By Eileen Tilson
A few years ago I was watching the girliest of girl movies, Julie & Julia, and a song started playing. “Stop the Train,” caught my ear with its sweet lyrics and honest voice. After discovering the creator of this lovely song, I reached out to Mr. Wolfe, and surprisingly he wrote back. In era of dwindling attention spans, it is something of a shock to discover a musician who doesn’t want to shock, who doesn’t want to drive a dagger into the heart of modern music for fifteen megabytes of fame, who simply wants to write beautiful, timeless songs. But that’s precisely what you hear when you listen to Henry Wolfe’s refreshingly tasteful new album Linda Vista. Needless to say, I am a massive fan of Henry, and am excited to watch his success continue to grow. He is playing with Eleni Mandell tonight at The Earl, and I had the pleasure of chatting with him for our 5GB series.
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
Michael Jackson. The Bad World Tour in Melbourne Australia, where my family was living for a brief time. It was pretty late for me at 8 yrs old, but I stayed up the whole time. Nothing will ever compare…
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
I used to play jazz standards at Japanese after hours lounge near Downtown LA. It was on the bottom floor of a Knights Inn and there was a rumor that the lounge was really just a front for a brothel that operated out of the rooms in the motel. Friends would stop by and jam with me and all the drinks were on the house. Those were some of the best shows I ever performed.
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
Aside from MJ? Neil Young solo at the Wiltern in LA would have to take the cake. I was sitting next to Jack Nicholson and I asked him if he knew Neil. His reply (and you have to imagine Jack Nicholson saying this): “Henry, Neil and I have been friends for a looooong time.”
What is the gig you would most like to play?
Opening for Neil Young on his next solo tour.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young and Wolfe…
Catch Henry Wolfe tonight with Eleni Mandell at The Earl.
