Jon Langford, Musician/Artist: Songs Are Like Paintings, Paintings Are Like Songs (S3 E19)

Kites and Strings

Today's guest is punk rock pioneer, Jon Langford, a founding member of The Mekons, who were considered one the first wave punk bands from Britain. We learn about Jon's melding folk and country music with punk music in The Mekons and several other side projects including The Waco Brothers, which he founded in Chicago after moving to the city in 1992. We learn of how his music career was a surprise detour that materialized after The Mekons turned some record label heads while Jon and his at-school mates were simply having a blast thrashing about in the 1970's punk scene. Between record labels and touring with The Mekons, Jon dusted off his paint brushes and found that he was able to make a bit of a splash as a visual artist.
Jon continues to perform and record music sporadically with The Mekons and he plays solo acoustic shows, while continuing to paint, with works in several high profile galleries.
Steve and Catherine have a great conversation with Jon and we learn a great deal about his creative process, both as a musician and as a visual artist.
Jon's Website: https://jonlangford.de/

Jon Langford at "thank u, next:
and event by the Homewood Arts Council
https://www.facebook.com/events/490492629917527
Original music from this epsode:
Where Were You
The Mekons
from the album, Hen's Teeth and Other Lost Fragments of Un-Popular Culture, Volume 2
Harm's Way
The Waco Brothers
from the album, To the Last Dead Cowboy
Hey Rockstar!
The Mekons
Not Enough Love to Go Round
Jon Langford and Skull Orchard , Low Noise Music (USA)
Performed by Me with Bethany Thomas Spencer Tweedy and John Szymanski
Hey Rockstar! and Not Enough Love to Go Round are from Jon's ongoing Lucky 7 series of singles for the Tiny Global Productions label of Valencia

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Kites and Strings Website: https://www.kitesandstrings.com/​
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Kites and Strings' theme music is by Harrison Amer, and all other music in today's episode is provided courtesy of our guest, Jon Langford (see above). The Kites and Strings logo-design is by Cole Monroe at Blue Stag Creative.