Roots ’n’ Wires
JOHN HENDERSON FEELS the rebirth coming. Of course, there’s the Rebirth Brass Band — the old school New Orleans brass heads that Henderson’s production company, “Roots + Wires Presents,” brought to Taos on Sept. 10th. Another resurrection: The Taos Mesa Brewery Mothership, where the Global Roots Music Series Autumn 2022 shows will take place at the newly-renovated outdoor amphitheater. “Really, it’s a rebirth of another dimension of our music scene,” says Henderson, whose production company was born of the Roots + Wire radio collective now on KNCE. They have brought hundreds of acts from all over the world to Taos, including Taj Mahal, The Wailers, Trombone Shorty, Rising Appalachia to name a few. Venues have included Kit Carson Park, The Alley Cantina, Old Martina’s Hall, and the Old Blinking Light (also to name a few).
“We like roots music. Music that represents what a culture is experiencing and is proud of that culture,” says Henderson, who grew up in New Jersey with kids who grew up to be rockstars — the lead singer in Phish, for example. He’s soaked in the gospel and zydeco music of the South, and enjoyed the cumbias of ‘Querque, where he worked as a concert promoter before coming to Taos.
As a child of the ’70s and ’80s, part two of R + W Presents, Jerry Schwartz, jumped right into rock ’n’ roll, his first love. This bridged into Grateful Dead tours, and discovering jazz in college. The expansiveness of those sounds helped him pursue music from all over the world. In the off-season of his organic farming business, Schwartz has prioritized international trips to take field recordings.
“India blew my mind in terms of music and how it infiltrated everyday life wherever you went. How the soul of culture is tied to music,” says Schwartz, who’s been in Taos since 1991. “A goal with R + W is to share and disseminate culture from musicians around the world.”
In the early days, the duo had regular shows at El Taoseño. Mostly reggae, featuring acts like Burning Spear and
Culture. Reggae was Henderson’s first love — for the hopefulness, the history.
“The first time I heard Christopher Columbus was bad was through the Bob Marley and the Wailers song, ‘You Can’t Blame the Youth,’” says Henderson.
Now, everyone is asking for DhakaBrakha, the Ukranian quartet who’ve played in Taos through R +W twice. The first time was on a Wednesday in December in 2014. Henderson wasn’t sure anyone would show to the Mothership, but Schwartz — and the couple hundred people who ended up showing up — convinced him otherwise. Then the next time they came, the show was sold out.
“They’re so creative and far out,” says Henderson of the band that’ll perform on Sept. 23rd as part of the series. “They’ve been the mouthpiece for what’s going on with the war in Ukraine.” Schwartz adds: “DakhaBrakha takes the integrity of eastern European tradition and mixes it with modern with such grace. It’s a cultural sensory experience.”
The last band in the series is Imarhan, a desert rock quintet from Algeria. Their sound is very reminiscent of one of Schwartz’s favorite bands, Tinariwen, who play the Tuareg — or desert travelers — blues. “It’s uncannily similar to what you hear coming out of Mississippi hill country blues,” says Schwartz. “It’s trancelike — repetitive and allconsuming.”
All of the main acts will open with local musicians. Since the shows are outside, they’ll start earlier (so you should dress warmer). There will be food trucks and beer for sale.
“Through the years, this has all unfolded organically,” says Henderson. “We never pushed it. And I probably turn down five shows for every show I do. The number one rule is to do what we like.”
See taosmesabrewing.com for tickets and info.