{"id":4331,"date":"2020-02-25T20:42:23","date_gmt":"2020-02-25T20:42:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/openroadsunited.com\/?p=4331"},"modified":"2022-03-10T02:30:29","modified_gmt":"2022-03-10T02:30:29","slug":"a-natural-history-of-the-band-called-wussy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/a-natural-history-of-the-band-called-wussy\/","title":{"rendered":"A Natural History of the Band Called Wussy, Covering the Years 2001-2020"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”197415″]<\/p>\n

My family and friends are the best thing I’ve known<\/em><\/p>\n

– John Mellenkamp<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

It don’t take much<\/em>
\nTo sound like a sleeping prophet<\/em>
\nWhen your misery sounds so much like ours<\/em><\/p>\n

– Wussy, Teenage Wasteland<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”586942″]He took his reading glasses from the front pocket of his faded blue short sleeved shirt. He examined the small tarnished lamp in his hands closely. It was so old as to be without age.<\/p>\n

He looked towards the front desk, past the rows of resale detritus- the old colored telephone pole insulators, the 19th<\/sup> century hand tools, the rusting ancient coffeepots, blackened equally by age and fire.<\/p>\n

\u201cHey,\u201d he called out toward the old woman at the desk, \u201cwhat\u2019s the story on this one?\u201d<\/p>\n

Doesn\u2019t work,\u201d she said. \u201cit\u2019s old and weary and played out like everything else in this shop.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat do you need for this?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA hundred,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo really,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo really yourself,\u201d she replied, \u201cwhen\u2019s the last time you saw one of them, working or not?\u201d She said impatiently.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4399″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”104724″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”222675″]He looked towards the front of the store. There was a young woman there, backlit by the large front window which overlooked the broken and twisted two lane out front.<\/p>\n

\u201cLisa,\u201d he called out, holding out the lamp, \u201cI\u2019ve got it.\u201d<\/p>\n

She smiled brightly, and said, \u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n

Without responding, he went to the back of the shop, put a C-note on the old women\u2019s wizened claw and walked to the front door collecting the pretty young auburn headed woman along the way.<\/p>\n

The walked out into the parking lot, where he led her to the small fenced cemetery at the back of the shop. The gravestones were two hundred years old.<\/p>\n

He stood beneath a tall green white pine, took a red bandanna from his back pocket and rubbed the lamp in earnest. A large coffee colored genie in a soiled red turban appeared in a small and unimpressive cloud of smoke.<\/p>\n

The Genie took in the eager couple before him.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd?\u201d<\/p>\n

Cleaver cleared his voice and said briskly, emphatically, \u201cWe want the rock and roll package no 2, fame, fortune- immortality and riches, the works, followed by a spectacular death at an improbable age.\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4393,4398,4391″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_height=”6″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”120242″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9fQ==”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”196466″]\u201cYou and everyone else,\u201d said the Genie. \u201cNo one\u2019s had any of that since 1968,\u201d he said, \u201cthe Doors got the last of it.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll damn it,\u201d he said with obvious disappointment, \u201cwhat do you have?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI can let you have plan 7 b,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is that?\u201d the young woman asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo money, no widescale fame, no legions of adoring fans,\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWell what do we get?\u201d Cleaver groused.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou get to start a big five piece harmonic band. It\u2019ll be noisy as fuck, \u00a0and people will be confused and you\u2019ll get to ride from town to town across the nation in a smelly crowded van. There will be hardship and more than a little disappointment and a couple of broken hearts along the way; but, you get to make some great discs, create a handful of immortal tunes, and win the hearts of a small, but loyal, and far flung group of fans. And,\u201d he said stopping for emphasis, \u201cyou\u2019ll get to be the critic\u2019s darlings for the next twenty years.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cShit, I just finished that gig,\u201d cried Cleaver.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll take it,\u201d said the bright young women beside him; \u201cwhere do we sign?\u201d<\/p>\n

****<\/p>\n

Wussy, a five-piece rock group from Cincinnati, is ex-Ass Ponys frontman Chuck Cleaver (guitar, vocals), Lisa Walker (guitar, vocals), Mark Messerly (bass, keyboards) John Erhardt (pedal steel) and Joe Klug (drums).<\/p>\n

The band has a rabid fan base, volumes of serious critical praise, as well as national and international tours; and, day jobs.<\/p>\n

It seems that somewhere along the way, they\u2019ve neglected to strike it rich.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4394,4392″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_width=”6″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”193644″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9fQ==”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”770214″]Front man and guitarist Chuck Cleaver notes, \u201cwe haven\u2019t made a living from music,\u201d to which bassist Messerly adds, \u201cWe\u2019ve only taken money home a few times in the last fifteen years.\u201d<\/p>\n

As Alejandro Escovedo would have it, it\u2019s been more miles than money.<\/p>\n

The Early Years: Love and Hate and Going Off Like Frankenstein<\/p>\n

The band formed in 2001ish. The start date depending upon how you define band.<\/p>\n

Walker- who was new to Cincinnati and knew no one there at that time, said that she got to know Cleaver, and the Ass Ponys, through the WOXY music boards.<\/p>\n

To meet people and explore the city she went to a couple of local music shows where Chuck and\/or the AP were playing.<\/p>\n

Chuck said that he knew of Lisa from the local music boards and that they subsequently met at an awards show in which Cleaver was slated to sing one song, solo. He related to Walker that he hated singing solo.<\/p>\n

Walker offered to sing with him despite having only a passing knowledge of the song, Nevertheless, Cleaver took Walker up on her offer, wrote the song on a napkin and away they went. The effort worked well enough that they played as duet for three or four gigs before asking Mark Messerly to play with them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe then,\u201d Messerly says, \u201cplayed for a year as a crappy trio until Chuck agreed to let a mutual friend, Dawn Burman, join the band as drummer- without consulting any of us.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which was fine with Walker. \u201cI needed a sassy girlfriend in that band,\u201d she notes.<\/p>\n

Those early years were pretty much a march through the wilderness with the band trying to find their sound. Everyone wrote at home and brought in offerings.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4341″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”346541″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”892893″]<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

Walker remembers the first album as being primarily a \u201cbag full of Cleaver songs.\u201d Burman- a musical amateur at the time- worked to learn the drums and Walker worked on songwriting and guitar.<\/p>\n

Several things about that time are clear in retrospect. The first being that the band was not immediately successful. There were a lo<\/em>t of bad shows.<\/p>\n

To the few people who showed up (myself included) the band\u2019s intent was not clear in the early years. It was a meager effort. There was a prodigious amount of drinking- and other assorted silliness- even by Northside musician standards.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe hardly had instruments,\u201d Cleaver recalled, \u201cwe borrowed stuff and we were far cockier than we had a right to be.\u201d<\/p>\n

Walker has previously described Wussy\u2019s sound as \u201cweird as shit.\u201d \u00a0Others tagged the band\u2019s sound as \u201cshoe gazer, psychedelic\u2026The lyrics,\u201d many said \u201ctended toward the strange and otherworldly.\u201d Some said southern gothic.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4397,4389″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_width=”6″ single_height=”9″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”104250″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9fQ==”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”135208″]<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

I ask Cleaver, \u201cWhere does the whole gothic label come from? People are always trying to make you out to be a modern day Eudora Welty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just the world I saw, the world I grew up in. I spent a lot of time alone in a strange country town (Clarksville Ohio). I was born late in my parent\u2019s life- I spent a lot of time alone. My dad was a stubborn atheist and my mother was a willful Methodist with MS- there were times she was incapacitated\u2026 I\u2019ve always felt old, I felt old at 4 years old.\u201d<\/p>\n

Cleaver says he\u2019s just being himself and relating his vision as clearly, artistically and honestly as possible.<\/p>\n

Others, however, see his long gray hair and beard, hear his high-pitched voice while taking in his shambling folksy self-deprecating style and seem to think he\u2019s putting on an act or at least a speaking through a character. Which he isn\u2019t. With Chuck Cleaver, what you see is what you get.<\/p>\n

Ultimately, the point is moot, anyway, as Cleaver, and the rest, really don\u2019t give a shit. \u00a0They\u2019re happy being with one and other; with their husband, their wives and kids.<\/p>\n

Though, there does come a time when Cleaver stops laughing, ceases clowning around and does start to care.\u00a0 It\u2019s then a good idea, then, to pay attention.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4359″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”901977″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”719223″]<\/p>\n

<\/div>\n

\u201cEvery band I\u2019ve ever been in: Men Without Bones, The Ass Ponys, Wussy, people have always made fun of my bands. They\u2019ve never been taken seriously, but I\u2019ve never cared what others think,\u201d he says succinctly.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut I did have a vision for Wussy.\u201d He tapped the table emphatically.\u00a0 \u201cWe were going to be a big harmonic rock band, and if people didn\u2019t like it, tough shit.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur fans are,\u201d says Walker,\u201d the icing on the cake- they\u2019re the bonus, but it\u2019s always been about us playing for ourselves. We don\u2019t make antiseptic music, and we don\u2019t care if we piss people off.\u201d adds Walker. \u201cWe want to make art, not entertainment.\u201d<\/p>\n

All of which is true and incomplete. They do care, sometimes. It is true that on any given day, Cleaver, Walker and the rest, are<\/em><\/strong> musically and personally independent to the point of being hard asses.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4387″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”447361″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”151170″]It\u2019s equally true, however, that on many days, each of them can<\/em><\/strong> be very kind and giving.<\/p>\n

Cleaver, for instance, is perhaps the greatest curmudgeon in local music history. But he\u2019s also a loyal friend and a big-hearted man. He remembers and pays back small favors, even years after the fact.<\/p>\n

For instance, he\u2019s come out tonight- to the Comet- with Wussy multi-instrumentalist, Mark Messerly, to give this interview, without bothering to mention, until well into our talk, that it\u2019s both his birthday and anniversary. Such behavior is also classic Cleaver behavior.<\/p>\n

The remainder of the band is also given to such kind acts.<\/p>\n

For the Left For Dead<\/em> sessions, Cleaver, and the rest of the band, not only agreed to allow me to make a documentary of the recording of the disc, they also gave me unfettered access, all summer, to the recording sessions at Ultra Suede Studios. They sat for long interviews. \u00a0This even though I not only I lacked a track record as a film maker, I didn\u2019t even own a video camera.<\/p>\n

They did not become unreasonable when I butchered the film.<\/p>\n

Which is all to say that, taken as a whole, Wussy is equally complex, friendly, wise and occasionally mercurial.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4395,4382,4383,4381,4386,4385,4375,4370,4350″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”168792″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9fQ==”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”285783″]The Players<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wussy Vocalist, songwriter and guitarist, Lisa Walker grew up in Muncie Indiana. \u00a0One Grandfather was a tank commander who fought Rommel; the other was a paratrooper.<\/p>\n

She learned trumpet in the school band, rode her bike under broad midwestern skies. She was the protagonist in Wussy\u2019s Teenage Wasteland<\/em> riding through the cornfields with her transistor radio.<\/p>\n

Her father, a microbiologist, taught her strings at home; her mother was a teacher.<\/p>\n

Walker went to Cedarville College and then migrated to Cincinnati. She\u2019s pretty, scary smart and possesses an encyclopedic knowledge of music.<\/p>\n

Mark Messerly grew up in Stow Ohio, outside Cleveland. He grew up with a love for nature secondary to spending his youth on his grandparent\u2019s farm.<\/p>\n

He came to Cincinnati after going to school at Berkley in Boston for Audio Engineering. \u00a0After finding his way to Cincinnati, he formed the well-liked and well regarded sometimes duo, sometimes folk-rock quartet, Messerly and Ewing.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s a fine writer himself, he reads voraciously, loves birding and cooking vegetarian food and is of no use in a bar fight.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4388″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”160673″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”201918″]Initially a multi-instrumentalist when he joined Cleaver and Walker, he did not play the bass- the instrument he was to play with Wussy.<\/p>\n

Added all up, Wussy began as a conglomeration of fascinating people who knew music but did not, except for Cleaver; know how to play the instruments they were to ultimately play in Wussy.<\/p>\n

In short, Wussy is a strange band with a bad name and a weird sound which it fabricated as the band went along.<\/p>\n

Says Messerly solemnly, \u201cThe first two discs were really hard.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe fact that the records came out at all is incredible,\u201d agrees Cleaver.<\/p>\n

Astonishing, also because on and off stage, personal lives rose and dove like a two hundred foot Ferris Wheel.<\/p>\n

Walker and Cleaver shared, in those first three years, a tumultuous relationship. \u00a0Messerly- who then had two small children- separated and divorced from his wife. Burman because very ill and required serious surgery.<\/p>\n

The Cleaver-Walker romance did not end smoothly.<\/p>\n

Early on, there were gigs when it appeared that a knife fight was more likely to erupt than music being played.<\/p>\n

Cleaver laughs and says he recently spoke with another long time Northside musician who told him that he saw Wussy at the Northside Tavern in those days and was as equally astounded by the hatred on the stage as he was amazed by the music pouring out the PA\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThings did not go well for anyone,\u201d Walker recalls.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4373″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”75″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”213875″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”461897″]And though it may be funny now, it was, all too often, nasty then. Feelings were hurt and hearts were broken. People went into very long funks.<\/p>\n

Walker recalls taking exception one night to someone\u2019s comment and refusing to take the stage.<\/p>\n

\u201cWere you intimidated?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo,\u201d she says adamantly. \u201cI can be meaner than anyone in the band. I wasn\u2019t intimidated at all\u2026 and I wasn\u2019t going to let this band go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Which is sort of amazing because, at least in those days, Cleaver could be quite a dick when he put his mind to it.<\/p>\n

How did they survive those times?\u00a0 Those days in which the hatred was palpable.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think,\u201d Cleaver says slowly and carefully, \u201cthat even for all the pain and fighting, Lisa and I realized that there was something greater at stake. The creative partnership has always seemed sacred. I tried to remember it\u2019s all water under the bridge. I try to hold onto the good memories and let go of the bad ones.\u201d<\/p>\n

Things looked critical.\u00a0 Walker met someone and moved to Chicago. Burman announced that she was moving to Texas to be married and that she would fly in for gigs and practices.\u00a0 This led to an unpleasant conversation that Cleaver regrets to this day.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4364″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”143053″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”291447″]Changes, Change, Changes: Joe Klug and Strawberry<\/p>\n

Yet, Wussy soldiered on. \u00a0Messerly recalls that because the band was unhappy with the first two discs- (despite occasional flashes of brilliance:\u00a0 Airborne, Humanbrained Horse, Trail of Sadness, God\u2019s Camaro) they really wanted to make the third disc a good one.<\/p>\n

Was it possible to put all that animosity, hurt and bad karma behind them? Apparently so.<\/p>\n

There was no way to know then, but things were about to change drastically for the better.<\/p>\n

With the departure of Burman, the band turned to Joe Klug who was drumming with John Curley\u2019s Staggering Statistics. It was a natural move as John Curley had produced the first two (and subsequent) Wussy discs. It was like bringing in family. Klug jumped at the chance to play with Wussy- for whom he had once previously subbed.<\/p>\n

The clouds lifted. The third disc- Wussy by Wussy- garnered fan approval and critical acclaim; including a positive 2009 review from Ken Tucker on Fresh Air.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4384,4377,104209,4339,4393,4362″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_height=”6″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”322570″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9fQ==”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”776410″]\u201cWhen Joe came in,\u201d Messerly said, \u201cwe didn\u2019t have to have someone keep the beat on strings. It opened up our sound so much.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were suddenly spaces between the notes\u201d, adds Cleaver.<\/p>\n

Walker says, \u201cJoe changed the way we played.\u201d<\/p>\n

Wussy moved towards writing together in practice, refining their sound of minor motifs played atop buzz saw guitars.<\/p>\n

Lyrically, Walker says she wanted things to be happy, but not too happy. \u00a0\u201cAnything bright and major is out,\u201d she says cheerfully.<\/p>\n

So, she, they, worked from a palette of minor chords that comes through Walker via her love of Bach, Beethoven, Simon and Garfunkel, CSN and Anglican Choral songs.<\/p>\n

Superchunk, Television and Neil Young are other influences that you hear from Walker and others in the band.<\/p>\n

Stupid Grins<\/strong><\/p>\n

Slowly yet steadily, the dark years gave way to the happy years. In 2011 Wussy recorded Strawberry and former Ass Pony John Erhardt joined the band initially supplying slide guitar and eventually adding slide and electric guitars.<\/p>\n

Cleaver relates that Erhardt not only provides musical depth, but his solid, low key personality also provided badly needed calm to the group.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4367″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”117193″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”181105″]\u2018John makes touring easier as well, he\u2019s very steady,\u201d says Walker.<\/p>\n

Says Cleaver, \u201cStrawberry was our first real record. It was the first time that it didn\u2019t feel as if we were in a car careening downhill without brakes.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rolling Stone gave the album four stars. Old school critic Robert Christgau gushed \u201cWhen I say I consider Wussy the best band in America I mean I like or love–no, make that love or really like–just about every one of the 46 songs on those [first] five albums.\u201d<\/p>\n

The band shifted into overdrive and hit the road, touring the country and it all came together- all except for that money and fame thing\u2026<\/p>\n

Wussy followed up Strawberry with Attica<\/em><\/strong> and suddenly everyone was paying attention.<\/p>\n

In November of 2014, CBS Morning News did an extended national piece.<\/p>\n

Attica<\/em><\/strong> which contains some of the band\u2019s most compelling and spellbinding work including Teenage Wasteland<\/em>, Acetylene<\/em> and Beautiful<\/em> drew countless rave reviews. \u00a0After years of struggle, the clouds finally seemed to have a silver lining.<\/p>\n

In March 2016, the band released their seventh album, Forever Sounds<\/em>, which reached number 20 on the Billboard Heatseeker album chart.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4356,4363,4372,4376,4348″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”272994″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9LCI0Mzc2X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNiIsInNpbmdsZV9oZWlnaHQiOiI0In0sIjQzNDhfaSI6eyJzaW5nbGVfd2lkdGgiOiI2Iiwic2luZ2xlX2hlaWdodCI6IjQifSwiNDM1Nl9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9oZWlnaHQiOiI2In0sIjQzNjNfaSI6eyJzaW5nbGVfaGVpZ2h0IjoiNiJ9LCI0MzcyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX2hlaWdodCI6IjYifX0=”][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”229061″]And if the band wasn\u2019t buying Maseratis, there were signs that happiness was breaking out everywhere.<\/p>\n

Messerly\u2019s tour blog from NYC recounts, \u201cSo to sum up: gorgeous, super professional ballroom experience, \u2026, one of the best nights all around we\u2019ve been lucky enough to have as a band.”<\/p>\n

And from Boston, two nights later \u201cAnd the room was packed. Like all the way to the back with people standing on chairs to see packed. \u2026.. Once again, I had a stupid grin on my face the whole night.<\/p>\n

2017 and The Future<\/p>\n

Two thousand and seventeen looked to be less hectic for the band.\u00a0 As a recent Facebook post notes: \u201cwe are spending most of 2017 working on new material, but we have one scheduled show [which has come and gone]!! Then it\u2019s back to the studio\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

While not exactly using the word sabbatical, all agree that they could use some time off.<\/p>\n

Klug and his wife have a new child for starters.<\/p>\n

Messerly who re-married a year ago, has a large and very talented blended family he wishes to spend time with as well as a solo effort he\u2019s wanting to release.<\/p>\n

Cleaver\u2019s happy walking dogs and selling vintage collectables online.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4340″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”30″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”176277″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”178364″]Walker is digging her new day job in which she researches and writes about art.<\/p>\n

Which isn\u2019t to say it\u2019s been all radio silence. There are duo shows, and re-releases. Cleaver opened for Chuck Prophet.<\/p>\n

Has the candle been worth the game? Given the pain and hardships of the last fifteen years, would they do it all over again?<\/p>\n

Cleaver, Messerly and Walker all say yes without hesitation.<\/p>\n

Cleaver adds, \u201cI\u2019d try and make some changes, I would, in some circumstances try and be kinder and show more respect sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n

What three Wussy songs, I ask, will people still be listening to in twenty years?<\/p>\n

\u201cOh God,\u201d Cleaver says laughing, \u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019ll be dead.\u201d<\/p>\n

Exactly, and what will be left behind?<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4358″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”208452″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”120801″]Turning serious he says without hesitation, \u201c\u2019Teenage Wasteland.\u2019 Lisa is an amazing songwriter. I just wish people would appreciate what a great songwriter she is. I mean, she\u2019s a great singer too.\u201d He stops for a minute and says passionately, \u201cthis is the<\/em><\/strong> Wussy song.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what\u2019s unbelievable,\u201d adds Messerly, \u201cis that she brought that in out of the blue, at the end of the recording session and she does that on every single album. Everyone else will be writing throughout the album and she\u2019ll just keep everything to herself and one day she just shows up with a great song.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cTwo more,\u201d I say.<\/p>\n

\u201cMaybe Airborne,\u201d Cleaver says. \u201cThat was another one. We didn\u2019t hear the lyrics until we got them in the studio. We were floored, we were crying.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhich one of yours?\u201d I ask Cleaver.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4383″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”75″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”206731″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”140019″]\u201cMaybe Beautiful,\u201d Cleaver says. \u201cPeople quote that chorus now,\u201d his voice trailing off. He\u2019s clearly more comfortable praising Lisa\u2019s work than critiquing his own.<\/p>\n

In a later interview, Walker answers, \u201cTeenage Wasteland, Airborne and a song the band has yet to write and record. After all,\u201d she says smiling, \u201cisn\u2019t that the way it\u2019s supposed to be?\u201d<\/p>\n

A last question. \u201cIf you could script Wussy\u2019s last five years, what would that look like?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI honestly don\u2019t know,\u201d Cleaver says. \u201cWe don\u2019t live way. I just want to finish this record and play some shows and do it all over again.\u00a0 We don\u2019t know that we have next week, let alone five years. I just want to make records.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd, maybe do more of Europe,\u201d adds Walker.<\/p>\n

Elucidating Chuck says, \u201cWe\u2019re a family now and everybody is necessary. Spending time together is what makes us happy. I can\u2019t image playing without any of these people, it wouldn\u2019t be Wussy.\u201d<\/p>\n

And with that Chuck\u2019s out the door, Josie\u2019s jerk burrito in its paper bag, just another happy rock star grandad on his way home.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4352″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”175747″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”150865″]And after a few more beers and some personal catching up Messerly will be on his way home to his wife Holly and their family; while Walker heads home to see her husband David and their dog.<\/p>\n

Fame and fortune can, apparently, be overrated.<\/p>\n

Addendum<\/p>\n

And then, as so often happens, this piece does not get published.<\/p>\n

Mutual misunderstandings lead to this piece sitting on my hard drive for the better part of three years.<\/p>\n

On the bright side, we now can now look into the rearview mirror rather than the crystal ball.<\/p>\n

So what happened between 2017 and 2020?<\/p>\n

A mixed bag, as always.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”75″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”162939″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_gallery el_id=”gallery-799008″ medias=”4380,4344,4379,4335,4378″ style_preset=”metro” gutter_size=”3″ screen_lg=”1000″ screen_md=”600″ screen_sm=”480″ single_overlay_opacity=”50″ single_h_align=”center” single_padding=”2″ uncode_shortcode_id=”355524″ items=”eyI0MzkyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzk0X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiOCJ9LCI0Mzc2X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNiIsInNpbmdsZV9oZWlnaHQiOiI0In0sIjQzNDhfaSI6eyJzaW5nbGVfd2lkdGgiOiI2Iiwic2luZ2xlX2hlaWdodCI6IjQifSwiNDM1Nl9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9oZWlnaHQiOiI2In0sIjQzNjNfaSI6eyJzaW5nbGVfaGVpZ2h0IjoiNiJ9LCI0MzcyX2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX2hlaWdodCI6IjYifSwiNDM4MF9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV9oZWlnaHQiOiI2In0sIjQzNDRfaSI6eyJzaW5nbGVfaGVpZ2h0IjoiNiJ9LCI0Mzc5X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX2hlaWdodCI6IjYifSwiNDMzNV9pIjp7InNpbmdsZV93aWR0aCI6IjYiLCJzaW5nbGVfaGVpZ2h0IjoiNCJ9LCI0Mzc4X2kiOnsic2luZ2xlX3dpZHRoIjoiNiIsInNpbmdsZV9oZWlnaHQiOiI0In19″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”107318″]The anticipated hiatus happened, which probably for the best.<\/p>\n

Cleaver suffered back problems which made it impossible for him to play. A tour was cancelled.<\/p>\n

Joe Klug and his wife welcomed a second child and their first boy to the family and found plenty to occupy their time.<\/p>\n

Messerly has been glad to spend time with his rapidly aging and talented children. His wife, Holly, has opened a Yoga studio.<\/p>\n

With the exception of a few special one-off shows, Wussy\u2019s last official tour was UK \/ Netherlands \/ Germany in 2018.<\/p>\n

Despite being unable to play many full band shows in the US, though they do make three discs (What Heaven Is Like \/ Getting Better \/ New American Standard).<\/p>\n

And now, in 2020, things are starting to look up.<\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row unlock_row_content=”yes” row_height_percent=”0″ overlay_alpha=”50″ gutter_size=”3″ column_width_percent=”100″ shift_y=”0″ z_index=”0″ uncode_shortcode_id=”135097″][vc_column width=”1\/1″][vc_single_image media=”4360″ media_lightbox=”yes” media_width_percent=”50″ alignment=”center” lbox_connected=”yes” uncode_shortcode_id=”416604″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”199122″]The band, on March 6, is playing a show at Woodward theater followed by a six-city east coast tour.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt will be a chance for Chuck,\u201d says Messerly, \u201cto figure out his physical capacity for touring.\u201d<\/p>\n

Best of all, Wussy has been selected to play the The National’s Homecoming Fest<\/a> in May- which means playing on the same bill with Patty Smith and The National.<\/p>\n

After that, Walker and Cleaver will be taking a stripped-down duo\/trio format around the country for more house shows – starting in the Midwest, South and New England – then heading west later in the year.<\/p>\n

As always, for Wussy, calendar pages will fly and every day will be anything can happen day.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

[\/vc_column_text][vc_column_text text_lead=”small” uncode_shortcode_id=”191905″ text_color_type=”uncode-solid” text_color_solid=”#b0b0b0″]<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

Originally created for and published by OpenRoadsUnited.com<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/section>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text uncode_shortcode_id=”197415″] My family and friends are the best thing I’ve known – John Mellenkamp   It don’t take much […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4374,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[88,177,178,179,180,181,182,183,184],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4331"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4331"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4331\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":104518,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4331\/revisions\/104518"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4374"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4331"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4331"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/amalgamphotos.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4331"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}