Charles Jordan might not be a name you recognize unless you’ve paid close attention to the Milwaukee music scene for quite a while. The singer, guitarist and songwriter was a member of The Nerve Twins in the 1980s and later was a member of Soda and did a brief stint as drummer in Maki.
While he set music aside for a while to open Foundation, a Riverwest bar, most everyone he’d worked with over the years had moved on. So, although Jordan could still be found every day at Foundation, 2718 N. Bremen St. -- and despite the fact that he continued to write music -- he had basically disappeared from the Milwaukee music world.
But that has changed and under the name Knit Delicate, Jordan has released “Pressed,” a CD that a mutual friend has called one of the two best local discs of the past year.
Jordan went to Richmond, Va., to record the disc with former cohorts Tim Buckley, John Daniels, Al Weatherhead and Miguel Urbitzondo (aka Mickey Rodridguez and Mickey Rad in his Milwaukee days). Those cats have worked with the likes of Sparklehorse and Cracker since leaving Milwaukee about a decade ago.
Melodic and poppy but with a satisfying slate of crunchy, jangly and twangy guitars, “Pressed” is an addictive mix of power pop and garage rock with alt.country overtones.
We recently asked Jordan about making “Pressed.”
OMC: Can you tell us a little about what you've been doing since Nerve Twins?
Charles Jordan: From 1995-‘98 most of my time was spent learning a new career (owning a bar, Foundation). By the time I got the business "running itself" all of my band mates had either moved out of town (Maki/Soda), moved on to other projects (like The Exotics, The Uptown Savages and The Lovelies), or started families.
I began writing music for my "new band" and lived above the bar. I would jam with people here and there, do some open mic stuff in the neighborhood, but I just couldn't get it all together. I’m not the best at being in charge, promoting, organizing practices, etc. So I just kept writing, figuring it would work out sooner or later. I didn't think it would take eight years!
The last five years I've been planning on going to Richmond and record with Al, John and Tim. I finally saved up some money, and nearing my 40th birthday, decided I better get to work.
OMC: How long have the songs on this record been spinning around your head?
CJ: A few of the songs have been around since '98 or ‘99 (“Abilene,” “D.O.”), and the rest are actually from this century. “Justify” and “The Closest” were written during the trip last October.
OMC: What made you decide to make the trip to record with Al, Mickey and the rest? Did it feel like old times?
CJ: The choice to record in Richmond was a simple one. I've always had a great working relationship with John, Al and Tim. We've played (together, in Soda), written and had many late night hootenannies over the years and they just know what I'm thinking. I don't have to explain. The hardest part was believing in myself enough to get up the courage to do it.
OMC: What's your plan for the disc? Are you shopping it and trying to get signed, just happy to have it out there?
CJ: I'm planning on getting some press and hopefully get some sort of distribution deal, to get the word out.
OMC: Are you planning on doing any gigs?
CJ: I'm currently looking for players here in town to showcase the songs. I hope to have some shows late spring. I plan on going back to Richmond early next year to start the next disc.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
