Music Preview: Jonathan Richman Is Gonna Rock, Rock, Rock Nonstop Tonight (And Tomorrow)

Jonathan Richman is many things to many people. To the casual observer, he's the upbeat and silly troubadour featured in There's Something About Mary and on Conan O'Brien. For music nerds, he's the architect of "Roadrunner," a three-chord classic that is sometimes referred to as the first punk song. David Bowie covers his tunes, Lou Reed considers him a friend, and legions of indie-rockers were inspired by him. But none of this truly gives you a sense of what Jonathan Richman is all about.

The beauty of Richman's music lies in the honesty, enthusiasm, and simplicity it contains. He writes about ice cream trucks, dinosaurs, and heading to a weekend in Reno in a manner that makes you cheer for his cause - because he's really excited! And it's going to be incredible! His eclectic back catalog includes love songs, novelties, Spanish ballads, and even an entertaining country album. Live, he forgoes a full band, using only a drummer to accompany his songs and playing. His consistent touring has led to a large cult fan base, who will undoubtedly fill both of this week's low-key shows.

Jonathan Richman plays the raucous Continental Club tonight and the much quieter Cactus Cafe tomorrow. Afterwards, perhaps the audience can talk him into going dancing (see the video after the jump).

Jonathan Richman
Monday, February 26th
The Continental Club [map]
8pm
$10 at the door

Tuesday, February 27th
Cactus Cafe [map]
8:30pm
$10 at the door

[Jonathan Richman Label Site]

Image via Swearing Librarian on Flickr.