Dems in the Hizzouse, yeah!…
The reigning voice of the bohemian Left in Chicago is an European immigrant with a passion for anarchy and “Radio Hour” sheet music. Sounds timeless but that’s Chicago; where there’s still a well-oiled Daley machine in the Mayor’s seat, Jesse Jackson can still be found at the Russian Baths on Division, Buddy Guy is still gladly robbing Blues fanatics in the South Loop, gangs still control the illegal substances racket with big cars and guns, and here is where hot dogs never go out of style. Yes that’s right hot dogs, talking about Jon Langford, best known (I suppose) as the leader of the late 70′s Welsh art-punk band the Mekons, although a couple of few generations may know him best for his alt-country work with the Waco Brothers, the Pine Valley Cosmonauts or his collaboration with Richard Buckner. Little teeny weeny music fans may know him for his children’s music project the Hairy Beasties- them recently shared the stage with Jeff Tweedy’s son (who at the age of 9 is already a jaded rock star). Or geez, maybe you know Langford for his work on This American Life – the episode where he forms a One-Day band from Chicago Reader Musician Ads is one of my all time favs. Or maybe you know Jon Langford for his visual art which has brought him fame in the Fine Arts arena.
If you live in Chicago you might be getting pretty bloody sick of hearing about Mr. Jon Langford, the Welsh Fart. He does appear to be everywhere. Even if you’re not in Chicago, Langford’s passion for things country might sound tiresome. I certainly respect his choices in country style – he’s a big fan of Bob Wills and of Honky Tonks. Dear Jon, sorry but I still like you best for your work with the Mekons. It ain’t because I’m afraid of change. Going on four decades the Mekons, Welsh art students turned musicians (turned artists), are still at it. They’ve produced some of their best work in recent years. Two Mekons concerts remain my favorite live shows since I’ve been in Chicago. If you haven’t checked them out, I suggest picking up a copy of Fear and Whiskey however that album doesn’t have Sally Timms who is a great addition so you better pick up United as well (you can download United but if you can find it get the full package which contains a Mekons art book). Whether you like any of Jon Langford’s creative projects or not, his expansive ever-changing and always experimental career is still impressive.
Jon Langford wears his politics on his sleeve, in his art, and through his music. He’ll be the first to tell you that art doesn’t change opinion, it merely reflects it. That being said, Jon Langford is politically influential. I recall reading a New Yorker article a few years back (my apologies for the vagueness of this recollection) about the Speaker of the House, Dennis Hastert. It was a humanizing piece that revealed a certain almost socialist influence on the speaker largely through his son who mentions admiring Jon Langford while coming of age in the Chicago area in the 90′s. An even better example -> the Pine Valley Cosmonauts put out an anti-death penalty album (the Executioner’s Last Song) the same year that Illinois Governor George Ryan suspended the Death Penalty. I’m not saying Langford had anything to do with the latter occurrence but I am saying Langford had anything to do with the latter occurrence. By the way, I strongly suggest that my Texas brethren put Deadline in their NetFlix queue. Deadline is a documentary about the dramatic events that led to a Republican governor revoking the death penalty (prompted by a student class project at Northwestern University that revealed the flaws in the State’s Capital Punishment System). Anyway I digress…hats off to Jon Langford. We need men like Jon more than ever. Go Lieberman!, oh wait Lieberman, Go suck a dick!
