I was thinking the other day that the singer-songwriter is probably the most polarizing figure in rock today. Follow me on this.... Certain songwriters are revered for their brute honesty and vulnerability. Words like "genius" and "spokesperson of our generation" often sprout in conversation, tossed around at will by every fan within earshot. These are the Cass McCombs and the Connor Obersts. The funny thing is this though: if you don't like Connor or Cass, it isn't just that you don't like them. You HATE them. A critic can and will find any number of reasons to question their authenticity, rip apart their lyrics or just poke fun at the fact that their Smiths' cover was stupid. There are no fence sitters when you mention Bright Eyes. Only the fans and the not fans.
I consider myself a fan of Jesse Malin. Most of my friends do not. One thing is undeniable: Jesse embodies that love em or hate em aesthetic that polarizes us music nerds. Put him on a pedestal or shove him in the poo pit, because there's very little middle ground. Here's my argument why Jesse is awesome and why you should go see him tonight
First of all his latest release, Love it to Life, with his new band the St. Marks Social, is killer. If you love Bruce Springsteen, Americana-flavored rock'n'roll or 70's style choruses, consider this an endorsement. Some albums don't leave your players for weeks. This was one of them. Secondly, he's one of the greatest live aurators in the game today. Jesse doesn't just play songs. He has full discussions with the audience, tells jokes, and entertains stories, like what it was like to meet Bruce Springsteen, and growing up as a teenager in the Bowery of NYC. (Fun fact: For those that don't know, Jesse was in what's considered to be one of the very first hardcore punk bands in NYC- Heart Attack). His stories are worth the price of admission alone. This is a guy who has seen and done things, fingers dipped in many pools.
So head on out tonight! You might just be surprised by how much fun this show is. Hopefully you'll be inspired. Jesse plays at Mohawk Place. Doors at 8pm and the shows $12.
Burning The Bowery - Jesse Malin by daniel.missingpiece
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