Northern California’s own musical poet returns for a live performance.
By Ken Magri
It’s that time of year again when a true Northern California music icon comes to play at one of his favorite venues, which happens to be here in Chico.
Jackie Greene brings his singing, playing and songwriting talents to the Chico Women’s Club on May 29 at 7:30 p.m. in what has become something of an annual tradition for him.
Known for his wide range of musical skills and his live appearances with bands like the Black Crowes, Gov’t Mule, Phil Lesh & Friends and Chico’s own Mother Hips, one might imagine Greene to be an old soul with a head full of gray hair. Think again. At just 44, Greene performs like a well-seasoned veteran with enough confidence to weave other artists’ songs into his portfolio of original material.
Green’s style has been described as a blend of Americana, roots, blues, country and southern rock. The Grateful Dead’s Bob Weir, who Greene once toured with in an acoustic ensemble, called him “the cowboy poet of Americana and Blues.”
“I’d just call it rock and roll,” Greene said of his sound in a 2018 interview, explaining that his original influences were Ray Charles, Bob Dylan and Tom Waits, not to mention the hip hop he grew up listening to in Cameron Park, California.
Born in Salinas as Christopher Nelson, Greene created his stage name to reflect a favorite baseball hero, Jackie Robinson, and a favorite writer, Graham Greene. Later, he legally changed his name, saying it was too hard to cash checks written out to his stage name.
After high school, Greene relocated to Sacramento, where he broke through as a musical artist by playing covers and original songs at small venues like the Fox and Goose, a British style pub that regularly highlights undiscovered local talent.
Playing solo at open mics, Greene was eventually discovered by the owner of a Sacramento recording studio called Dig Music. Greene recorded his first CDs there, playing most of the instruments himself, while selling his music at other gigs where he performed.
Greene’s first CD, “Gone Wanderin’” was released 23 years ago. The title song, which still sounds fresh and vibrant, helped put his name on the map and brought attention from other established musicians who sought his talents.
Known more for playing guitars and mandolins with a harmonica around his neck, Greene is equally gifted when sitting at the keyboards.
“One of the attributes of the Women’s Club is that they have a beautiful Steinway piano,” said Chico music promoter Rick Anderson, who brings Greene in for the Women’s Club concerts.
While preparing for Greene’s first Chico appearance, Anderson said he heard some piano playing with his back to the stage.
“It sounded like Vladimir Horowitz or some classical pianist was tearing it up,” Anderson remembered. “I turned around and saw, ‘Wow, that’s Jackie!’”
“The Women’s Club venue is a great Chico atmosphere,” noted local resident Sue Rodriguez Schelldorf, who has been following Greene for a decade. “My sister-in-law made me a Jackie Greene quilt. I took it to the Women’s Club when he played and he signed it for me!”
Greene also posed for a photograph with his fan and her custom quilt.
Anderson says the Women’s Club shows feel more intimate like that – more “stripped down.” There are usually just a few musicians who will play sterling acoustic sets. Greene’s brother Alex Nelson, a fine musician in his own right, usually plays the Chico shows, though he’ll miss this year’s concert.
But even with a full band behind him, Greene may be at his best when performing solo with only an acoustic guitar, like on “Sweet Somewhere Bound,” which he often plays live. This song, from his 2005 CD of the same name, is tender and almost painfully sentimental as Greene’s lyrics and singing style can take a listener deep into introspection.
“When I die, Lord, when I die Lord, lay me somewhere soft and deep.
Tell my babies not to cry, no. I ain’t gone, I’m just fast asleep.”
Opening the show for Greene will be Chico’s own Aubrey Debauchery, another talented singer/songwriter who, like Greene, is hard to categorize.
“I’m billed as Aubrey DeLane on this show, but have been playing under the name Aubrey Debauchery since 2004,” she told News & Review. “For the past five years I’ve traded writing love songs for protest songs.”
Now living in Portland, Aubrey works more as a guitar technician with other performers, including Amos Lee and Lukas Nelson. But as an artist, she is quite comfortable with just a guitar and singing voice, bringing to the Women’s Club a polished set of feisty and sincere narratives on contemporary life.
“I’m honored to have been asked to play,” she added.
Anderson encourages attendees to arrive early, saying that the musicians’ merchandise will be available at the venue, as well as beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. The doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the music begins at 7:30.
Additionally, the last show of the year that Anderson is promoting at the Chico Women’s Club is guitar virtuoso Albert Lee on June 17. Lee is a British concert and session musician who has worked with Eric Clapton, Emmylou Harris and Ricky Skaggs, among many others.
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