On Sept. 25, local guitarist Rob Mohan will join Glenn Jones of Cul De Sac for a special solo performance at SWELL Art Cafe, an art space set to open later this month in Camp Washington.
Mohan released his debut album, A Sign of Things to Come, a collection of eleven 6- and 12-string guitar pieces, in late August. It’s a gorgeous and self-assured record. For those who have heard him around Northside at spots like The Comet or Tillie’s, Mohan’s ability to captivate an audience is already well known. On A Sign of Things to Come, some pieces unfold slowly, like flowers opening, the drone of his 12-string carrying the full weight of each somber strum as notes vibrate and fade like ripples across disturbed water. Others dive directly into a bright melodic phrase, like the fittingly titled “Glenn’s Tune.” Dedicated to Jones, the track mimics his distinctive use of multiple capos on different frets to create hybrid tunings.
There are subtle nods to John Fahey throughout. Just as Dostoevsky claimed that all Russian writers emerged from Gogol’s overcoat, one could say all solo acoustic players emerge from Fahey’s shadow. The album also gestures toward landscapes and journeys with evocative titles like “The Avenue of Giants” and “The Great Golden Coast.” It ends with the brooding, seven-minute title track, which dissolves into the sound of an eerie wind. If this is a sign of things to come, the future may appear bleak. Yet, through Mohan’s music, a glimmer of hope cuts through the darkness.
Jones, meanwhile, has been shaping the world of solo acoustic guitar for decades. Best known for his work in the experimental rock group Cul De Sac during the ’90s and early 2000s, he has also built an acclaimed solo career with records like The Wanting and Fleeting, showcasing nimble fingerpicking and a style that moves between folk purity and raga-like improvisation. With his most recent album, Vade Mecum (2022), Latin for “come with me,” Jones invites listeners to join him on an exploratory, semi-autobiographical journey through song.
Additionally, Mohan and Jones will be joined by fellow guitarist and Boston native Liam Grant, whose excellent Prodigal Son was released in February of this year. Grant’s music moves fluidly between traditional folk and droning, overdriven improvisations, making his set well worth experiencing live.
Not knowing, prodigal sons and fleeting signs of things to come — Mohan, Jones and Grant all work within this space of mystery, crafting music as quiet revelations of the spirit. Together at SWELL Art Cafe, they promise an evening where the unknown becomes not a source of fear, but of beauty, curiosity and renewal.
Rob Mohan, Glenn Jones and Liam Grant play SWELL Art Cafe on Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.. More info: swellartcafe.com.
This story is featured in CityBeat’s Sept. 17 print edition.
This article appears in Sept. 17-30.