Rascally Remainders Rock Out the 9:30 Club

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Despite rumors to the contrary, famous authors are people, too. And like regular people, they need to occasionally decompress, i.e., let loose, go wild, let their freak flags fly, get silly, let their hair down. Some introspective, best-selling authors might prefer to let down their hair in a controlled environment, away from the spotlight, behind closed doors, alone. These authors wouldn’t cut it with The Rock Bottom Remainders. The Remainders are a ragtag band of well-known literary rascals who defiantly (grammarians, be damned) let their hair down in the public eye. And they live to embellish about it afterwards, amid a bar room of ordinary folks, with nary a rotten tomato in sight.

The Remainders, as unique and energetic a stage act as any garage band you’d ever pay good money to see, also happen to be famous enough (at least in book-loving circles) to name drop: Dave Barry on lead guitar, Amy Tan on vocals, Mitch Albom on keyboards, Scott Turow on vocals, Greg Iles on lead guitar, Kathi Kamen Goldmark on vocals, James McBride on saxophone, Ridley Pearson on bass, and Roy Blount Jr. (self-proclaimed crowd pleaser, complete with Uncle Sam top hat).

For those counting at home, these literary lions of rock have published more than 150 titles, sold more than 150 million books, and been translated into more than 25 languages.

What’s more, they know how to exhibit wads of charm and contagious fun on stage, all while raising funds for charity and putting aside their gift to leak supreme on paper for joyful sounds often recognizable as sing-a-long music.

In their 18 years of existence, The Remainders have raised close to $2 million dollars for charity through concert tours. The group first performed at the 1992 American Booksellers Association convention in Anaheim. In addition to the literary band members, rock legends such as Bruce Springsteen and the late Warren Zevon have done guest appearances.

For a band that hails itself as “not as bad as you would expect,” these “geniuses of the pen,” as master of ceremony Blount, Jr., introduced them on Wednesday night, gave their best impression of a lighthearted Spinal Tap meets The Monkees – with props, costumes and rhythm to boot – at the 9:30 club on 9th and V streets. Some of the night’s more memorable performances included a Blonde-wigged Amy Tan singing “One Way or Another” and a boyish-looking Mitch Albom channeling Davy Jones in “I’m a Believer.” Albom later came out dressed like Elvis Presley. He did all in his power to gyrate like the King and surprised the audience with a quick strip to a new, hideous costume.

Greg Iles, a No. 1 New York Times best-selling author, showed his musical chops on an original 12-bar blues number called “Big Best Seller Blues.” Iles deadpanned that “Faulkner’s a punk” in one verse, poked fun at Tom Clancy and James Patterson, and joined his band mates with the closing boisterous crescendo, “All you critics, kiss my ass.”

Mystery suspense novelist Scott Turow appeared to really enjoy dancing to the beat and hamming it up for the cameras. Toward the end of the 95-minute show, he brought his daughters to the stage for a spirited version of “Wild Thing.” Turow has said in the past that he’s the least talented, musically, of the band members and he’s simply “out there as a sight gag and living proof that The Remainders don’t take themselves too seriously.”

Roger McGuinn, a founding member of The Byrds, made a very special guest appearance and joined The Remainders for five of their roughly 22 entertaining songs. McGuinn pleased the packed house with tender renditions of The Byrds trademark covers, “Mr. Tambourine Man,” “My Back Pages,” and “You Ain’t Going Nowhere,” all written by Bob Dylan, and Pete Seeger’s “Turn! Turn! Turn! (to Everything There is a Season),” as well as the 1965 Byrds original, “I’ll Feel a Whole Lot Better.” Crime fiction novelist and part-time bassist Ridley Pearson filled a tall order by accompanying McGuinn on “You Ain’t Going Nowhere,” and did a fine job singing alternate verses. Humorist Dave Barry also held his own on rhythm guitar, following McGuinn’s 12-string Rickenbacker lead.

Kathi Kamen Goldmark, who founded The Remainders, playfully turned a few select puns in what appeared to be an original or a spoof on an oldie, “She never said, ‘between you and I’ ” with a suitable punch line: “Frankly I’m not interested in men who split their infinitives.”

Kathi entertainingly danced and cavorted on stage with her husband, Sam Barry, Dave Barry’s brother, who happens to blow a mean harp. Sam Barry is the author of the humorous book, How to Play the Harmonica: and Other Life Lessons (Gibbs Smith Publisher, 2009) and co-author with his wife, Kathi, of Write That Book Already! The Tough Love You Need to Get Published Now (Adams Media, May 2010).

For The Remanders, this was the second consecutive night of consorting with citizens of the nation’s capital. On Tuesday, they participated in a far-ranging conversation hosted by veteran newsman Sam Donaldson at the Harman Center for the Arts. Barry, in his inimitable way, discussed how he managed to win a Pulitzer Prize.

Proceeds from the 2010 Wordstock Tour support World Vision, a non-profit providing ongoing relief in Haiti; as well as local organizations including the America‟s Promise Alliance; the Free Library of Philadelphia; and New York City‟s 92nd Street Y. In addition to underwriting the tour, the Pearson Foundation is donating five new children’s books for each ticket sold to public schools in each tour city in the four-city east-coast concert series (Washington, D.C., on 4/21, Philadelphia on 4/22, New York on 4/23 and Boston on 4/24).

Remainders Song List (mostly complete)
The House is Rockin’
Paperback Writer
One Way or Another – Amy Tan as Blondie on lead vocals
I’m a Believer – Mitch Albom as Davy Jones on lead vocals
Hey Baby (I Want to Know If You’ll Be My Girl)
Da Doo Ron Ron
Mr. Tambourine Man
Turn! Turn! Turn!
My Back Pages
634-5789
In the Midnight Hour
Who Cares?
Love Me and Jailhouse Rock – Mitch Albom as Elvis Presley on lead vocals
Big Bestseller Blues – Greg Ives on lead vocals and guitar
Leader of the Pack – Amy Tan on lead vocals
She Never Said “Between You and I”
I’ll Feel A Whole Lot Better
You Ain’t Going Nowhere
Wild Thing
Gloria