Joel Cage is the consummate musician and
the consummate performer. Hitting over 200 gigs a
year, Joel is always working on his craft, but
always has time to share a laugh with a fan and a
friend (often the same person). A veteran of such
bands as Big Sixteen, Gramolini, and The
Subterraneans, Joel has played with the likes of
Roy Orbison, Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Money, and
Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes, with whom he
toured for over three years. In recent years,
Joel's proverbial mantle has become overloaded with
awards and accolades. Having won the USA
Songwriting Contest for three years in a
row(!), Joel is also the winner of the 1998
John
Lennon Songwriting Contest winner. With
four CDs in the works and a rigorous tour schedule,
Joel shows no signs of slowing, and his fans
wouldn't have it any other way. I recently had a
moment to talk to Joel about what's been up and
what's coming up.
Boston SoundCheck Magazine: Hi Joel, how
you been?
Joel Cage: All is fine and well - thanks for
asking!
BSM: Word has it you have up to four new
albums in the works. Is that true?
JC: Yes indeed, I am currently prepared to
produce four new CDs in the coming year. I have a
"Live CD" that's reached the duplication stage of
production and should be "streetworthy" by the end
of February. My plans for the coming months are to
record and release three more CDs - one of cover
tunes that have become favorites amongst my
constituents, and two new all-original CDs. The
material is all set to go, but you never know what
may come down the pike in the interim, as I tend to
write more when I am recording, so by the midpoint
of the project there's bound to be a whole new body
of material in the works as well .. I intend to
maintain as much "fluidity" as possible allowing
for "flights of fancy and moments of inspiration"
to steer the project in any possible direction,
making the whole thing seem like one big
endeavor.
BSM: You have been performing primarily as a
solo artist for over five years now. Do you miss
the band format?
JC: In my current status as a
touring/performing musician, I find that I don't
miss the "band-thing" at all - rather I revel in
the autonomy, albeit a bit lonely at times. I do,
however, moonlight as a guitarist for my good
friend Al Halliday in his band The Griffins from
time to time. That, and living vicariously through
my many friends who perform in bands seems to both
satisfy and quell any urge that may simmer below
the surface to reexperience the "band-thing."
BSM: What are your fondest memories of
people you have worked with?
JC: Too many to enumerate, I'm afraid,
although there are many times I have dreamt of
reexperience some of the "good-old-days" with the
Jukes. The long travels, big stages, and loud noise
can be infectious, and is something you never stop
missing, I suppose.
BSM: Did you get to check in with Bruce
Springsteen when he was in town last year? Do you
keep in touch with your old band-mates?
JC: No, I did not partake of Bruce's recent
visit - too much for my blood nowadays. I do, once
every two or three years or so, make contact with
(Southside) Johnny - it's always a fresh
experience, especially now that we are "both
adults... " something that's been a long time
coming. There's always the possibility of the
chance meeting on the road with an ex-Juke as they
are all still out there working, but it's nothing I
would refer to as regular.
BSM: Do you consider yourself a strong
melody writer or a stronger lyricist? Which comes
first in your process?
JC: I tend to write songs as a whole on a
conceptual basis, and then go back and try to sort
out the details of my thoughts. But there's always
a "seed" that starts the process off, whether it be
lyrical or melodic in nature varies from song to
song.
BSM: One of the four rumored albums will be
a collection of your favorite covers. Any clues as
to who might be on there?
JC: I prefer not to say, but I am a lover of
great songs, and enjoy immensely the opportunity to
take a song that has moved me at one time or
another and deliver it up in a show as if it were
my own. I choose tunes that have had an impact on
me one way or another, or that say something that I
myself might have said or felt at some point in my
life. This makes it a much more personal endeavor,
and thus facilitates an honest expression of the
tune's sentiment.
BSM: What makes a song great for you?
JC:
My main barometer for this is usually whether or
not the song can stand up to being stripped of all
its production and still be engaging. This, in
fact, is one of the reasons I chose to eschew the
band arena - to perform in an environment where the
song and its presentation must stand strong without
any distractions to offer up the safety of
disguise. This may seem a bit enigmatic in
rhetoric, but to me, it's the simplicity of truth.
It matters not whether a song tell a story or
express a sentiment, whether it be complex or basic
in it's harmonic structure, or whether or not it
contains virtuosity in its performance. If, when
presented in it's simplest and most naked format,
it holds its own, then to me it's a great song.
BSM: Lately, it seems that you are suffering
from the "another year, another award" syndrome.
How was it winning first place in the USA
Songwriting Competition? What do you hope will come
of this latest accolade?
JC: It's an extreme honor to be chosen as
one out of many in any field or forum. Winning 1st
Prize in this year's USA SW Competition was as much
a thrill and honor the third time as it was the
first. I have no expectations regarding any
"outcome" from this. I am happy to say that this
year's USA win has enabled me the opportunity to
perform at the South by Southwest Music Conference
- an opportunity that I otherwise would not
have.
BSM: Are there any awards you still yearn
for?
JC: Yearning for awards is fruitless -
yearning is fruitless in general for my money, but
I will never stop entering contests and every
element of recognition is another bit of
inspiration that compels me to continue and endure.
I love my profession and the life that has allowed
me to continually pursue a "dream." all the while
performing a task which I simply love to do, and
make a living doing it. Contests and awards are a
part of the whole picture.
BSM: What else do you hope the 2K fairy
brings you?
JC: Enough money on which to survive, the
strength of spirit required to achieve the goals I
have set myself, and the inspiration to go on
creating.
BSM: Thanks, Joel!
JC: Backatcha Mr. Matt - Thanks for the
opportunity!
Joel Cage will be playing with Tom Dean on St.
Pat's Day at Bill's Bar on Lansdowne
Street.
