[Editor's note: This story previews Sam Martin's concert at the Waiting Room tonight. Sean Pratt and Mike Schlesinger and two readings from Patrick Kinney and Gene Kwak also comprise the lineup. Cover is $5.]
by Steven Ashford
Long gone are the days when an abrasive vagabond would lug his meager lifestyle from one dusty township to the other. Topical folk songs that emulated a depraved America in the early- to mid-20th century went out with each pair of wretched knees that carried the stories of a disadvantaged perseverance.
The ideology behind classic folk, though, still manages to dimly shine a light on modern society.
“It feels like folk is dead,” says Sam Martin, as we talk from the basement of his Benson home. “So I feel like I could have a part in reviving that or find people who are up to the challenge of lifting it up to the new times.”
SONG PREMIERE
Topics such as hangmen, jalopies, dollar-a-week wages and buffalo skinners are about as relevant to us as finding an amateur submarine when they drained Echo Park Lake. It may be an intriguing tale of lore, but it's detached content that’s hard to give your full attention.
"I try to talk about things that are very here-and-now, like cell phones and technology in folk music," Martin says. "You can listen to Woody Guthrie and the ideas are there, but no one knows what a ‘schooner’ is: It’s called a 'sailboat.'"
A number of modern-day folk artists are playing it safe by hearkening back to the days of old, minimalizing the integrity of folk music by not breaking into boundaries of current and maybe controversial topics.
“Hopefully, some of my songs can rile people up,” Martin says.
Tonight, Sam Martin will play one of his first shows with a backup band that is outside the realm of Capgun Coup with a series of new, mostly unheard tracks. The concert at The Waiting Room will also be a preview for his solo album release next spring via Make Believe Records.
“These songs focus more on songwriting rather than energy, where Capgun incorporated both of those aspects,” Martin says. “It’s not a different persona, but I’m reaching out to new ideas. The vibe of Capgun is more punk rock and not so ‘self-deprecating.' I mean, there are times where my solo material is darker and times when it’s poppier, so it’s a pretty undefinable difference, but there is a difference somehow.”
Martin also feels like folk is very cinematic and his music should be paired with a visual. Literally, each song will eventually have its own corresponding visual.
Therefore, Martin gives a unique, yet uncompromising look into his presumptions of what he feels his music should resemble.
“Harrison (Martin) and I are making a video for my song ‘Bye-Bye’ in a couple days,” says Martin. “It’s going to be something weird with snow, that pig mask and I don’t know… maybe I’ll stick a needle in my penis.”
Tonight’s show at the Waiting Room will feature three musical performances from Sam Martin and his band, Sean Pratt and Mike Schlesinger, and two readings from Patrick Kinney and Gene Kwak. In Martin’s opinion, there was a reason for this particular lineup.
“I like the idea of folk music to be more in the realm of folk music rather than pop music,” Martin says. “Even though it can have pop qualities, folk music is primarily about the storytelling, lyrics and poetry. That’s why I want Mike and Sean to play because I think they’re great poets, and that’s why I want Gene and Patrick to play because I think they’re great writers.”
Martin wants people to laugh, cry, dance and be quiet. In effect, the show would play out like a movie.
“It would be like one big story time played out in reality,” Martin says.
Steven Ashford is a Hear Nebraska contributor. He is back in Omaha for the holidays, folks. Reach him at stevena@hearnebraska.org.