Clarks keep rocking with concerts

Thursday, August 24, 2006 The group is talking about releasing a new album in 2007. By JOHN BENSON VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT After nearly two decades together, The Clarks can still rock. While aspirations of major label success came and went for the Pittsburgh-based group, its members are getting the last laugh with a successful career based on an engaging live show. Considering the concert stage has become the band's calling card, it seemed the time was right to release its first DVD/CD set, titled "Still Live." "I think we had gotten to a point where we realized that we really hadn't had any kind of documentation visually of the band," said guitarist Rob James. "There had been talk about doing something a long time ago but it had fallen through the cracks." He added, "For us, it's all about playing the live shows. Fortunately, it's really been a great run with that and we're very fortunate. Not a lot of bands can sustain a career like that." Taped during a four-night stand last December at Mr. Small's Theatre in Pittsburgh, the live concert features fan favorites such as "Let it Go," "Boys Lie," "Penny on the Floor" and "Cigarette." Other priorities This is an interesting time for The Clarks as its members — James, Scott Blasey (vocals/guitar), Greg Joseph (bass) and Dave Minarik (drums) — pull back the throttle on touring in favor of more family time and special-project focus. The latter includes solo albums by Blasey and Joseph. Still, The Clarks is the main focus with a new album being talked about for a possible 2007 release. However, there appears to be a change in the mix regarding how the band goes about writing its next effort. "I would just like to have it be a record that we really feel comfortable making as a band and one that's really focused," James said. "Some of us started to feel like, 'Whatever happened to the days we'd write songs, play them live, kind of flesh them out and see what felt good about these songs and try different parts in front of an audience?'" Perhaps the band will have plenty of improvisational opportunities this January when it boards the S.S. Bonnarroo for a jam-fest cruise on The Rock Boat VII through the Bahamas with such acts as Sister Hazel, Better Than Ezra, Collective Soul, Cowboy Mouth and more. "We did one before and it was really great, really awesome," James said. "I was skeptical at first but then we got on and you're hanging with all of these bands you've played shows with around the country that you never see and there are all of these people there to see the bands, there is music going on for almost 24 hours a day." He added, "It's kind of like — I don't want to say a B-tier — but it's bands who have built an established following across the country who are sort of making a living doing it, making this a career." As far as any regional shows for the group, James said Youngstown has a special place in the heart of the band. You can see The Clarks on Saturday outdoors at The Cellar in Struthers. "Oh yeah man, Cedars," James said. "That's where we first started playing in Youngstown years and years ago. I remember being in the back room of Cedars and having Scott play a song called 'Penny on the Floor' for us that he was kicking around. We were like, 'Wow, all right.'" The Clarks will play at 8 p.m. Saturday outdoors at the Cellar, 162 S. Bridge St., Struthers. Tickets are $17 in advance and $20 at the door. Call (330) 755-3281.