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Big Head Todd & the Blues

The idea was to throw a 100th birthday party for the most influential blues musician that ever lived: Robert Johnson. For Big Head Todd & the Monsters, the plan grew to include a tribute album (100 Years of Robert Johnson) and a tour with some of the oldest living legends of the blues. But, aside from a cover of the John Lee Hooker party song “Boom Boom,” the Monsters are not known for being a true-blue blues band. Front man and band namesake Todd Park Mohr says the Johnson tribute was really the brainchild of his manager.

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“I fought heavily against it, actually,” Mohr laughs. “I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the blues, because it’s always been a challenge. It could be the worst music or the best music in the world.” Big Head Todd & the Monsters began in 1986 out of a friendship between Mohr, Brian Nevin, and Rob Squires, students at Columbine High School. The three remain the nucleus of the band (Jeremy Lawton took over on keyboards in 2003).

Johnson was a 1930s-era bluesman who could sound like three people playing at once. “I was a little skeptical about covering Robert Johnson because he’s a tough cover for a lot of people,” says Mohr. Mohr says his own simmering roots-style guitar has been affected by going back and absorbing such early blues masters. “There’s a spirit in the music that needs to be revisited or represented in some way. My life’s been kind of revolutionized by it, and I’m excited to be a part of sharing it.”

The “Blues at the Crossroads” event includes David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, Cedric Burnside, and Lightnin’ Malcolm.

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS: Anthology, Sunday, January 30, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 877-828-0891.

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The idea was to throw a 100th birthday party for the most influential blues musician that ever lived: Robert Johnson. For Big Head Todd & the Monsters, the plan grew to include a tribute album (100 Years of Robert Johnson) and a tour with some of the oldest living legends of the blues. But, aside from a cover of the John Lee Hooker party song “Boom Boom,” the Monsters are not known for being a true-blue blues band. Front man and band namesake Todd Park Mohr says the Johnson tribute was really the brainchild of his manager.

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“I fought heavily against it, actually,” Mohr laughs. “I’ve had a love-hate relationship with the blues, because it’s always been a challenge. It could be the worst music or the best music in the world.” Big Head Todd & the Monsters began in 1986 out of a friendship between Mohr, Brian Nevin, and Rob Squires, students at Columbine High School. The three remain the nucleus of the band (Jeremy Lawton took over on keyboards in 2003).

Johnson was a 1930s-era bluesman who could sound like three people playing at once. “I was a little skeptical about covering Robert Johnson because he’s a tough cover for a lot of people,” says Mohr. Mohr says his own simmering roots-style guitar has been affected by going back and absorbing such early blues masters. “There’s a spirit in the music that needs to be revisited or represented in some way. My life’s been kind of revolutionized by it, and I’m excited to be a part of sharing it.”

The “Blues at the Crossroads” event includes David “Honeyboy” Edwards, Hubert Sumlin, Cedric Burnside, and Lightnin’ Malcolm.

BIG HEAD TODD & THE MONSTERS: Anthology, Sunday, January 30, 6 p.m. and 9 p.m. 877-828-0891.

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San Diego Reader 2024 Music & Arts Issue

Favorite fakers: Baby Bushka, Fleetwood Max, Electric Waste Band, Oceans, Geezer – plus upcoming tribute schedule
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4S Ranch Allied Gardens Alpine Baja Balboa Park Bankers Hill Barrio Logan Bay Ho Bay Park Black Mountain Ranch Blossom Valley Bonita Bonsall Borrego Springs Boulevard Campo Cardiff-by-the-Sea Carlsbad Carmel Mountain Carmel Valley Chollas View Chula Vista City College City Heights Clairemont College Area Coronado CSU San Marcos Cuyamaca College Del Cerro Del Mar Descanso Downtown San Diego Eastlake East Village El Cajon Emerald Hills Encanto Encinitas Escondido Fallbrook Fletcher Hills Golden Hill Grant Hill Grantville Grossmont College Guatay Harbor Island Hillcrest Imperial Beach Imperial Valley Jacumba Jamacha-Lomita Jamul Julian Kearny Mesa Kensington La Jolla Lakeside La Mesa Lemon Grove Leucadia Liberty Station Lincoln Acres Lincoln Park Linda Vista Little Italy Logan Heights Mesa College Midway District MiraCosta College Miramar Miramar College Mira Mesa Mission Beach Mission Hills Mission Valley Mountain View Mount Hope Mount Laguna National City Nestor Normal Heights North Park Oak Park Ocean Beach Oceanside Old Town Otay Mesa Pacific Beach Pala Palomar College Palomar Mountain Paradise Hills Pauma Valley Pine Valley Point Loma Point Loma Nazarene Potrero Poway Rainbow Ramona Rancho Bernardo Rancho Penasquitos Rancho San Diego Rancho Santa Fe Rolando San Carlos San Marcos San Onofre Santa Ysabel Santee San Ysidro Scripps Ranch SDSU Serra Mesa Shelltown Shelter Island Sherman Heights Skyline Solana Beach Sorrento Valley Southcrest South Park Southwestern College Spring Valley Stockton Talmadge Temecula Tierrasanta Tijuana UCSD University City University Heights USD Valencia Park Valley Center Vista Warner Springs
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