Arlo Guthrie still enjoying life on road
Folksinger finds many people have never heard of Alice’s Restaurant
American folksinger Arlo Guthrie has been plying his trade for 50-plus years. The son of legendary American folksinger/songwriter Woody Guthrie, Arlo’s songbook includes The City of New Orleans and Coming into Los Angeles and, of course, his beloved and lengthy Alice’s Restaurant Massacree.
A legend of the 1960s counterculture, he played Woodstock after all, Guthrie will take to the Kay Meek Centre stage in West Vancouver and deliver songs from his early albums, Arlo (1968), Running down the Road (1969), and Washington County (1970).
We caught-up with the folky and found out a few things:
Q: What keeps you going out on the road these days? What do you like about that experience?
A: I love seeing new or familiar places everyday. There’s old friends and friends yet to be made. In this world, everyone needs all the friends they can get.
Do people jump to conclusions about you?
People jump to their own inner songs … Most of the time it has nothing to do with me.
What makes you proudest about your life’s work so far?
Being here isn’t really a matter of pride, but I’m happy to be me, and surprised that someone could do it for so long.
Where are you at creatively these days?
Creativity doesn’t seem to originate with me so much as it’s always been something coming through.
Your father is an American icon and hero to many people. When you think of him what first comes to mind or what makes you happiest?
No one thinks of their parents as icons (if they do they end up regretting it). I knew my parents like most people know theirs. They were actually very wonderful people, especially to people outside the inner workings of family. No one is a prophet in their hometown, as is said. All the more true and real for family. What makes me happiest is knowing that I don’t have to live up to other people’s expectations.
What did you learn from your father musically and what did you pass down to your kids?
I learned my first chords on the guitar from my mother, even though she wasn’t a guitar player. My father could play better than he let on, so from him I learned not to be a showoff. My kids got the same information.
Alice’s Restaurant is a Thanksgiving tradition. Does it still surprise you that it resonates so loudly after 50-plus years?
What’s surprising to me is how many people never heard of it. I remember when it was popular.
Under what circumstances do you play that song now?
I learn and perform the original (or something close to it) every 10th-year anniversary of having wrote it. We take it on the road for about a year-and-a-half every decade.
Alice’s Restaurant became a protest song. How do you feel about that?
It’s always good to question authority. Some people think artists should not speak out. What do you think? You wouldn’t know that unless someone was speaking out. I guess some people shouldn’t speak out either.
You identified differently politically over the years. Where are you now?
Somewhere in the middle of things. I don’t like professional protesters or permanent stooges of who’s ever in power. I enjoy being around regular people.
Have you been asked to go into politics? Did you ever entertain the idea?
Not that I know of, and I’m happy doing what I do. Not looking to do something else.
What are things you need to see in a candidate in order to vote for them?
A sense of humour. That’s why I loved Bernie (Sanders).
What most disappoints you about your country right now? What gives you hope?
I try not to be disappointed. My motto is “No Judgment — No Expectations.” I’m hopeful in general.