Tony Joe White's Heroines.
Amsterdam,
Musician Tony Joe White lives up to the image that outsiders have of those living in the South of the USA: he lives in a tiny hamlet, owns a veranda, a swinging chair and a double barrelled rifle. And every night there is at least someone who makes music.
It turns women on, whereas it makes men melancholic: Tony Joe White's hollow, mysterious bass voice. The 'swamprocker' from the swamps of Louisiana, USA was briefly in the Netherlands, amongst others to draw the attention to his album 'Heroines'.
Although, attention… White only spends a few sentences on his most recent album. "It is great to sing with Emmylou Harris, Lucinda Williams, Shelby Lynne and my own daughter Michelle. Satisfied?"
The author of classic songs such as 'Rainy Night in Georgia' and Elvis Presley's evergreen 'Polk Salad Annie' prefers to talk about his hometown located in the neighbourhood of Nashville, Texas, the capital of country music. Everything over there; the street, the air, the houses and especially the people breathe music and more music. Regardless whether you call it country, blues, rock-'n-roll or Swamprock.
"I live in a place called Leyper's Fork: five farmhouses and a supermarket And the image evoked is true: I have a veranda, a swinging chair and a double-barrelled rifle" chuckles the singer who is dressed entirely in black. "Michael McDonald and Stevie Winwood also live there. So every night someone performs, if only because the rest of the 'scene' can also be found in the proximity if not in the town of Nashville. Emmylou also, of course" White mentions it casually. "In the supermarket there is a small stage, and you can use it for performances whenever you feel like doing so."
Thus not an odd place for this great musician, who has been writing songs for about forty years, and who, depending on his mood, either records these songs or goes on tour. Without a band, simply accompanied by a drummer. "Indeed the White Stripes also perform this way, as I have been able to witness with my own eyes. But actually it is very logical to perform this way. One can be one's own master over one's own show, you can improvise what ever you wish, without being restricted by what your band knows and can do. And those bass-lines, I can manage those myself."
He owns the fact that he can do whatever he wants to Elvis and Brooke Benton, who recognised White's talent for authentic and honest compositions. The last mentioned was the first to record "Rainy Night in Georgia', which has been covered by hundreds of artists afterwards, The King himself made 'Polk Salad Annie' immortal.
"What 'Polk' is? Well, it's a plant that used to grow along the verge at our place in Louisiana. My mother used to pick some 'Polk' and boiled it with potatoes and gave it to us for supper along with some bacon. Indeed, a dish for poor people…"
At least he no longer is poor, thanks to the yearly cheque with royalties that lands on his doormat in Texas. His economical housekeeping only adds to that: his last album was recorded at home in his own shed, with the help of his son Jody. For the duets the 'heroines' simply popped in as if they came for a cup of tea.
"Except for Lucinda, because she lives in California nowadays. I have sent her a tape, which she returned with her contribution nicely recorded. On the other hand Emmylou Harris took the microphone, sung once and I knew it was perfect immediately."
"He will of course also play along. I have asked Halliday as he is still a superstar in France, the country where I've scored my first hit song, and he has recorded three of my songs." For the moment the Europeans will have to be satisfied with Tony Joe White's heroines, but that is not a punishment for those who appreciate feelings running high as well as melancholy.
Oct 17 2004
Photos: Rob Verhorst and Lex van Rossen
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