'Loud and Rich' tour sets sights on Glen Ellyn
Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson are currently conducting their first full-fledged "attack" on North America with a tour of intimate venues, which brings them to the McAninch Arts Center of the College of DuPage Saturday.
Aptly named the Loud & Rich Tour, the two singer-songwriter-guitarists have built a cult following since the late 1960s as master performers with a somewhat quirky sense of humor. These particular dates have flown under the radar, except to fans, with the reward being solo and duo sets using only acoustic wooden guitars.
"I first saw Loudon about 20 years ago at Austin's Cactus Cafe in Texas," said Stephen Cummins, the MAC's director. "Gone are the days when you're going to hear Loudon in a 150-seat room, but the intimate 800 seats of the MAC are pretty good. His funny and poignant songs speak to audiences, and Richard is obviously a guitar legend."
Thompson first rose to prominence with Fairport Convention, leading Rolling Stone magazine to name him one of the Top 20 guitar players of all time. His solo career, and with former wife Linda, produced hits like "Tear Stained Letter," "Shoot Out The Lights," "Calvary Cross" and "Jerusalem On The Jukebox."
Wainwright recently took home the award for the best traditional folk category with "High, Wide, and Lonesome: The Charlie Poole Project" at the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards. A fixture on the folk circuit, Wainwright first won popular acclaim back in 1972, with the year's best known radio staple, "Dead Skunk." It led to three appearances on TV's "M*A*S*H" as the "singing surgeon" Capt. Calvin Spaulding.
In 2004, Martin Scorsese tabbed Loudon and his musically well-known offspring, Rufus and Martha, for singing roles during the nightclub sequences in his film, "The Aviator."
Sequestered somewhere on the road, Loudon Wainwright discussed the tour and some other topics via e-mail. Here is an edited transcript:
Q. What prompted the tour?A. We've known each other for over 30 years now, and have toured before in Japan and Australia. It just seemed like the time was right to conquer North America.Q. You usually pull surprises, what's planned for the McAninch show?A. Basically, the plan is to go out, sing, and play some songs, separately and together. Hopefully, that will be special enough for the good people.Q. WXRT-FM championed your music in the early 1970s, and brought you many times to Chicago. Any special memories of the area? A. Last fall, we did a one-off "Loud Rich" show at the Vic Theater, right around the corner from where the Quiet Knight (later Tut's Nightclub) used to be on West Belmont Avenue. I had a wonderful lunch at Ann Sather's, just a few doors down. That show (and being back there) stands out so far ... it made my day.Q. What guitars and tunings are you using?A. Just my Martin D-28 in regulation tuning.Q. Regarding your songwriting, you have a tune that weaves together themes like the lost meaning of Christmas, neglected AIDS patients, no parking spaces at the mall, shopping woes ... a genius piece of irony, all in five minutes. It's a bit more than "Dead Skunk," and you're able to get the message across ... how do you get away with it?A. The name of the song is "Christmas Morning." I'm pleased ... not sure what you mean by "get away with it." It's my job to "get away with it." Of course, I'm extremely lucky to have such rewarding work. And remember, there are Moms out there who love "Dead Skunk."Q. I have to ask. What's your favorite color?A. It's a secret. <p class="factboxheadblack">Loudon Wainwright III and Richard Thompson</p><p class="News"><b>When:</b> 8 p.m. Saturday, April 17</p><p class="News"><b>Where:</b> McAninch Arts Center of College of DuPage, Falwell and Park Boulevards, Glen Ellyn</p><p class="News"><b>Tickets:</b> $40 for main floor. Call (630) 942-4000 or go to <a href="http://www.cod.edu/ArtsCntr" target="new">www.cod.edu/ArtsCntr</a>.</p>