Thursday, July 01, 2010

THURSDAY REVERB

Are Julie and I the only Ron Sexsmith fans around here? That situation has GOT to be altered....

Friday, July 27, 2007

“These Days” / Ron Sexsmith

Yahoo!! Ron Sexsmith is going to be opening for Nick Lowe on several tour dates this fall – that’s about as good a two-for-one deal as it gets. As if I needed anything more to get psyched for seeing Nick!!

The Nick/Ron combo is a natural – both Lowe and his pal Elvis Costello are on record as Ron Sexsmith admirers – but my first taste of Ron Sexsmith was his cover of “This Is Where I Belong,” one of my favorite Kinks covers ever. Recommended by Nick, Elvis, AND Ray – that’s hitting my personal trifecta. And every Sexsmith album I’ve listened to completely lives up to its billing.



So I was already thinking about Ron Sexsmith, when the movie I was watching tonight – a 2004 Irish film called Intermission – suddenly broke into one of my favorite Sexsmith tunes, “These Days.” I knew it from the first heavy rhythmic drumbeats, and those gospel-like back-up doo-de-doos (which always remind me of “Walk On The Wild Side”); Ron’s voice is instantly recognizable, that choirboy tenor with its soulful vibrato. Given the thick Irish accents, I wasn't one-hundred percent following the movie, but when the song came on, every character was mired in romantic discouragement. What better time to hit the audience with a dose of Ron Sexsmith’s rueful charm?

“Promises are made to be broken / Haven't you heard?” he announces casually, addressing a woman he’s trying to win (or win back – it’s not clear). “He said he'd never break your heart / Now haven't you learned?" But he 's not scolding her, just sympathizing. "Oh, but love is not some popular song / Filled with empty sentiment,” he advises her. (Pretty gutsy, eh, to dismiss pop-song sentiment when you’re writing a pop song.) You can almost hear him shaking his head as he sings the chorus: “That's what passes for love / That's what passes for love / These days.” That midtempo syncopation, the easy lilting melody, make his argument seems so mellow -- well, that girl just has to listen.

It's a set-up, of course. He begins to pitch his own woo in the next verse: “It won't take a miracle, darlin' / Just keep it real.” He gives her an understanding shoulder to cry on – “I know how it feels / You took it to heart / What they said on the screen” -- then offers her an alternative: “No one can complete you or make you whole / But love will come to greet you halfway / Though the streets are never paved with gold.” And if she's got any sense, she's already relocating her affections.

Realistic advice about romance, sure, but it's anything but a downer. Sexsmith’s voice skips so warmly and affectionately from note to note, you just know things will turn out all right. He’s not blaming this woman, or pressuring her to go with him instead. He’s just going to slip his arm around her shoulder and be extremely sympathetic. And if that leads to something else…

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

hey holly, where did you see nick was playing in the fall? his website no longer appears to be functional.
mike c from the marshall website

Holly A Hughes said...

So sorry to get your hopes up, Mike -- this is a re-published post from three years ago (hence the Thursday Reverb tag). Nick's been playing a few dates around Europe this summer, but there's no word of when he'll come back to the States. I'd like to think that's because he's going into the studio to make another record, but hey, with Nick there's no guarantee even of that. [sigh]

hipster said...

I like some of Ron's albums, but I'm not a flat-out fan. I was a big fan of his Retriever album in 04, but I can only take his voice in small doses (much like Brett Dennan.)
I love this song, though

Holly A Hughes said...

More than anything else, I'm charmed by Ron's sweetness and decency -- which, from what I've heard (and from my one brief encounter with him) is totally genuine. There's not enough of that in the music world!

Anonymous said...

hey holly...a miracle...they just added nick lowe AND his band to the tarrytowm music hall schedule...saturday, october 16.. i am incredibly excited!!!

Holly A Hughes said...

YIKES!!! Thanks so much for the tip -- I got my ticket (front row!!) as soon as I read this. Life is good again!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

good stuff...so funny after i said he probably wouldn't be around for a while...last time i saw him with band was at the supper club eons ago...should be fun....mike c

Anonymous said...

ugh...just got the email from nick lowe fan club...he's playin' all over..city winery 3 nights, new jersey with graham parker...i bought tix for somerville which i am now regretting...oh well!!!

Holly A Hughes said...

Graham Parker's opening for the NJ show? Damn -- now I've got tix for Tarrytown, all 3 nights at the Winery (my current favorite venue), and I have to get NJ as well? This is killing me!