The Great Lost Heartland Rockers.

October 15, 2007 2:07 PM

The Iron City Houserockerswere Pittsburgh's entry in the Heartland Rock Sweepstakes that occured after the success of Bruce Springsteen and Bob Seger. They had literate lyrics, tough rock and roll backing, and clear-eyed vision. Led by Joe Grushecky, a special ed teacher by day, produced by Miami Steve Van Zandt of the E Street Band, and possessed of tunes like "Junior's Bar" (youtube), they seemed poised to hit the big time, but it never quite happened, which is the music audience's loss. He is, however the subject of a loving tribute in the form of "A Good Life: The Joe Grushecky Story" (trailer).
posted by jonmc (27 comments total)

Yeah, they were real rock and roll—I have a few of their LPs around somewhere (still haven't connected up the turntable since we moved to the new house...). They should have done better in the sweepstakes. (Like the Blasters, and the Long Ryders, and...)

Nice post, my man!
posted by languagehat at 2:17 PM on October 15, 2007

Indeed. 'Dance With Me' is one of the most poignant, yet least sentimental rock and roll love songs I've ever heard. and stuff like "Rock-Ola" and 'Have A Good Time (But Get Out Alive)" hit chords just as deep. Why these guys didn't become megastars is beyond me.
posted by jonmc at 2:21 PM on October 15, 2007

Somehow it doesn't seem that Joe is all that upset that he never made the big time. He's in is fifties and he's still out there playing bars, writing good rock-n-roll songs and releasing albums. Sadly, they don't even play his songs on the local commercial radio here in Pittsburgh, they're too busy playing the same 40 songs over and over again.

He does a great version of the Clash's Magnificent Seven on the recent Sandinista Tribute album.
posted by octothorpe at 2:44 PM on October 15, 2007

I'm not familiar with this band , but I'm enjoying what I'm hearing. Thanks for posting.
posted by nola at 2:53 PM on October 15, 2007

Of course, these days"Heartland" Rock has become "Geezer" Rock. The other day a friend mentioned going to see Springsteen soon and I had a post-punk, pre-geezer, po-mo moment.
posted by telstar at 2:53 PM on October 15, 2007

nola, judging from your personaliy posting, these guys are right up your alley. This comp is a good place to start. 'Junior's Bar' which I linked in the post is rock music's equivalent to my favorite novel of all time, Richard Price's Ladies Man (NYT link)
posted by jonmc at 2:56 PM on October 15, 2007

The other day a friend mentioned going to see Springsteen soon and I had a post-punk, pre-geezer, po-mo moment.

I'm going to see Springsteen at the Garden day after tommorrow.

*is led off to glue factory*
posted by jonmc at 2:57 PM on October 15, 2007

In his recent Ottawa show, Springsteen brought out some Arcade Fire to keep the kids entertained.
posted by liam at 3:08 PM on October 15, 2007

Sweet...thank you !
posted by Jikido at 3:17 PM on October 15, 2007

Heartland Rock

/retches

Sorry for the "your favorite band sucks" response, but this is exactly the kind of band that punk was supposed to kill forever. Everything about them--every cliched song title, every horribly familiar photo (beard and vest combo? check!)--is a signifier for What Went Wrong with Rock in the Seventies. Leave them on the scrap pile of history.
posted by oncogenesis at 3:56 PM on October 15, 2007

No, my friend, What Really Went Wrong with Rock in the Seventies was stuff like this.
posted by The Card Cheat at 4:02 PM on October 15, 2007

Sorry for the "your favorite band sucks" response, but this is exactly the kind of band that punk was supposed to kill forever. Everything about them--every cliched song title, every horribly familiar photo (beard and vest combo? check!)--is a signifier for What Went Wrong with Rock in the Seventies. Leave them on the scrap pile of history.

Actually, I'd argue that Grushecky, Seger, Springsteen et al were proto-punks in a way (Seger literally so, his mid-sixties work would not sound out of place on the Nuggets comps). Just watch the No Nukes movie, where after an audience has been lulled by the likes of James Taylor & company's strummy folk-rock, Bruce launches into a Mitch Ryder medley. These guys were as fed up with the art-rockers and singer-songwriters (there's what really went wrong with Rock in the '70s), no matter what third-hand pseudo-punk cant you feel like quoting.

(beard and vest combo? check!)

fashion criticism? what are you, Mr. Blackwell?
posted by jonmc at 4:04 PM on October 15, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

No, my friend, What Really Went Wrong with Rock in the Seventies was stuff like this .

I just *knew* that was gonna be Rick Wakeman. Good call.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:13 PM on October 15, 2007

Richard Price's Ladies Man

Richard 'Clockers' Price? I thought I'd read all of his books. I wonder why that one doesn't appear on his backlist here in the UK?

The reviewer of that book, Jerome Charyn, writes a good NYC crime novel as well. The Issac Quartet is a great quartet of Bronx Police Procedurals.
posted by PeterMcDermott at 4:21 PM on October 15, 2007

Needs more By-Tor.
posted by jonson at 4:23 PM on October 15, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Richard 'Clockers' Price? I thought I'd read all of his books. I wonder why that one doesn't appear on his backlist here in the UK?

Yup. His pre Clockers output is similar in writing style, but very different in content from what came after. Details here.
posted by jonmc at 4:27 PM on October 15, 2007

(beard and vest combo? check!)

I'm going to guess, oncogenesis, that you've never spent any significant time in Pittsburgh? The late 70's/Early 80's are still going strong, especially among the 35 and up crowd. Frankly, I'm surprised that he's sporting a complete beard, as the mustache/mullet combo is pretty much the standard. Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris, and WDVE pretty much defined the Pittsburgh popular music scene.

I love Pittsburgh. I hated it growing up, but after spending a few years in a much less interesting town, I've realized how endearing a failing, rust-belt city can be.

posted by god hates math at 5:28 PM on October 15, 2007

Good lord - I haven't even thought about these guys in over a decade. The last time they were on my mind was when I was trying to decide whether or not to keep the vinyl - which ultimately I decided I would never have a need (or want) to play again. Those songs don't seem to age well for me.
posted by Slack-a-gogo at 6:09 PM on October 15, 2007

ghm, you should come back to the 'burgh sometime. I haven't seen a mullet in a long time here, we might not be in the 21st century but we have left the early eighties. Most yinsers have adopted the horrible spiky jell look of our fearless mayor Luke.
posted by octothorpe at 6:18 PM on October 15, 2007

Needs more By-Tor.

Not without any snow dog it doesn't.
posted by psmealey at 7:21 PM on October 15, 2007

[this is good n'at]
posted by ALongDecember at 7:23 PM on October 15, 2007 [1 favorite has favorites]

Needs more By-Tor...Not without any snow dog it doesn't.

Ha! You both win!

Though, I ask you, how can there be nostalgia for these no-talent fucks when no one remembers Dramarama? Pennsylvania... Jersey, what's the fucking difference anyway?
posted by Tommy Gnosis at 7:36 PM on October 15, 2007

no matter what third-hand pseudo-punk cant you feel like quoting

Touched a nerve, eh?
posted by oncogenesis at 9:43 PM on October 15, 2007

no match for michael stanley band. cleveland rocks!
posted by Hat Maui at 10:25 PM on October 15, 2007

Axel: Fuckin A!

Me: I just listened to that "Junior's Bar" video. Not a good song. If the rest are anything like that, it's no wonder they didn't make it big.
posted by pracowity at 3:51 AM on October 16, 2007

Joe Grushecky, Donnie Iris, and WDVE pretty much defined the Pittsburgh popular music scene.

Don't forget the Clarks!
posted by Chrysostom at 7:45 AM on October 16, 2007

Don't forget the Clarks!

Oh damn, I had forgotten about the Clarks. How many times did I see them playing at Point State Park during the Three Rivers Arts Fest? Too many. And Brownie Mary! Oh, the memories...

Most yinsers have adopted the horrible spiky jell look of our fearless mayor Luke.

Oh my. I'm sure my view was tainted - The last few years I lived in da 'Burgh (2002 or so), I held a series of blue-collar jobs (warehouse work, butcher shop), and I was the only guy that wasn't sporting a nose-neighbor and a mullet. I've only been back maybe twice since the boy Mayor took office. That picture makes me worry that Pittsburgh is going to become the next New Jersey. Ewww.
posted by god hates math at 9:24 AM on October 16, 2007