Reminds me of a Baker’s Dozen. January 18th will be the Baker’s-Dozenth time John McCutcheon has sung “in concert” at St. James’. And, if you’re counting his visits, it will be the fourteenth time has he visited St. James’, the last time to pay homage to the hundredth anniversary of Joe Hill’s death. The actual anniversary of the labor activist’s death was November 19, 1915. John recently performed the play “Joe Hill’s Last Will” on that date in 2015 in the place Joe was executed, Salt Lake City. But, as the song alludes, labor activists say his memory never did die.
John McCutcheon’s 2016 Left Coast Tour will end with his concert at St. James’ on January 18, one of only three concerts this year in the Bay Area, the others in Walnut Creek and Berkeley.
What will John sing for us on January 18? You might remember 
from last Martin Luther King Monday that he sang songs new, old, traditional, newly written, some not yet recorded (Je Suis Charlie, Burger King). He sang your requests including Leviathan, Happy Adoption Day, Immigrant – accompanied by himself on piano, guitar, banjo, hammer dulcimer, etc. Back to the question, what will he sing for you this year? Traditional folk songs, newly penned songs, protest songs, songs preceded by stories that make the songs all that much more relevant? The answer is yes to all of those, but how many will he sing that you never heard before? How many old songs do you want to hear again? Do you want to sink your teeth into that Krispy Kreme? John’s “Ode…” makes one desire that delicious pastry. At the concert you will find out.
Is John McCutcheon a Pete Seeger, a Woody Guthrie? As a folk singer he stands on their shoulders and thrives in their tradition. Did they write “Christmas in the Trenches?” John wrote it. As a master musician he even conducts songwriting workshops. Does he leave the stage making you feel uplifted? Yes!
Join us in the “Club Saint J” on Monday, January 18 at 7:30 PM to listen to John McCutcheon. Tickets are $27 for adults, $15 for children 6 to 12, 5 years and under for free. For more information see www.saintj.com. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Abode Services (working to end homelessness in our communities). There will be a prize drawing with the winners announced at the show’s intermission. Of course John’s music will be available for sale during and after the concert as well. For more about John see www.folkmusic.com.
~ Bruce Roberts