John Ford: Dinner & A Show by Judi Cuervo
JOHN FORD
Sometimes we Strawbs fans think of the band as our private domain, a musical refuge shared only by the group of dedicated followers we’ve seen at shows over the years, each of whom we know by name.
And then something happens that makes us realize that Strawbs’ music reaches far beyond our own little universe. Like a few weeks ago, while having dinner with John Ford at a little out-of the-way restaurant in Locust Valley, New York, when someone I’d never seen before recognized him and approached the table to chat with him and express appreciation for his music.
I met up with John to discuss his role in the upcoming Strawbs 50th Anniversary Weekend that will take place on April 26-29, 2019 at The Strand Theater in Lakewood, NJ. Perhaps it was a bit premature.
“It’s so far away!” said John. “I’ll start getting excited after Christmas.”
But with the first-ever live performance of Grave New World making headlines as one of the most highly-anticipated aspects of the event, it wasn’t difficult for John to cast his mind back to 1971 and the album that many consider to be Strawbs’ masterpiece, recorded at Morgan Studios in London, a studio used by many of the most influential British bands of the 1960s and 1970s including The Kinks, Pink Floyd, Paul McCartney, and Jethro Tull.
“I was still living at home at that time,” recalls John. “Rick Wakeman had just left the band and Blue Weaver came in. Blue had big shoes to fill replacing Rick but we all loved him immediately. He was full of great stories, had been in a very successful band (Amen Corner) and I think he really contributed enormously to the sound of the whole album.”
John’s “Heavy Disguise” was among the album’s most popular tracks. “It was inspired by a huge anti-Viet Nam War protest in London and it was, in truth, an effort by me to do something similar to what Dave Cousins was doing with songs like “New World” and its commentary on the troubles in Northern Ireland. I had envisioned it as a simple production but Dave suggested that Robert Kirby provide a string arrangement and that’s what you hear on the album.”
Strawbs’ 50th Anniversary Weekend will be the third such celebration John’s been a part of—the 40th in Twickenham and the 30th in Chiswick being the others. While he enjoyed playing both, he still fondly recalls the 30th as the most magical: “It was outdoors around a lake, the weather was perfect, and every lineup performed.”
Perhaps the reason John can’t yet get excited about Strawbs’ 50th Anniversary weekend is that he has his own, more immediate schedule of musical commitments between now and April 2019. A Long Island, New York resident for the past 32 years, John and his band, which includes his tremendously talented son, John Jr., frequently play clubs and events throughout the New York City area and a September 27th gig at New York’s Triad Theater was the latest one.
The Triad is an intimate off-Broadway theater that has hosted performances by Martin Short, Greg Allman, Bob Weir, Tracey Morgan, Slash and more. Lady Gaga made her professional debut on the Triad’s stage as part of the Circle in the Square Cabaret Program and the venue was the original home of four of the most successful shows in off-Broadway History: Forbidden Broadway, Forever Plaid, Spamilton and Celebrity Autobiography.
But on September 27th, it was John Ford who was the draw, supported by Ian Lloyd of Stories who performed an acoustic set of Beatles’ tunes and original songs accompanied by bongo player John Ihle and, on guitar, Lloyd’s son David.
After Lloyd’s short set, John, wearing a navy and red striped tee beneath a plaid shirt (seriously…only John can make stripes and plaid work together), black pants and fire engine red sneakers, took the stage with his band (John Cardone, bass; John Ford Jr., lead guitar; Richie Shapiro, drums), kicking off with Hudson Ford’s Burn Baby Burn and continuing with a delightful mixture of original material, Strawbs’ favorites and Beatles classics. John Jr. contributed a rocking lead guitar, a powerful rendition of “That’s Alright Mama” and, on the Beatles’ “This Boy,” some lovely harmony along with strong vocals on the song’s challenging third verse.
With Ian Lloyd in the house and his and John’s friendship dating back years, it wasn’t surprising that John invited Ian and his son back on stage to belt out Stories’ 1970s smash hit “Brother Louie” and rock along with the band until the evening’s final song: “Part of the Union.”
Maybe it’s too early for John to start getting excited about Strawbs’ 50th Anniversary Weekend at The Strand Theater in April 2019 but after seeing him live the other day, it’s definitely not too early for me.
JOHN FORD/TRIAD THEATER SET LIST:
Burn Baby Burn
Touched By the Sun
Somewhere Down the Line
This Boy
Heavy Disguise
New World: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVJs666An_M&feature=youtu.be
Acoustic Sunrise
Brother Louie (Ian Lloyd on vocals)
That’s Alright (John Jr. on Vocals)
Nice Legs, Shame About the Face
If I Needed Someone
Part of the Union
