Dr. John Cooper Clarke makes an NYC house call

Think you're a UK punk fan?  You know the Pistols, Clash and all those legends but one unique chap stood among them- a poet who performed on the same stages as these bands of the time and even recorded with members of the Buzzcocks and the Fall among others.  Manchester's John Cooper Clarke did solo readings also, bringing his cheeky and punky style to the Brit masses.  Though his recording career ended around 1982, crate diggers are advised to find 1978's Disguise In Love and 1980's Snap, Crackle and Bop.  In 2007, he would make a cameo as himself in the film Control, which chronicles Joy Division and singer Ian Curtis (who were also contemporaries of JCC).

For his first US appearance since anyone can remember (he was originally supposed to be here a few months ago but has to cancel because of Visa problems), his mini tour took him to the Music Hall of Williamsburg on May 7th for a show, which was unique as the club had seating for the evening.

For the packed house, fellow Mancunian poet Mike Garry opened with the same kind of fun irreverence as JCC, featuring a tribute to late Factory Records founder Tony Wilson (you can see a version of "Saint Anthony" on YouTube) and spoke of his recent collaboration with Philip Glass.

JCC himself appeared neatly dressed in a suit and cap, which he wore claiming that the trip to the States gave him a sudden case of alopecia. His set was filled with his brash poems but also sprinkled with numerous wisecracks and jokes.

- On his recent doctorate (an honorary degree from the University of Salford): 
"Now I'm a doctor, finally my dream of opening a cosmetic surgery business can become a reality. "

- On opener Mike Garry: "He's a great guy.  He saved my life once.  I was getting beaten up by a bunch of guys and he said 'OK, that's enough...'' (a joke he stole from Shecky Greene about Frank Sinatra).

 

- On nuptials- "Marriage is a sexual relationship recognized by the police."

- More on marriage- "If it wasn't for marriage couples would have to fight with complete strangers" (he did note that he was happy married and grateful for his wife, who somehow tolerated him for years).

- On being an R.E.M. hater- "The only song I know from them is 'Everybody Hurts.'  Everybody hurts- yeah, no shit!  This whiny guy (Michael Stipe) is why I couldn't get a decent blowjob until I was 27."

In between lapsing into a gritty New York accent and throwing in bits of Yiddish, he also nabbed a gun joke from "The Simpsons," which he admitted was one of his favorite shows. Though he did perform several 'greatest hits,' a few were missed, including "(I've Got A Brand New) Tracksuit," "Psycle Sluts" and "The Day My Pad Went Mad." 

Still, JCC was hilariously entertaining.  If/when he makes it Stateside again, don't miss it.  As of now, he's finishing his current U.S. tour and then heading back to the UK to open for Squeeze. 

For more about JCC, you can see his official website plus this (admittedly outdated) fan site.




VIDEOS

Here's a few clips of JCC from the Brooklyn show, reading some of his fave prose.

"Hire Car" and a few jokes to begin with, on an existential tip.

"Evidently Chickentown," which he proudly noted was used at the end of one of the last episodes of "The Sopranos" and drops dozens of F-bombs (he joked that when he performed it on TV, the censor got repetitive stress syndrome from hitting the bleep button).

"Bedblocker Blues"
Here's where you get to hear him sing Chet Baker and make Alzheimer's jokes.

"Beasley Street"