INTERVIEW: Arlo Guthrie, back from retirement, heads down the Jersey Shore
Photo: Arlo Guthrie will take part in a conversation event at the Pollak Theatre in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Photo courtesy of the artist / Provided by J. Cutler Media with permission.
The legendary folk singer Arlo Guthrie, perhaps best known for his debut album Alice’s Restaurant, retired during the pandemic due to the difficulties of touring and the uncertainty in the music business. Well, that retirement was short-lived because the singer-songwriter is back, but this time he’s touring with stories rather than songs. On Friday, April 28, Guthrie heads to the Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey.
The special evening with Guthrie is called What’s Left of Me — A Conversation With Bob Santelli. Audience members should expect an evening of stories and conversations, and no doubt Guthrie has a lot to say. He’s the oldest son of Woody Guthrie and Marjorie Guthrie, and, according to his biography, he was surrounded by a plethora of talent from a young age. Growing up, he met Pete Seeger, Leadbelly, Cisco Houston, Ramblin’ Jack Elliott and many others, according to press notes. Then, in 1967, he premiered “The Alice’s Restaurant Massacre,” and the rest, as they say, is history. That memorable song was included on Alice’s Restaurant, which went platinum and was adapted into a movie directed by Arthur Penn.
His festival appearances over the years have been equally legendary, including everything from the Newport Folk Festival, where “The Alice’s Restaurant Massacre” premiered, to Woodstock in 1969, where he played everything from “Coming into Los Angeles” to “Amazing Grace.” Since those early days some 60 years ago, Guthrie has continued to record, amassing a music catalog numbering 32 albums.
For the Pollak Theatre evening, he’ll be joined by Santelli, executive director of the Bruce Springsteen Archives and Center for American Music. Recently Hollywood Soapbox exchanged emails with Guthrie about his upcoming “conversation.” Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What can audiences expect from these What’s Left of Me evenings?
Audiences can expect a conversation between myself and Bob Sentelli. Beyond that, I have no freaking idea. These events are not scripted, rehearsed, planned or orchestrated.
Your three years of retirement coincided with the pandemic. How have things been?
Like almost all entertainers, I was out of work for most of 2020-2022. That was tough. But, we made it though. Those years were mostly spent working from home, through the internet. At the same time we had a great garden.
Was it difficult being away from audiences and live performances?
Of course! I’d spent the better part of 50 years on the road going from town to town. All of a sudden it stopped. There was nowhere to go and not much to do that I was familiar with. But, I gotta tell you, it was nice not going anywhere, too.
Do you often think back to the legendary moments in your career — like the release of Alice’s Restaurant and Woodstock? Are you a nostalgic person?
I’m more nostalgic about the people I’ve met than I am about the events themselves. Don’t get me wrong — being a part of a historic event, like Woodstock, is great, but more than the events, I remember the people I met. I made some lifelong friends. Pretty sweet.
Are folk songs calling out social injustice needed even more in 2023?
That’s a big question, but the short answer is no. There was a time for folk music (in the traditional sense), and I was glad to be a part of it. The 1960s were a great time for songs about civil rights, social injustice, nuclear disarmament, wars, etc. But these days there’s other ways to express those concerns. Younger people have to navigate these days, like we had to do in those days, and to be aware of what’s genuine, and what’s being bought and sold, what’s long lasting, and what’s temporarily popular. They’ll do just fine.
Growing up in such a musical house, were you always destined to be a folk singer?
I always loved the old songs and stories, but I never had the desire to make a living doing it myself. Sometimes you just have to make the best of it.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Arlo Guthrie: What’s Left of Me — A Conversation With Bob Santelli will be presented Friday, April 28 at the Pollak Theatre at Monmouth University in West Long Branch, New Jersey. Click here for more information and tickets.
