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NJBOB113
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hu. Nov. 9, 2006. | 1:34 A.m.
Bard of steeltown bars
A Pittsburgh rock warrior with ties to the Boss is bringing his mojo to T.O.
Nov. 9, 2006. 01:00 AM
GREG QUILL
ENTERTAINMENT COLUMNIST
After 25 years playing the bars and rock dives of Pittsburgh, Joe Grushecky has come to think of himself as a local landmark, a familiar part of that steeltown's tough heart.
But there's more to Grushecky than meets the eye.
The guitarist, singer and songwriter almost had it made several times during his long career. He has 13 albums to his credit from several record deals, ties with legendary rock producers Steve Cropper and Ian Hunter, and a Rolling Stone quote naming him and his former band, the Iron City Houserockers, "a new American classic."
And the mojo's still working. Grushecky, who returns to a Toronto stage for the first time in 25 years tomorrow night at the Cadillac Lounge on Queen St. W. (tickets $10), had another close brush with the Big Time recently, via a collaboration with long-time music buddy Bruce Springsteen.
Their song "Code of Silence," culled from the Boss's reunion tour with the E-Street Band, appeared as a live cut on the 2003 Essential Bruce Springsteen album and wound up winning Springsteen a Grammy.
"I've been playing the Jersey shore since the late 1970s, and after (guitarist) Steve Van Zandt worked on one of our recordings, he started to bring Bruce to our shows," Grushecky said in a phone interview.
The son of a coal miner, Grushecky has a degree in special education and holds down a day gig teaching emotionally disturbed teenagers at a Pittsburgh school.
"Bruce became a fan and produced our album American Babylon in the mid-1990s he even played lead guitar and sang on the sessions, and then went on an eight-day tour with us.
"We still work together from time to time. We helped raise a quarter of a million dollars for victims of the 2004 Pittsburgh flood at a relief concert that sold out in less than an hour."
At 57, Grushecky still plays between five and 10 gigs a month, but rarely outside home turf. His last show in these parts was at the El Mocambo circa 1980.
"I don't have the freedom to hit the road," he said. "At a certain age, and with a family and a demanding kind of job, you have responsibilities."
His Toronto show is a credit to the persistence of Caddy owner Sam Grosso, known for his passion for vintage and roots music.
"Sam came down to Pittsburgh for the flood relief concert and I guess he liked what he saw," Grushecky said. "We started talking about Toronto, but I wanted to wait till I had some new music to play."
That condition was taken care of with the recent independent release (go to grushecky.com) of A Good Life, which features four cuts with Springsteen and a studio version of "Code of Silence."
"I was always a band guy," Grushecky said, "but in the last few years I've been branching out, playing solo and with different guys who know my stuff but don't play it the same way every time. It's very liberating."
Much of his raw lyrical material comes from the streets where he grew up and where he's now helping troubled adolescents find their way.
"I never intended to become a teacher," said Grushecky, who has a son, 18, and daughter, 20. "My father was determined that I would have an education, and I took special ed. on a whim. I was cut out for it, I guess.
"I've had some tremendously moving moments as a teacher. A lot of former students have told me I changed their lives. Others, I think, are just keeping company with me till they go to jail. Some kids are harder than others, and I've always taught the most difficult and needy."
It's challenging work, he admits. But at the end of the day, it's music that fills his soul.
"If it came to a choice, I'd take music every time."
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9 November 2006 - NJ
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Mrs. G
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Hey Steve, just wanted to let u know how great that video is. You took me back to the days when Joe & I were dating. That was a long time ago! Johnny was going crazy when he saw it. Thanks for giving alot of Joe's new & young fans a chance to see how it all evolved.
8 November 2006 - South Hills
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ZEKE
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Jesus does condone homosexuality. That's why he made gay people.
"I'm straight - not narrow."
8 November 2006 - Blue Country
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DannyG
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Flatbroke,
Thanks for finding a way to include me in the Jr.s Bar Video. I'm honored! What a great job.
8 November 2006
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Flatbroke Productions
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Special treat for everyone. I just finished work on a video for Junior's Bar. For those of you wanting to see some really cool vintage ICHR footage, you'll love this! Copy/Paste this youtube link in your browser.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flSlch8MEgw
Hope you like it. Let me know what you think. We have many more videos coming soon so stay tuned!!!11
8 November 2006 - Columbus,OH
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DannyG
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Mmmm beer. Finally back to the important stuff. Maybe the radio ads will get back to important stuff now like feminine hygiene and erectile dysfunction.
I can't wait tp play some music again!
8 November 2006
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Pittsburgh Brewer
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Here, Here! Boycott Coors!
8 November 2006 - Lawrenceville
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Mike
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I agree with Jimmy's comments about Coors Light. IC Light is a better beer, and it keeps local people working. Why should we support Coors? It's not even that great of a beer.
8 November 2006 - Greenfield
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Mr. Positive
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Hey Mr.Negative,
Next thing you will tell us is that there isn't a Santa Claus!
Merry Christmas to all!
8 November 2006 - North Pole
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Jimmy
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I'd rather drink Schlitz than Coors Light. No wonder Pittsburgh Brewing is going under...Everyone drinking Coors. I say we get on the bandwagon and promote IC Light. Made by Steeler fans, in Pittsburgh, instead of some crap made by some Bronco fans in Denver, owned by Pete Coors, the Country's biggest Republican backer! There, I'm done!
8 November 2006
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