Wed 11/26 @ 9pm
Akron singer/songwriter/guitarist Joseph Arthur left town in the early ’90s to begin his serious musical explorations that have taken him in a variety of directions. His 1997 debut, Big City Secrets, was released on Peter Gabriel’s Real World Records, displaying his intensity and broad musical range.
He recorded one more album for the label before moving on to various indie labels. The prolific chameleon performer, now based in Brooklyn, has a combined 20 albums and EPs in his catalogue. The last two show that he may have been influenced by something in the musical air of northeast Ohio, although at 43, he’s too young to recall the glitter rock era first hand.
Last year’s The Ballad of Boogie Christ follows the template of David Bowie’s 1972 The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders From Mars, while his latest, Lou, covers a dozen songs by Lou Reed, whose decadent spirit once hovered over the glitter rock scene as its éminence grise.
When he’s not busy making his own personal music, he’s involved in side projects with musicians like Ben Harper, Pearl Jam’s Jeff Ament, and George Harrison’s song Dhani Harrison. He still finds time to check in with his hometown fans. Like last year, he’ll be playing a show at the Tangier.
Tickets are $25.
Photo by Danny Clinch