It’s been five years since Creed Bratton’s outlandish fictionalization of himself serenaded his co-workers during the final minutes of The Office, done with a moving rendition of the acoustic tear-jerker “All The Faces” before being led away in handcuffs.
But even after more than 50 years of recording music, the 75-year-old singer-songwriter and actor is still going strong — and you’ll be able to witness it first-hand when he sets up shop at Cambridge’s Middle East on September 14 with what we can only imagine is a goldmine of songs and stories to share.
While he’s sure to ring out some grassroots-era magic from his acoustic guitar (and hopefully “All The Faces” so we can sob about The Office together in person) he’ll also bring some new tunes, by way of his most recent studio effort, While The Young Punks Dance, which dropped this past March.
As evident in an interview with The Young Folks earlier this year, Bratton isn’t trying to fill his stage show with tricks and gimmicks. He’s just having a good time doing what he loves, and is employing the same skill, charm, wit, and road-worn wisdom that has kept him such a highly-respected artist in so many capacities after all these years. “My music is old-fashioned in a way,” says Bratton. “There’s melodies in there, there’s thoughtful lyrics. I’m not following a formula, and I certainly don’t ever sit down to try to write a song to get on the radio. I just let my muse talk. So basically, it’s honest. I’ll say that. And after the show, they’ll leave with a few chuckles, I’m sure.”
Better than leaving in handcuffs, for sure.
CREED BRATTON :: Friday, September 14 at The Middle East, 472 Massachusetts Ave. in Cambridge, MA :: 6:30 p.m., 18-plus, $20 in advance and $25 day of show :: Advance tickets :: Featured image via Creed Bratton and IMDB