Clarence Greenwood (aka Citizen Cope) and I go way back. Since he emerged, I’ve been a huge fan of his positive message and simply beautiful songs. He’s one of those musicians that you can set times in your life by, and I’ve been unable not to.
I had the fortune of living in London, for about a year and a half, and whilst there caught him a few times. The first time I set out on my own to explore my new habitat, made the show at The 100 Club, and was outside getting some fresh air when, low and behold, here comes the man himself. It was 2008, he hadn’t quite taken the world by storm, and he had the fortune of making my acquaintance. We chatted about being Americans briefly, but he was really curious as to the latest revisions in London law which may, or may have not, permitted the smoking of other substances than tobacco in public. Now, I didn’t know such specifics but was able to give some heeded advice as the band set out to rock the evening with some of the early classics. Since, I’ve had the fortune of seeing numerous other times and he never fails to deliver.
In support of his latest album ‘One Lovely Day’ Cope graces our presence at Headliners tomorrow. This latest album delivers Cope’s style in standard fashion and the songs on the new album are solid, but I honestly hope they expose a new crowd to his earlier work which is a bit more earnestly raw. Either way highly recommend all around.
Unfortunately if you don’t have tickets, it’s time to get creative as it’s sold out. In fact at this very moment, I need a ticket so somebody holla atcha boy.
Photo Credit (Bowery Ballroom, NYC, 2010): Heather Colmar (punishment for thievery is a series of Tribeca spin classes, with a side leg busting, out followed by Chipotle for breakfast)