Fri 10/14 @ 8PM
Released in September 2016, in time for his current tour of the Eastern U.S. (he stops at the Beachland Ballroom on Fri 10.14), and Europe in November, Fingers Crossed is the fifth album of new material Hunter has released since the untimely death in 1993 of Hunter’s longtime collaborator and friend guitarist Mick Ronson. His untimely passing seems to have served as a wake-up call to Hunter, and has extended his life’s work to what must now be considered one of rock’s longest careers: Hunter turned 77 in June and has continued releasing albums and touring non-stop, including orchestrating a successful reunion of Mott The Hoople in 2009 and 2013. He’s older than McCartney, Jagger, Young, Townsend and even his idol Dylan. His output this century has certainly been more consistent than all of them put together, save Dylan. And he rocks as hard, and possibly harder than any of them.
In Cleveland, we know and love Ian Hunter for penning our town’s theme song (“Cleveland Rocks,” back when he was on Steve Popovich’s Cleveland International Records), the Ronson-arranged and co-produced “Once Bitten, Twice Shy,” and for the many Mott The Hoople songs that are still on endless rotation on classic rock radio: “All The Way From Memphis,” “Roll Away The Stone,” “The Golden Age of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” Lou Reed’s “Sweet Jane,” and the single that started it all, the David Bowie-penned “All The Young Dudes.”
But certainly 2001’s celebrated release Rant was a personal clarion call that put Hunter back on track with a return to his rock ‘n’ roll roots (“Still Love Rock ‘n’ Roll), political venom (“Death of A Nation”), and rock opera epics (“Morons,” fashioned after his own Mott the Hoople classic “Marionette,” “The best track that Mott’s ever done…” Hunter declared).
The Rant album also signaled the beginning of a fruitful partnership with guitarist and and co-producer Andy York, who has also worked with John Mellencamp since 1994. It’s also when he formed the core of his current band, The Rant Band, consisting of James Mastro and Mark Bosch on guitars, superstar drummer Steve Holley (who performed with Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder among others- see our CoolCleveland interview here), Andy Burton on keys, and Paul Page on bass. In concert, Hunter serves as one of rock’s great front men either strumming a guitar out front, or from behind the piano. Expect to see one of the tightest rock bands on the road today when they hit the stage in Cleveland, Hunter’s adoptive hometown. We’ve interviewed Hunter in Cleveland a couple of times, in 2012 and 2007.
CoolCleveland VIDEO interview with Ian Hunter in 2007:
CoolCleveland VIDEO interview with Ian Hunter in 2012:
York co-produced Fingers Crossed with Hunter, as he has every album since Rant, and he contributes guitar to most tracks. The band creates a muscular, controlled and heartfelt sound surrounding Hunter’s forlorn rasp. If Mott The Hoople was a shotgun wedding of a Rolling Stones soundtrack married to a Bob Dylan vocal, Hunter’s solo work maintains that delicious balance: music you can dance to, with lyrics that bring you back for more.
Ian Hunter immigrated to the United States in 1976 (referenced in his sophomore solo album, All American Alien Boy), and has lived in this country longer than his British homeland. Throughout, he’s maintained an outsider’s view of American politics and cultural foolishness. Never shy to challenge his listener, Hunter’s repertoire rewards close attention and repeated playings. Catchy rock ‘n’ roll can take on any subject under sun. And that subject can can change the more you listen.
Training his venom on American Idol-bred manufactured entertainers (“That’s When The Trouble Starts”), baring his passion for history (“Bow Street Runners”), slowing down enough to imagine walking the plank (“Fingers Crossed”), moaning about the foibles of (the music) business (“Stranded in Reality”), or basking in the redemptive power (and creative fog) of sleep (“Morpheus”), Hunter reloads a fresh reel of film for each song, projecting his fears, memories, and insights on a screen between your speakers, much like the projection on the album cover of his own image performing in concert on the rear wall, while he reclines and locks eyes with the viewer through his ever-present shades.
No doubt a repeat visitor to Cleveland’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, Hunter expresses his awe standing in his heroes’ vacated presence at Sun Studios in “Ghosts” (“All the wonders of the world/Assembled here to jam/The gang of four and plenty more/Are playin’ here for Uncle Sam”), imagining Elvis, Johnny, Jerry Lee & Carl performing for producer Sam Phillips.
But the real gem here is Hunter’s tribute to David Bowie, “Dandy,” acknowledging how “All The Young Dudes” not only saved Mott The Hoople’s fading career, but allowed Hunter to spend his life in music, and providing that necessary element, a hit song, that Hunter’s been pleased to perform at every show since it’s release. “I guess I owe you one/So thanks for the memories… They should put up a statue in Picadilly Circus.” Recalling Bowie’s glam influence and brilliance, (“My brother says you’re better than the Beatles ‘n the Stones”), Hunter credits Bowie with challenging the cultural trends by setting his own (“You beat up Goliath/You had it all/The voice, the look, the songs that shook/The gift of the gab ‘n the gall.”).
He sums things up in the closing track, “Long Time” that sums up the artist’s life and world view: “No is not an option/When your ass is on the line/I didn’t need no lawyer/I was desperate to sign…” “Be careful what you wish for/Dreams can come true”
In the end, Ian Hunter reaches up and delivers a rockin’, thought-provoking, celebratory, kick-ass soundtrack to the life of a true survivors who refuses to stand still or sit down. “I got a suitcase full of energy/I’m following the wind/Old enough to know better/Young enough to join in…”
Fingers Crossed and 30-disc retrospective Stranded In Reality are on sale now.
Ian Hunter and The Rant Band perform at The Beachland Ballroom on Fri 10/14, with a solo Tom Evanchuck opening while Dave Swanson spins tunes before and after. Tickets are available here.
http://www.BeachlandBallroom.com