Live and Learn With the Hard Lessons

by Joe Schwab
Photos by Jim Varvaris

The Second in the Euclid Sessions Series

The second in the Euclid Sessions series took place November 23 featuring the heart poundin’, jaw droppin’, kick azzzzz Detroit Rock and or Roll unit the Hard Lessons. I stumbled into the Lessons a couple years back at a CMJ forum in Cleveland. I’d been warned about these guys earlier that day by Detroit’s resident gig poster master Mark Arminsky who proclaimed them the best band in Detroit. After seeing them warm up the Beachland Ballroom crowd that night, I knew what Mark was talking about. They proceeded to blow away the two fellow Detroit headliners, Detroit Cobras and The Dirtbombs. Sorry, I don’t mean to mock the Cobras or D. bombs, both were great that night, but it was just one of those magical evenings, the stars were aligned in the smoggy Cleveland mist and The Hard Lessons killed!

Since that fateful night, I’ve taken to making sure these guys have a place to play every time there schedule brings them through the Heartland. This is the third time the Lessons have graced the Euclid Stage, but the first time without the mighty hammer of longtime drummer The Anvil or as his friends call him, Christophe Zajac-Denek. Not to worry though, the torch was carried on beautifully by Mark Dawson the man who booked THL’s first Detroit gig.

The warm-up for the in-store was a sweaty gig at Cicero’s the night before. That show gave us a taste of what we’re going to be plopping down for posterity on vinyl this coming spring. Guitarist Augie Visocchi wrote a song about our little town on the Mississippi (take note RCGA), a rousing number called "Gateway City." References in this song could only be done by a native of St. Louis or someone who’s spent far too many hours traveling the roads between The Casino Queen and Blueberry Hill. Bet on the latter. Augie nailed it and came out swingin’ like Pujols jumpin’ on a fastball in August. This was followed by a dead on cover of Uncle Tupelo’s "Graveyard Shift" sung by the lovely Koko Louise bringing a female slant to the song but staying true to the brilliance of the finest Rock band St. Louis has produced since Chuck Berry and Johnnie Johnson joined forces.

The set was filled out by songs from The Hard Lesson’s latest recording B & G Sides, a box set of 4 separate 3 song EP’s and their rockin’ Wise Up EP from a couple years back. I’d also be remiss if I didn’t mention, guest vocalist and personal friend of mine, Mr. C.J. Schwab, who came up to croon the Visocchi/Schwab composition, "The Taquito Song."

Look for The Hard Lessons Euclid Sessions 7" this spring at our new Euclid Sessions website www.euclidsessions.com . The art print will by done by Michigan artist Craig Horky with extra goodies to be included in the package. We'll also be posting Hard Lessons videos as filmed by Bootleg John on our upcoming YouTube channel.