I want to begin this story with a shout out to the Downers Grove Public Library. Thank you for having a copy of Jonathan Richman’s 2004 album, Not So Much to Be Loved as to Love. I don’t know what compelled me to check it out. The cover art was not to my liking, and I hadn’t heard a lick of Jonathan’s music.
Okay, let’s be honest: I took it home because I could. Without the DGPL, I think I would’ve turned out differently. More well adjusted. I can remember the names of obscure bassists, but I can’t remember the name of my children’s dentist.
Anyway, Jonathan Richman. From 2010-2013, I was obsessed with Jonathan Richman. He had a deep catalog with no obvious duds, a bunch of terrific Conan performances, and this little old band called the Modern Lovers. This was also around the time I started making songs on guitar, and Jonathan was my north star.
As far as clothing, I always knew Jonathan looked cool, but it wasn’t until I launched this newsletter that I began seriously considering his legacy as a sharp-dressed man. Jonathan has a style all his own. Let’s open the N.E.H. style archive and learn more.
This is perhaps the best-known photo of Jonathan, taken when he was a young man. He led the Modern Lovers then. I trust you’ve spent many hours with their one and only album. It’s terrific.
Style-wise, Jonathan was already on his own tip. Look at his bandmates’ hairstyles. Curls, waves, volume, and length. Super ‘70s. Now look at Jonathan’s hairdo. He gets lumped in with the proto-punks, but even early on, he drew inspiration from BU coeds, WASPy coastal elites, and art-rockers. And look at that slightly saggy neckline.
Another well-known photo of Jonathan. Worry not, I’ll get to more obscure ones. Faithful N.E.H. readers know that we love a good college sweatshirt around these parts. And this is one good college sweatshirt. At the time, Lesley College (Cambridge, MA) was an all-female institution. Pan down to Jonathan’s bellbottoms and please consider joining me as I resurrect this style for the 21st century.
As much as I love goth, punk, and hardcore style, nothing moves me quite like prep. And seeing as Jonathan is the patron saint of this curious intersection, I can’t help but drool over his fisherman’s sweater, jeans, bedhead, and enormous guitar. The Midwesterner in me doesn’t immediately think to wear heavy woolen sweaters. I’m more of a flannel freak. I need heroes like Jonathan to keep me balanced.
Jonathan also had a taste for workwear and western-wear. As a young man, he wore a lot of denim. I’m also a denimhead. And though I’ve never owned a Texas belt buckle, maybe I’ll cop one at Alcala’s this summer. Finally, I love when men show some chest. Kathy can attest.
Chest hair is a powerful weapon that few men dare to equip. I’m a hairy guy. Am I not allowed to unbutton my Brooks Brothers oxfords? Of course not. Look at Jonathan. He looks great. I especially love his worn knees.
Moving backwards a bit, here’s Jonathan circa ‘77 wearing extreme cut-offs and a deep v-neck. That’s got to be a women’s blouse, no? I’m not crazy about this look, but I’m not mad at it, either. Jonathan’s doing his thing. He’s releasing songs like “Rockin’ Rockin’ Leprechauns,” “Ice Cream Man,” and “Here Come the Martian Martians.” Weird era for him, but his child-like songs and style inform my understanding of his whole career. He never took himself too seriously. The punks zigged; Jonathan zagged.
After the Modern Lovers broke up in 1974, Jonathan assembled another group called The Modern Lovers. That second group, with its rotating cast of characters, existed until 1988. This photograph seems to be from around that time.
Please notice Jonathan’s drummer, Johnny Avila (left), looking like the archetypal late ‘80s American man. Also note: the band made a terrific appearance on Canadian TV in 1987. When Harpo played his harp, it was a mystery.
In 1992, Jonathan released his fourth solo album, I, Jonathan. It’s so good! He spent much of the promo cycle wearing bold stripes that I (perhaps incorrectly) refer to as “Parisian.” Also, hooray! Craft Recordings reissued I, Jonathan on vinyl last year.
And in 1998, he appeared in the film, There’s Something About Mary. I haven’t seen it in many years. Did he get to choose his wardrobe? I wonder. The flat cap never stuck, and he doesn’t seem to be too fond of polo shirts, either. It was around this time that he linked up with current drummer, Tommy Larkins. That’s Tommy in the background. He’s stylish, too.
The aughts were strange. People used terrible digital cameras, uploaded their pics to now-defunct websites, and deleted the files. I did manage to find this snap from 2009, and it’s indicative of the direction Jonathan’s style moved that decade. Chamois shirts, crisp white tees, and wide-legged jeans.
I’m frankly obsessed with this photograph and fit. So much to unpack. First, yellow looks great on Jonathan. Second, you’ve got to respect a guy who gets his essentials from Carhartt. Third, the jeans! Wow, the jeans. I’m almost positive he’s wearing the same pair in this performance with Andrew Bird. They’re enormous. And on anybody else, toe-shoes are bad. On Jonathan, they’re not only not bad, they’re actually good.
Lots of internet style wannabes buy old workwear at markup and wear it for the fit pics. Maybe I’m one such person. Could be. Anyway, Jonathan builds ovens and patios when he’s not traveling the country singing his songs.
A couple months back, our notoriously internet-averse style icon went on Reddit and answered questions from his fans. He also shared his PO Box, so I wrote him a postcard. I like to write postcards. If you’d like one, please let me know. In my note to Jonathan, I asked him if he had a favorite shirt. His response:
Case closed!
Thank you for reading. Please consider supporting Jonathan’s new project, Just a Spark, On Journey from the Dark. And please consider subscribing to New Experimental Hours. Good bye!