Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues at The Winchester

As many others growing up in the early 80s, Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite were staples of my childhood.  My earliest tv memories are of Pinwheel, David the Gnome, Count Duckula and Danger Mouse.  After a few years, I graduated to Lancelot Link, Get Smart, and The Monkees.  Thanks to the wonder of reruns, this is where my love for Peter Tork, Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith, and Davy Jones began. 

I’m the rare case of the person who was introduced to The Monkees years before I was ever introduced to the music of The Beatles.  Because of this, they always held a warmer place in my heart than the boys from Liverpool.  Of course, it was a few years before a young Amanda realized she was watching a tv show 20 years after it had originally aired, The Monkees had long parted ways, and the band had actually been cast and designed to be the pre-fab American answer to their British counterparts.  By the time I learned all of this, it was too late.  I was a ‘Believer’ (corny, right?). 

As all things go, though, I grew up.  Over time my love for The Monkees became focused on other things.  My tastes – both music and otherwise – expanded, and the over-exuberant 7 year old screaming the lyrics to Last Train to Clarksville became a fond memory.

The Monkees – well, their real-life counterparts – moved on as well.  Among them was Peter Tork.  Long before tv fame came calling, Tork was a well-respected artist in the 60’s Greenwich Village folk and blues scene known for his talents at playing a variety of instruments including bass, guitar, keyboard, banjo and french horn. Considered “The most talented Monkee” by Jimi Hendrix, he eventually left the group wanting to seek a career of greater artistic freedom.

After The Monkees, Tork continued his solo career – developing his talents and performing, writing, and recording in his own bands. In the 90s, he realized a love for the blues and formed the Shoe Suede Blues. I had discovered my own love for the blues since my childhood days of watching Tork on reruns so when I found out they’d be visiting Cleveland to perform at The Winchester, I reserved tickets immediately.

No surprise but Tork was an amazing performer – assured, confident, but also self-effacing and able to poke fun at himself, his bandmates and his former ‘band that shall not be named.’ In between songs, there was just enough banter between him and his bandmates. With camaraderie and good humor, you could tell they have fun playing together. 

I always think the band’s rapport is important when it comes to a live show (second only to the music) — but I find it’s especially important in a blues band. There can be something so heavy and engrossing about blues music that having a solid interaction between the band members — especially if they can snap into witty humor after a particularly moody piece — is an excellent complement. And from jokes about Star Trek, Dragnet (yes, another Nick at Nite favorite of mine) and existential philosophy, the Shoe Suede Blues had me laughing between songs.

In addition to the laughs, the Shoe Suede Blues put on a great show with their own original songs (loved Saved by the Blues) as well as a number of blues covers including one from legendary ‘King of the Jukebox’ Louis Jordan.  Tork didn’t disappoint either with the music that made him a household name – performing songs from his Monkees day throughout the set. My favorites were a bluesy arrangement of Last Train to Clarksville and an intense version of Stepping Stone. 

What was nice about the band’s musical dynamic was that although Tork may have the largest name presence, he didn’t commandeer the entire performance – allowing the other musicians equal attention. The audience got to also experience Tork’s versatility at guitar and keyboard as he often jumped back and forth between both of them.

It was my first time at The Winchester, which was an ideal venue for this concert.  The Shoe Suede Blues performed in the Music Hall that stretches from behind the front tavern to a stage at the back. Scott and I splurged and spent the couple extra dollars to sit in the reserved tables which are in a raised area with a more direct view of the stage.  The other seating options at the concert were rows of chairs facing the side of the stage. Either way, there was a nice vibe — it was a packed house but didn’t feel overcrowded. There’s also a tavern out front where you can get a drink and sort through boxes of old records for sale (the Tavern’s also used independently of the music hall and for smaller shows/open mic nights). 

Since it opened in Dec. 2002, The Winchester has developed a reputation as an intimate and comfortable setting for listening to a wide variety of talented musicians – they book blues, jazz, prog, fusion, rock, classic rock, alternative, rockabilly, alt-country, bluegrass and swing/big band.  A little more laid back, it reminded me a lot of The Birchmere Music Hall in Virginia. The Winchester’s recognition for best live music venue and accolades from musicians who perform there are definitely deserved. If you want to check them out, tomorrow’s concert features blue guitarist Smokin’ Joe Kubek and Bnois King at 9pm.

After the show, Tork stayed to meet the audience – from enthusiastic teenagers who recently discovered him to older fans of the original show and everyone in between. He was polite, well-spoken and patient as he took time to meet each fan, autograph cds, ticket stubs and random Monkees memorabilia – not showing signs of being exhausted after an energetic 2 hour show.  While Scott and I waited to meet Tork, my parents who were in town visiting, spoke to AJ, Shoe Suede Blues’ bassist. Not much younger than Tork, they were amazed at how the band performed such a spirited set for almost 2 hours.  Asking how they did it, AJ replied he hadn’t even noticed the time because they enjoy it that much.  They weren’t the only ones – If anyone enjoyed it more, it was the fans.

 

Peter Tork at The Winchester 411:

The Winchester

• About The Winchester
• Directions
• Concert Schedule
• @TheWinchester

Peter Tork and Shoe Suede Blues

• About Shoe Suede Blues
• About Peter Tork
• AskPeterTork.com (Peter Tork’s monthly advice column)