more Spring 2008 European tour dates

From Jonathan Richman officially-unofficial on MySpace:

Fri May 02 Toulouse, France Theatre Garonne
Fri May 09 London, England Shepherd's Bush Empire
Sat May 10 Dublin, Ireland Whelans
Sun May 11 Belfast, Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival
Mon May 12 Galway, Ireland Roisin Dubh

Confirm with venue before making travel plans

Because Her Beauty Is Raw & Wild

*Thanks to Alberto for the Photo*

A poster for Jonathan's next CD... anyone know anything about it... release date, etc?

Note from rb: we're keeping this post near the top of the blog until we find out more!

UPDATE:

"Although there’s scant info to be found online—as his label’s website vaporrecords.com states, “Jonathan Richman… does not participate in the Internet on any level”—the legendarily quirky songwriter and former Modern Lover is releasing a new album and hitting the road soon. According to Richman’s publicist, his 21st full-length, Because Her Beauty Is Raw And Wild, is coming out “on either March 25 or April 8,” and he’ll be trekking across the country with his guitar, his deadpan drummer Tommy Larkins, and dance moves that’ll make your head spin. Fellow songsmith Vic Chesnutt will open for Richman on a chunk of the tour"

via A.V. club

thanks chimaerandi!

Vapor Records: Jonathan and Tommy Larkins have just completed a brand new album, Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild. The album will be in stores in March!!! Jonathan will of course return to the road in support of the new album.

UPDATE:

Amazon.comand Barnes & Noble are showing April 8 and April 22, respectively, as release dates.

Brooklyn welcomes Jonathan Richman

Photo: Ryan Dombal

March 4 & 5, Music Hall of Williamsburg

Looking as though he’d just flown in from Ibiza, Richman shimmied his way through the first of two sold-out shows at the Music Hall of Williamsburg, racking up yuks and dusting off numbers culled from his many solo adventures as well as from his days as a Modern Lover. After one uncomfortably enthusiastic female fan was escorted someplace else for punctuating the first quarter-hour of Richman’s acoustic work (including a not quite appropriate “Springtime in New York”) with love shouts, another chided him shortly thereafter for the lack of love en español. [more]

Jonathan Richman Overwhelms the Ladies at First of Two Shows via New York Magazine

...last night I saw Jonathan Richman performing in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. A sold out venue, a good atmosphere and great sound. Tommy Larkins providing accompaniment on the drums. It had been a mild day in the city, around 55-60F, and I'd noticed that, weirdly, there was still the odd pile of snow hanging around from last week... so it was neat when Jojo made the same observation in an extended version of 'Springtime In New York', a song that unsurprisingly went down well with the locals. Jonathan was more relaxed than I've ever seen him before and it looked like he was really enjoying the show. Bizarrely though, after a fun set, he left everyone with a slow, moving song about his mother dying in a care home! Jaws could be heard dropping throughout the hall... When he'd finished the last note Jonathan told us that this tale should'nt be thought of as something sad but rather as a beautiful thing. If only we could all view the world through Jojo's eyes. [more]

Springtime in New York: Almost via Get On the Beam

You might recognize these guys from the movie "There's Something About Mary" as the singing duo that hangs out in trees, in front of buildings and all sorts of odd locations whenever something odd happens throughout the film.

It has probably been 10 years (give or take) since I last saw that movie, but Jonathan has lost none of his vigor or talent.

There were a number of songs dedicated to artists, like Vermeer, Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso (my favorite). He was also adept at singing songs in multiple languages (Spanish, Hebrew, Italian and English). It was pretty awesome all the way around.

Its not just his virtuosity that rocks, its his storytelling capability. Jonathan crafts the oddest descriptions of events to make us (the audience) understand where he is coming from. [more]

Jonathan Richman: Funny and Lyrical via Hansen Report

This is now the 4th time I've seen Richman, and, though it was unquestionably entertaining, it did remind me of the perils of seeing any artist you love in New York. First of all, it was in Williamsburg, which meant I had to deal with a bunch of rich, skinny hipsters that all looked like they were about 17 years old (you know, not to generalize or anything). I'm only in my mid-twenties, but does that already make me too old for this neighborhood? It certainly felt that way at times. [more+setlist]

Jonathan Richman at the Music Hall of Williamsburg via Better Chatter

It is fine by me if Jonathan Richman never plays anything larger than the Music Hall of Williamburg; it was like having a longtime friend come back from a trip abroad and recount stories of loves found and lost in the museums and cafes of...well, yes you get the idea. [more]

His Mystery Not of High Heels via Things Found in the Sea

more photos at Flickr:
Dan Patterson's pix of Jonathan Richman and Vic Chesnutt

Matt Gonzalez in the News

In 2003, Jonathan Richman fought hard for the Matt Gonzalez mayoral campaign. He co-headlined a benefit concert at the Great American Music Hall, he marched in rallies (see photo), and he sang away our collective sorrows at Doc's Clock after Matt's eleventh-hour defeat.

Last week, announcement of Green Party presidential candidate Ralph Nader's selection of Gonzalez as his running mate rocked (or maybe didn't rock) the political landscape here in San Francisco. With progressives roundly backing Barack Obama, the fear is that Nader and Gonzalez, in their quest to trumpet electoral reform and other issues, could siphon votes needed to ensure a Democratic victory come the general election in November. Progressives must decide between a "symbolic" vote for Nader/Gonzalez, or a vote for the Democrats (and against what they see as the fear, loathing and warmongering that is the John McCain campaign).

The question is, what would Jonathan do? As far as I know, Jonathan is a true progressive's progressive, so it would be interesting to see how he fields this curve ball.

[Photo by Friends of the San Francisco Public Library]

possible songs on Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild

These songs are possibly on the new cd, Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild:

(random order- exact tracklist unknown as of now)

Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild
Our Party Will Be On the Beach Tonight
Es Como El Pan
This Romance Will Be Different For Me
Time Has Been Going By So Fast
Our Party Will Be On the Beach Tonight
Le Printemps Des Amoreux Est Venue
When We Refuse to Suffer
No One Was Like Vermeer
Older Girl
Old World
Here It Is (Leonard Cohen)
??? and another song ???

Amazon is saying this about the new release:

Richman is one of modern music's most original artists, and quite possibly the friendliest, most sincere live performer on the face of the earth. This is his fifth release on Vapor, and his first new album in three years. Features eleven new tracks, plus a new version of "Old World" and a Leonard Cohen cover, "Here It Is". Vinyl version features bonus track on a 7-inch single. Look for Richman and drummer Tommy Larkins on their US tour starting February 25.

Thanks Jerry, and WUOG!

Her Beauty ... bonus

Has anybody found the song list of new Jojo album ?
Anyway, better buy the LP version featuring a bonus track

Jonathan Bonanza on MetaFilter

Yesterday, MetaFilter user y2karl, in honor of springtime, compiled a short list of fab Jonathan videos.

Link.

(Thanks, Malcolm M.)

Jonathan Richman and a Janitor Walk Into a Bar

image: Medialoper

Podcast (no longer exists): Jonathan Richman and Modern Lover Brennan Totten are interviewed by CSU Fresno custodian Big Jim Hunsicker in 1987 for cable television- this is a link to the audio portion; apparently a video exists as well.

Includes songs performed by Jonathan and Brennan: I'm a Little Dinosaur, UFO Man, Now Is Better Than Before, and Chewing Gum Wrapper

via Kirk Biglione at Medialoper