso. Roadrunner has since become known as something of a rock anthem, covered by REM, Joan Jett, the Sex Pistols and others. Pablo Picasso, well, if you heard the song, you already know what “Pablo Picasso was never called.”
Something happened to Jonathan Richman in the mid 70’s that changed his music forever. A trip to Bermuda to perform with the Modern Lovers opened his eyes to Calypso music, and he started making music that was much different from the driving punk rock that he’d been playing in clubs like CBGB’s in New York City. Gone was the cynical Modern Lover’s sound, replaced by innocent songs about the Abominable Snowman, the Ice Cream Man, and Martians. To Jonathan, being really punk meant being different, and songs that sounded like children’s music were about as different as you could get.
He’s been making music ever since, putting out an album every couple of years. His music has matured but it still has that childlike quality, with a style that is faintly Caribbean. It’s hard to describe his music with out sounding flaky. To really do it justice, you have to use words like honest, heartfelt, beautiful and sweet. You’re actually better off not trying to describe it, and to just listen. When you do, you’ll find that creates an entirely new musical space, one filled with simple things like the joys of wearing every day clothes, to the sparks that fly during a kiss, to the magic of dancing without trying too hard.
His live shows are truly an experience. Tommy Larkin plays drums, (he was the other musician in Something about Mary) and Jonathan sings and plays guitar. Between songs, Jonathan talks to the audience in a low voice that sounds rather similar to Sylvester Stallone’s. And he dances. In fact, when so inspired, he often lays his guitar down on the stage just to dance. I was lucky enough to be in Paris a couple of years ago when Jonathan was playing a show. The theater was filled with cheering Parisians to whom Jonathan spoke French the entire show. He’s at least tri-lingual as well, also having released albums in Spanish.
His biggest fans know that he has a quirky personality. I guess with musical genius comes some eccentricity. He doesn’t drink or do drugs, and he has a reputation for playing very quietly, sometimes asking the club management to turn down the PA. I even saw him ask for a ceiling fan above the stage to be turned off at a show in Orlando. I’ve talked with him a couple times, but he’s never seemed too interested in talking about his music. Funny, I did ask him about snowboarding once and I thought he’d miss his second set for talking so much.
His latest album is titled Her Mystery Not Of High Heels And Eye Shadow and contains 14 tracks. Four of these are sung in Spanish, and one is a cover of an older Richman favorite, Give Paris One More Chance. He’s currently touring, and will be playing in Richmond at Alley Katz on February 18th, at Starr Hill in Charlottesville on the 19th, and at the 9:30 club in DC on the 20th. Not too far to drive for such a great show, in my opinion.