By ERIC SCHELKOPF
Toronzo Cannon is not the type of musician to just shut up and play.
The acclaimed Chicago blues musician believes music can be used to talk about a number of topics, which he does on his new album, the aptly named "Shut Up And Play!" The album is his third album on esteemed Chicago-based Alligator Records.
"Shut Up And Play!" is co-produced by Cannon and Alligator president Bruce Iglauer.
Cannon will perform at 8 p.m. June 6 at SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston, as part of an album release party. Tickets range from $16 to $22, available at ticketweb.com.
He also will perform on the first day of the Blues on the Fox festival at 7 p.m. June 14 at RiverEdge Park, 360 N. Broadway, Aurora. Robert Randolph will take the stage at 9 p.m.
On the second day of Blues on the Fox, Wayne Baker Brooks will take the stage at 3 p.m., followed by Guy King at 5 p.m., Joanna Shaw Taylor at 7 p.m. and Big Head Todd and the Monsters at 9 p.m. Tickets to the festival are available at RiverEdge Park's website, riveredgeaurora.com.
I had the chance to talk to Cannon about the new album.
Q – Great talking to you again. The last time we spoke was in 2018, when you were still driving a bus for the CTA. Of course, you retired from the CTA in September 2020.
Speaking of 2018, I think that was the first time you played at Blues on the Fox. As far as your live shows, is that where you really find your mark and that you want to connect to people through your live shows?
For me, it's almost like having a conversation with the audience. I try to keep my shows conversational.
Ultimately, my goal is for everybody to have a good time. I'm going to take them on a roller coaster ride of what I've been going through.
We're going to end up having fun.
Q – Your latest album, “Shut Up & Play,” will be released on June 7. You have said the record is about the things that have been going on in your life since 2019. Do you see this as your most personal album to date?
Yes, definitely. I'm not just making up fantasy songs to make people feel good or make people feel a certain way.
I would hope that my songs resonate with the commonality of living in a society right now.
Q – As far as the title track, were there any events that inspired that song? Hopefully that was not something you’ve heard at any of your concerts.
No, not at all. Sometimes I'll be on social media and I might comment on a topic like voter suppression and some of my fans don't want to hear that part of my life.
Or I might comment about laws being made that I can't teach my daughter or my grandchildren or whoever about the history of this country. These are real serious subjects that have to be brought to light.
They don't want to hear about that unless it's put into a song, I guess. So I decided to just put it into a song.
If that's the only way to be heard as a musician, I'll just put it into a song.
I guess it doesn't sound like a complaint if there's a bit of music around it. If I'm being true to myself, if I'm being a true musician, I have to write these songs.
Q – How did your daughter react to the song “Message To My Daughter”? Do you hope a song like that, which talks about divorce, might help someone else’s daughter that maybe is in a similar situation?
Our relationship is way better. I'm hoping the song helps not just daughters, but also other fathers.
There are other fathers – and mothers – out there that are going through a divorce. It hopefully will spark an interest or a thought and that people will be able to get in touch with their children and vice versa.
Hopefully it will bring some understanding to that.
Q – I know that your daughter is a musician as well. I read an interview with her and she talks about how she hoped that people listening to her debut album, “Brown Sugar Baby,” had a healing experience and allowed themselves to deal with their emotions.
Do you hope “Shut Up & Play!” has a similar impact on people?
As humans, we all need some sort of validation of someone else's experiences. That's why some people like torch songs. They make them feel sad but the songs are also healing them in a way.
In life, all of us are presented with challenges. As musicians, we have to write about them if we're being honest with ourselves and our fans.
Q – It seems that a song like “I’m Not Scared,” off your 2019 album, has an even greater relevance today than when it was first released, given what has been happening in the country in the last few years. The song is about the struggles of an abused woman, a gay teen and an immigrant.
Did you see that coming at all?
I just write the songs for the time. I didn't foresee anything going on like what is going on now.
I hope we can get over ourselves as humans and just give people basic respect.
Q – You are from Chicago and you are a blues musician. Do you feel a responsibility to keep the blues alive?
Yes, I do, more so on the Chicago side. Chicago is a hub for the blues.
I want to keep the blues alive in the conversation. The genre itself is not dead, but we do need more conversations and more stories and original music coming out of Chicago.
Q – You were talking about Buddy Guy. He supposedly is on his last tour and he's 87 years old, but I think he might end up playing shows for another 10 years.
I hope it will just be a scaled down thing. He's still the face of Chicago blues right now.
I need him and the blues community needs him. He's the last guy who was face to face with Muddy Waters.
Q – You're 56 years old. Do you see yourself still going at it at 87?
God willing, yes. I don't see why I would stop.
If I can still play guitar and maybe jump around and be interesting and write original songs, I wouldn't stop.
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