Do You Believe In Magic?

Back in February 1964, it's pretty safe to say a good deal of the United States had turned British. Between the sweeping melodies of The Beatles, the irresistible hooliganism of The Stones and The Kinks, the bowl haircuts, the Liverpool accents, pop fans here decided, decisively, that anything American was so uncool, that they suddenly couldn't tell the difference between The Beach Boys and Pat Boone.

Then, however, as in any good debate, came the clever response. Brian Wilson started writing the best music of his life, Bob Dylan went electric and several homegrown groups presented a musical response to the Brits that knocked them right on their teakettles. California's Byrds presented one alternative in the guise of chiming, mystical folk-rock. The Young Rascals blew the doors down with their punky, white boy soul music.

And, from New York  City, came The Lovin' Spoonful.

Rocking hard, dressed in jeans, T shirts and vests, like a bunch of smart, enlightened Ed Nortons, The Spoonful, led by John B. Sebastian and his ridiculously witty, bracingly melodic songs, redressed the balance. They had hit-after-hit, incorporating pop music changes and laced with traces of blues, folk and country, not to mention wordplay that Dylan or Dorothy Parker might have admired. 

Sebastian, the architect of that sound—which is still heard regularly on the radio—will be performing at The Watercolor Cafe on Sunday.

"In a way, we were harkening back to our roots, when we formed the band," said Sebastian recently. "Sure, when you're a young kid, you get an acoustic guitar and learn things like 'House of the Rising Sun.' But I also loved 50's rock and roll. Still, perhaps the most important motivating factor for forming a group? It was about girls. I went to prep school in New Jersey and there was a Catholic girl's school nearby. I learned pretty early that girls are attracted to rock bands with loud guitars."

Sebastian is also quick to acknowledge Erik Jacobsen, the Spoonful's producer, who guided them down that rock and roll path. Not to mention Sebastian's lieutenant, his second-in-command, the band's late, beloved lead guitarist, Zal Yanovsky.

"Zally loved guys  like Duane Eddy, Bill Black (Elvis Presley's guitarist) and Hubert Sumlin who played with Howlin' Wolf. Those fellas were great. And loud! So all those influences were kicking around, too, when we started."

Along with drummer, Joe Butler, and bassist, Steve Boone, The Lovin' Spoonful made a mighty, tuneful racket, helped along by "6 sets a night" at New York City clubs like The Night Owl. But what set them apart from all contemporaries—except The Mamas and The Papas—was what Sebastian modestly refers to as their "songwriting muscle."

Meaning, of course, his.

From '65-'68—and afterwards in Sebastian's solo work—there came a rush of songs so diverse, intoxicating and memorable that everyone from Tom Petty to will.i.am. still get misty talking about them. Gems like "You Didn't Have To Be So Nice," "Summer In The City," "Rain On The Roof" and "Darlin' Be Home Soon."

When asked if Sebastian (who will mix folksy root tunes and originals on Sunday) still has his mind blown when younger songwriting giants name check him in print, he replies with his typically laid-back gusto.

"It never gets old," he said chuckling. "I mean Tom Petty has mentioned me many times and Elvis Costello used to do a song of mine, 'Room Nobody Lives In,' that very few people know. But the younger guys, the rappers, that has been a trip."

Sebastian goes on to say that "about 10 years ago" numerous emcees were sampling his hit "Welcome Back"—from the TV show Welcome Back Kotter—like nobody's business. Then there were those kind words from Black Eyed Peas superstar, will.i.am.

"He was asked not too long ago, if you could put the perfect band together, who would be in it? He said he'd have Eric Clapton on guitar and the usual big names. Then he said, 'And, of course, any tune by John Sebastian.' That was really nice."

There are more reminiscences about Sebastian's days growing up and living in Greenwich Village. Recording with the legendary, drug-fueled songwriter, Tim Hardin ("He was always asking Erik Jacobsen for $50 for, like, flowers, then disappearing for a day"), playing with the beautiful Maria Muldaur ("She was so lovely, I use to stake out her apartment") and stories about The Everly Brothers.

And it's time to wrap things up. But then Sebastian talks a bit about the weirdly charismatic TV host, Ed Sullivan, the man who helped introduce The Spoonful to America at large.

Unwittingly, perhaps, it's a fitting statement about, not only the band, but John Sebastian's singular, yet still popular, approach.

"I know Ed was not perceived as the coolest guy. But he had The Lovin' Spoonful on his show a couple of times and he totally got us. He was in on the fact, that, especially in the wake of the British Invasion, this was an extremely American musical style. He appreciated that. And what's more? He really liked it."

INFO: John Sebastian will be at the on Sunday, March 27, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $70. For more information call 914-834-2213