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Put Down Your Cigarette and Go See Jonathan Richman!
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6…Former Modern Lover Jonathan Richman is in love with the old world, and apparently the city of Toronto. Richman will take up a three-night residency at Queen St’s Lula Lounge beginning on Monday, Nov. 8. The notoriously unpredictable rock’n’roller will play back-to-back-to-back shows promoting his new album, Not So Much To Be Loved But To Love.
For those unfamiliar with Richman’s oeuvre, the eccentric cult figure came to prominence with his seminal 1976 band The Modern Lovers. Their one and only release, the influential The Modern Lovers LP, has been featured in movies like Repo Man and School of Rock and has been covered by everyone from David Bowie to Sloan. The song “Roadrunner”, in which Richman famously counts to six to start the song, was in fact the first song ever to be recorded by the Sex Pistols. Adding insult to influence, The Modern Lovers included Jerry Harrison (later of the Talking Heads) and David Robinson (later with the Cars). Richman himself had a moderately successful solo career, most notably appearing in the Ben Stiller film There’s Something About Mary. Not that Ben Stiller is all that funny or anything, it’s just the most exposure Richman has ever gotten (even though he has released over 20 albums). Richman also goes to bakeries all day long when there is a lack of sweetness in his life.
If you are looking for an introduction to the genius of Mr Richman, the Torontoist recommends picking up the Modern Lovers CD, or listening to our favourite Richman songs, “Abdul and Cleopatra”, “I Was Dancing in a Lesbian Bar”, or “Ice Cream Man”. The Torontoist also promises a review for at least one of Richman’s upcoming Toronto shows.