Growing up I was extremely lucky to have great music in constant rotation around the house courtesy of my old man. The Band, The Grateful Dead, Dylan, The Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan and a gentleman named Tom Rush. I can see remember the tape of the self titled album sitting next to the player in the living room. One of the defining pieces of my childhood that I think truly sparked my desire to write songs and play an acoustic guitar. Tom Rush has a big celebratory show at Symphony Hall on December 28th. A release for a fantastic documentary about the songwriter titled “No Regrets” and a celebration of music in a town that shaped the songwriter early on in his career. This is sure to be a special evening with many fantastic guests. You can get tickets here: http://www.bso.org/Performance/Detail/70093/
I was lucky enough to catch up with Tom to discuss his ties to New England, Club Passim and Cambridge as well as talk a little about the show and the special guests that will be joining him. A truly great songwriter and a real kind soul. Check it out below:
1) There has been a huge resurgence of “folk” music with a keen sense of songwriting here in Cambridge that harkens back to the days when you were at Harvard, much of which surrounds Club Passim. Have you been tapped into that or aware of it at all? Perhaps, folk music has always been “there” it just seems like a younger generation is really appreciating it now. Any thoughts?
Tom Rush: Cambridge isn’t alone in this — it’s nationwide. The odd part is that there seems to be a generational disconnect (having said that, perhaps it isn’t all that odd after all) in that artists like Mumford & Sons or the Civil Wars have huge followings but those fans don’t seem all that interested in the music of the older generation that clearly inspired their heroes. Back in the ‘60’s the Club 47 stood out from the other coffee houses in that they made a point of bringing the legends, the previous generation, to town and the place was always packed.
2) You have strong ties to New England and the Boston area. Does the area hold a special place for you? Care to elaborate what it means to be back here and what the area has meant to you over the years?
TR: My stage career started while I was a student at Harvard. For better or worse, my dorm was two short blocks from the Club 47 — my academics suffered, but I learned a lot of great songs! I have always felt that the Boston/Cambridge area was the epicenter of my artistic life and it’s always great to touch base again with that energy.
3) You will also have some guests along for the ride. With this folk boom here in town, a rise in community has also been present. Have you seen that develop over the years around the genre, and also in particular when you are back playing in town?
TR: I call my Symphony Hall shows “Club 47” events because the heart and soul of the Club was the musical mixing of the generations. My guests this year, Red Molly, Monica Rizzio (of Old Highway) and Grace Kelly are all from the current generation of rising stars. I want to expose my audience to them (and, hopefully, me to their audiences) to try to build and expand that musical community you speak of. The Boston area seems to be the perfect place to do that.
(photo by Bruce W. Bedford)
4) So, how did you come across the gals of Red Molly, Grace Kelley and Monica Rizzio?
TR: My network of spies brought them to me and they were chosen because of their vocal and instrumental skills — and because all of them can really light up a stage!
5) The show is a big celebration of the film “No Regrets”. Any particularly favorite moments from either the filming of the project, or moments since it has been out?
TR: It’s actually not “out” yet (though one can buy a copy at, ahem, www.TomRush.com or through the Symphony Hall box office — the perfect Christmas gift!) This is my first experience at being documentized, if that’s a word, and I have to say it’s a bit odd walking through airports with a camera crew hovering around you. Passers-by are clearly wondering, “What’s that guy guilty of?” I’ve been to a few of the screenings around the country and am happy to say it’s been very warmly received. I think the producers did an excellent job of putting the story up on screen.
6) So…can we expect any surprises at the Symphony Hall show?
TR: I am always surprised at these Symphony Hall shows. When you put a bunch of really talented guests together and ask them to go “off-script” into uncharted territory marvelous things happen. Red Molly, Monica Rizzio and Grace Kelly will each be doing some songs on their own (or, hopefully, with each other), but I’m also going to ask all of them to back me up on one song or another. I have a batch of brand new songs to try out, and that always feels like working without a net. I can’t wait to see/hear the results!