Live! On Stage: Jonathan Richman Featuring Tommy Larkins On the Drums

The Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson presents a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the legendary musician Jonathan Richman play live at the museum, Friday, October 7 at 8:00pm.

Influential singer, songwriter, and guitarist Jonathan Richman and longtime collaborator and drummer Tommy Larkins premiere their 2022 Fall tour at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) Tucson with a special one-night-only show. Widely known as the founder of the iconic proto-punk band the Modern Lovers, and for his dynamic solo career, Richman offers a minimalist and distinctly personal audience experience that is “almost extinct in modern music” (Nashville Scene). Described as equal parts performance artist, spoken-word poet, flamenco improvisor, and comedic troubadour, Jonathan Richman’s artistic approach is improvisational, emotionally discerning, free from pretense or convention.

About his performances, Richman says “The music we’re doing now works well in quiet places like theaters and performing art centers. We still don’t use a program or a set list so we don’t know what we’ll do until we do it. Please do not expect old songs. Many singers my age do a retrospective; this show is not like that. It’s mostly stuff made up in the last 3 and 4 years. Some of the songs presented might be in different languages; this is not to be esoteric or clever, it’s because the different languages help me express different feelings sometimes. One last thing, my idea of a good show has nothing to do with applause. It’s about if all the songs I sang that night were ones that I felt.”