As someone who has loved to write about music since I was punk teenager, it is no surprise that Cameron Crowe’s movie “Almost Famous” (released in 2000) is one of my favorite movies (just after “Jaws” and “The Life Aquatic Steve Zissou” on THE list). The “Almost Famous” storyline that follows a young aspiring music writer who gets his big break covering the band Stillwater for Rolling Stone Magazine, and eventually finds his “way” by writing the truth (no puff pieces here) is just my cup of tea. Music runs through William Miller’s bones as it does many of us. The movie paints one of the most compelling tales of the too often true meteoric rise and crushing fall of being a rock star.
More recently, the highly publicized Amazon Prime miniseries “Daisy Jones and the Six” also presents an entertaining and honest tale of the roller coaster ride of musicians able to capture that magic in a bottle and connect with fans emotional search to feel something beyond life’s blah blah routine. The novel-turned-flick is loosely based on the early days of Fleetwood Mac and the love affair between Steve Nicks and Lindsay Buckingham. Watch it if you haven’t yet. The band depicted in Daisy Jones and the Six was the real deal. A “five-tool player” as they say in the sports world. They had it all, but the inferno faded fast, too fast for the band members and fans alike.
The band Last Tribe has a similar story.
Back in 2013, I wrote my first story about Last Tribe when they played a benefit at my good friend Brian Moran’s club (Bourbon Street of Nyack) for one of my childhood friends (John Novotny) who passed on to heaven way too young. Click here for that story.
If you were a high schooler or going to college during the early 90’s in the NYC suburb of Rockland County, that band was Last Tribe. Last Tribe was a cornerstone band at NYC’s Wetlands. Much like CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City before that, Wetlands was ground zero for live music in NYC for a good decade. Playing alongside bands like Phish, Blue Travelers, moe (who by the way I am going to see tomorrow at Penn’s Peak in PA), Spin Doctors, loyal fans packed the joint to see Last Tribe.
Here are two clips of the band from 1993 that captures their energy…
Last Tribe’s fresh take on music crossed a variety of upcoming genres (jam, punk, new wave) and ignited a passionate fanbase. Last Tribe had a robust catalog of original tunes and a hair standing live act. As a result of this success, the band was signed by Energy Records and released “Substance and Soul” in 1993. It would be their only studio album. The album should have been a catalyst for the next phase of their career.
Unfortunately “Substance and Soul” did not successfully capture the band’s energy and spirit when they played live. The record didn’t catch enough fire on rock and college radio, and Energy Records (focused on hardcore and metal rock) never properly position the band for success, as evidence by this “promo” reel to hype the “Substance and Soul” record…
Now thirty years after the band’s lone album, I sat and talked with lead singer John Smith (now now as Jon Atherton) about the band’s rise, fall and evolution. You can see and hear John’s full interview as part of the Music People Project. He is interview #33. (click here or watch below on YouTube).
I also spoke with two of the first and most supportive Last Tribe fans, John Lockwood and Tom Prendergast. Interesting enough when I mentioned that it was 30 years since the Last Tribe album was released… they both immediately questioned why the band’s anthem “Mind” was not included by the record label. As they shared stories of being young, reckless, full of piss and vinegar (lots of whisky and beer too), the guys smiled and were thankful for the good times they all had as a tribe of brothers rallied around Last Tribe. Isn’t that what live music is really about (at the start)…
One of my favorite stories from the “guys” was the time Last Tribe played in Detroit at the famed Harpos Club and ended up judging a hot body contest during one of their breaks. (see first pic below)!
The night Last Tribe opened for
Meatloaf at World Stage
Nothing lasts forever though…. as Dr. Neil says, “it’s better to burn out than to fade away.”
Both Last Tribe and Unspun had wonderful songs, solid following and put on an entertaining show. If there was anyone that could “make it”… it was John Smith. Smith had a calling though and never gave up on his journey.
For a change of scenery, John Smith moved on to new pastures in Northeastern Pennsylvania and formed a band called Bent Blue with guitarist buddy Pat Flynn (another very talented guitarist). The band had a college radio hit with “I’d Give Anything” and opened for Matchbox Twenty at Wachovia Theatre in Reading, PA. Bent Blue broke up soon after and evolved into the Underground Saints, my favorite John Smith-led band. This move kind of seemed like when a bar owner changes it names and menu to attract new customers. Click here to read a 2007 article on this transition in the Wilkes-Barre Times Leader).
Unlike Last Tribe, the Underground Saints had a good support team that pushed them out to the world. They toured lots and chatted up their album “Broken Machines” at every college and rock radio station this side of the Mississippi. The music video for the band’s first single “New Constellation” (below) is nicely polished and solid as a rock. The Underground Saints gained real traction when they opened for Kings of Leon at Scranton’s Montage Mountain.
After another nice run for Smith and friends, The Underground Saints disbanded (friends at least) when the sizzle did not lead them to the national stage. The journey is not easy. As Smith says in his Music People Project interview, ” a band has a life expectancy of five years to make it.”
Below John Smith is pictured at one of the band’s reunion shows in 2017 in the article published by one of the great music zines – Highway 81 Revisited. (Click here to read)
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John Smith of the Underground Saints playing at the Wilkes-Barre Kirby Center |
Once again, looking to make things happen, John Smith took his act to a new platform. Swinging for the fences this time, Smith’s ragged zigzag musical journey headed to Nashville!
Although John met some interesting and fun people, he soon learned there were way too many performers and writers saturated its stages and recording studios. Glad for the experience, but exhausted… he moved back to Pennsylvania a new man. Literally a new man, as he now performs under the stage name Jon Atherton. The man never gives up on his dream. I give him a lot of credit.
With a headful of new songs and fresh takes on older classic originals, Jon Atherton (formerly known as John Smith of Last Tribe, Unspun, Bent Blue and Underground Saints) is making another run for the roses. An intimate evening to share his story and songs is in the works for later this fall in Nyack, NY.
During our interview for the Music People Project, Jon Atherton played a few original tunes for me that are now available on YouTube.
“Mind” by Last Tribe. Written by Smith at 17 years old. It was THE most popular Last Tribe song.
(Click above or here to watch “Mind”).
“Treasure” by Bent Blue (2001 – 2006) – a song of hope for a friend in despair. (Click above or here to watch “Treasure” on YouTube).
“Into Your Light” – written in Nashville (2016) (Click above or here to watch “Into Your Light” on YouTube).
NOTE: Rick Dobbelaer has a bunch of vintage Unspun and Last Tribe videos posted on his YouTube page (click here to visit).
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