Clarence Bucaro at The Living Room

By Jordi Oliveres

If  a visitor from another planet was asked to guess the state of the world based purely on the lyrics of popular music, the first decades of the 21^st century would seem among the most peaceful and harmonious, and the 60's the bloodiest and most turbulent. Even though, in many ways, the world is a much better place than it was 50 years ago, there is still plenty to complain about—war, famine, Justin Bieber—so it’s shocking to realize almost no protest music travels our airwaves. 

Traveling to Jerusalem, Cuba, Russia, Morroco, and the West Bank helped Clarence Bucaro realize the world is still a pretty shitty place, and he decided to write songs about it. He played some of these songs at The Living Room on Thursday night for a small, but thoughtful crowd. The Cleveland native’s music is mostly in a Southern minor blues style, with occasional flourishes of gospel that have led critics to compare him to a Moondance-era Van Morrison. Songs like “Renew My Faith In You,” with its startling changes in dynamics and mellow guitar solos, bring Jeff Buckley and, in some ways, even John Mayer to mind.

Even though Bucaro performs with only a bass player and a drummer, the trio fills up the room in an impressive way. The skill with which the band handles dynamics and backing vocals gives the choruses an extra punch, and Bucaro’s gloomy harmonies, on both guitar and piano, consistently set the angsty mood he is going for.

“Dangerous Secret,” from Bucaro’s upcoming fifth album, Walls Of The World, was one of the highlights of the night. The upbeat drum groove combined with a dark chord progression (played with a creepy surf-rock flanger effect) and the crawling bass line created a portentous atmosphere that perfectly matched the song’s ominous lyrics. Bucaro switched from guitar to piano for “Child of War,” a song inspired by the birth of his son. The latter asks questions like: “Why does a child strap on a bomb?” that perfectly illustrate the blunt protest spirit of Bucaro’s music. 

Walls Of The World will be released on April 3^rd; a CD release show is scheduled for Rockwood Music Hall on April 4^th.