The Autumn Blues

Just a quick one this week…

You all know Jon Langford, right? Punk legend of Mekons fame who plunked himself down in Chicago nearly twenty years ago and started up a whole new career as a high-quality cowpunk purveyor? Milwaukee should be his home away from home (away from home, cuz he’s Welsh). Does he ever play Milwaukee? Somebody tell me cuz I don’t know. I rarely get out. Boo.

If he does come to Milwaukee, you should go see him, whether he’s coming as a Mekon, a Waco Brother, the rhinestone-encrusted dood leading Skull Orchard, the partner of the endlessly charming Sally Timm, or just showing up as himself. Jon Langford is a skilled storyteller, and Old Devils, his latest pile-o-toonz done with Skull Orchard, is loaded with ‘em. Last week, I yapped enthusiastically in this space about Nick Cave’s aggressive advance into middle age with Grinderman. Old Devils is centered around the age theme as well, but Langford’s take on time and tide is much more grounded in subtlety.

Lemme put it this way: Grinderman 2 makes you want to find a village to pillage, but Langford’s Old Devils is all about reflection and, to some extent, resignation. The seasonal timing of this release could not be better — who doesn’t stop and reflect as the glorious green that surrounds us withers and is eventually stripped bare? Only children who don’t yet understand and the soulless, that’s who.