American “Road” Revival

Case Conrad’s American Experience

Jack Kerouac immortalized the American road in his magnum opus, On the Road. He hitchiked, traveled by bus, transported cars to new destinations, and relied heavily on the generosity of friends and strangers alike. This type of experience is all but dead in our post-modern era; where we fear hitchikers and strangers, and traveling by car across country is often dismissed as a pipe dream. Or is it? Sweden’s, Case Conrad is one of many bands traversing the countryside and reviving this bygone dream of the road.

Imagine flying to another country with a guitar on your back, a suitcase with some clothes and tons of CDs, and a loose plan of places you’d like to play. Now imagine you can’t buy a car, and you’ve decided to hitchhike, take a Greyhound bus, rent a car occasionally, and stay with old friends and new friends who were strangers just hours before. That’s the life that Case Conrad is living. They are essentially living out Kerouac’s existence circa the late 1940’s through early 1950’s. They flew into NYC and spent two weeks there, then to Boston for a couple of shows, down to DC where they spent a traditional Thanksgiving with folks who were just strangers hours before, and then managed to get rides to Fredericksburg, VA and then Charlotte for a little excursion.

Last night they played Greenville, and did what a friend likes to call the G-vegas Trifecta. An interview and a song on the East Carolina University radio station (91.3 WZMB-THE MIGHTY ZOMBIE!), a four-song stint and CD signing at East Coast Music & Video (Greenville’s only independent RECORD store—yeah, I am an old dude), and then off to the Starlight Café where they played to a nice crowd of happy hipsters, music lovers, and university types.

Principal songwriter/vocalist/rhythm guitarist, Gustav Haggren, has been to the U.S. before, but it is Robert “Lucky” Johnson’s (guitar and keyboard) first time in the states. The pair were unflappable. Gustav is as talented as he is gregarious, and he mixed in his personal stories of travel with several tracks off their new album, Dew Point. “It’s very cold in Sweden,” Haggren joked, “In fact, yesterday was the coldest day in 100 years. We’re glad we’re here” he said with a smile. “We finished a tour in Europe and didn’t want to stop, we just kept going ended up here.” It’s a good thing they did.

There’s something romantic that captures my spirit when I think about what Gustav and Robert are doing. I am filled with enthusiasm for their journey, and hopeful that they return to Sweden fulfilled and renowned among the masses of new fans they garner from city to city. Last night I thought, “this is the closest thing to Kerouac I will ever see or know.” It might be, and so I will follow their exploits as they head to new destinations. You can read their travel blog, and you should check out Case Conrad as they barnstorm the southern U.S. on their way to California.

Case Conrad Tour Dates

Dec 01 – Bobo Gallery
22 Lexington Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801.
http://www.bobogallery.com/

Dec 02 – Springwater Supper Club (10pm)
115 27th Ave N, Nashville, TN 37203
http://www.myspace.com/springwater

Dec 05 – Stash House
32 N. Cooper. Memphis, TN 38104.
http://www.facebook.com/stashmemphis

Dec 06 – McComb Campfire
McComb, MS

Dec 14 – Cheer Up Charlie’s
1104 E 6th St. Austin TX

Jan 6 – Don Quixote’s International Music Hall
Near Santa Cruz, Highway 9 in Downtown Felton, CA 95018

Jan 30 – Room 5 – LAST SHOW OF USA TOUR!
143 North La Brea, 2nd floor. Los Angeles, CA 90036
http://www.room5lounge.com/

Other dates to be determined