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A folk singer at heart, McGuinn still pickin' away

By Mark Brown, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)

Published November 6, 2008 at 7 p.m.

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Roger McGuinn

Roger McGuinn

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Roger McGuinn simply never goes away. Whether it's his Byrds classics, his dozens of free songs on the Internet or his appearance in the recent Tom Petty documentary, he's had a 40-plus-year career and is still active, recording, playing and respected by his musical peers.

This weekend he's playing shows for Acoustic Alley, a nonprofit music organization that books shows into Miner's Alley, an intimate room in Golden where it feels as if the musicians are in your living room.

Rocky music writer Mark Brown talked to McGuinn before his visit.

During this political season, what's the reaction to your songs?

When I sing Turn, Turn, Turn and get to the last line, "A time for peace / I swear it's not too late," there's usually a cheer from the audience. I don't do a lot of so-called protest songs, but that one really resonates with people right now. I did it a few months ago with Bruce Springsteen at an arena. We thought that would be the appropriate song to do.

How did that come about?

I got an e-mail from Little Steven (Van Zandt) first, and he said they were going to be in town ... We were just going to observe, hang out backstage and say "hi." But when we got there, Bruce said, "Hey, you gotta do something," so we decided to do Turn, Turn, Turn. (You can see the performance of Turn, Turn, Turn at youtube.com/watch?v=ftEnlS _ljx8)

Not many artists do that.

Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen both have a lot of courage. They're not afraid to try stuff. That was great. I enjoyed that. It was like the old days when Dylan would be in town and you'd bump into him and he'd say, "Hey, you gotta get up and do some songs." I do that with John Sebastian from time to time. We get on the same bill and do some songs together.

Do you see that sensibility in younger artists? Eddie Vedder has jumped on stage with Neil Young, The Who and Tom Petty.

The ones who really know how to play music (do it), as opposed to the one that got worked on in the computer in the studio. There's a dividing line between real musicians and the people who know how to work midi programs. It's the real musicians who enjoy expressing themselves, getting up and improvising. Wilco comes to mind. Jeff Tweedy's like that. I jammed with them and, boy, they're rock solid to play with. Really a great band.

Tell me about the evolution of your Folk Den project.

The Folk Den started in November 1995, 13 years ago. The reason for it was, I was listening to a Smithsonian Folkways traditional album, and I'm not hearing a lot of these traditional songs anymore. The new folk singers are singer-songwriters. There's more money in it if you write your own stuff, the publishing and the writing royalties. I thought, "What's gonna happen to these great old songs in 20, 30 years when all the old folk singers die off?" The Internet was going and I was into it. I knew how to record stuff and put it up for free downloads. I thought, "What a great way to publish them around the world for free." I started doing one a month. I just put one up today. Haven't missed one for 13 years ... I kinda reinvented myself not so much as a rock 'n' roller as a folk singer, which I've always been underneath the hood. I'm getting on and I think it's more dignified to be a folk singer now.

So you don't have a problem with giving your work away?

I'm pro-Internet and pro peer-to- peer. I think it's a great method of distribution. On radio (back in the old days), you listen to the songs free, and if you want you buy something ... Now you give 'em one thing and sell 'em something else. That's the new business model.

Any chance of a Byrds reunion?

David Crosby would like to do it. Chris Hillman can go one way or another on it. I'm kinda against it. I don't like the dinosaurs-on-parade thing. I'd like to be a folk singer now.

Mark Brown is the popular music critic. Brownm@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2674

Roger McGuinn

* When and where: 2 p.m. Sunday and 7:30 p.m. Monday, Miners Alley Playhouse, 1224 Washington St., Suite 200, Golden

* Cost: a few remaining at $40 advance, $45 day of show

* Information: 720-870-0397, acousticalley.org

Comments

  • November 7, 2008

    2:28 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    bilco writes:

    If you've never seen Roger McGuinn and you grab one of the few remaining tickets for Monday Night, I guarantee this will be the BEST concert you've ever seen!

    I'll never forget Roy Orbison came to Denver to the Paramount Theatre and I thought..."ahhh I'll see him another time"...well it was just months before his death. Not seeing him perform has haunted me ever since.

    I'm telling you, if you're into the Byrds, McGuinn, Dylan et al, get yourself a ticket, if it's not the BEST concert you've ever seen, I'll reimburse you for the cost of your ticket(s).

    Fair 'nuff?

    "Wild" Bill Cody

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