For over three decades, John McCrea has been the unmistakable voice and frontman of the band Cake, a group celebrated for their genre-bending sound and wry lyrics. Since Cake’s formation in 1991, McCrea’s distinctive vocals and songwriting have guided the band through six studio albums, countless tours, and memorable renditions of classic songs, solidifying their place in alternative rock history. As Cake embarked on their latest summer tour, John McCrea offered a glimpse into his world, sharing insights into the band’s unique approach to live performances, his unexpected stage antics, his commitment to social causes, and his ever-evolving relationship with songwriting. This exploration into the multifaceted persona of John McCrea reveals not just a musician, but a creative force deeply engaged with his art and the world around him.
Touring with a Twist: John McCrea’s Therapeutic T-Shirt Cannon
Cake’s live shows are renowned for their spontaneity and unconventional elements, and John McCrea’s recent adoption of a T-shirt cannon is a testament to this. Opening up about his stage presence, McCrea shared a humorous anecdote about the origins of this unusual concert feature. Inspired by a basketball game’s hot dog cannon, McCrea initially envisioned launching food into the audience, a plan quickly grounded by safety concerns. The T-shirt cannon emerged as a more practical, yet equally entertaining alternative.
Image alt text: John McCrea, lead singer of Cake, playfully aims a t-shirt cannon into the audience during a live concert performance, highlighting Cake’s engaging stage presence and McCrea’s interactive approach to entertaining fans.
For McCrea, the T-shirt cannon serves a surprisingly therapeutic purpose, helping to alleviate stage anxiety. “It kind of quelled my anxiety,” he explained, emphasizing the empowering feeling of launching merchandise into the crowd. This theatrical element, complete with a satisfying “thump” sound, shifts the focus away from the pressure of perfection, allowing McCrea and the band to embrace the role of entertainers and connect with the audience on a more playful level. As McCrea jokingly notes, it’s a reminder that “you’re just a clown—you’re just an entertainer, nothing matters, and we’re all gonna die soon,” a darkly comedic perspective that underscores Cake’s unique brand of performance art.
The Spontaneity of Sound: Ditching the Setlist for Authentic Performance
Adding to Cake’s distinctive live experience is their deliberate rejection of setlists. John McCrea revealed that early in the band’s career, he felt constrained by predetermined song orders, feeling “like a machine” dictated by a fixed structure. This realization led to a conscious decision to abandon setlists, opting instead for spontaneity and allowing the band to choose songs based on their feeling in the moment.
This approach, McCrea believes, creates a more genuine and enjoyable experience for both the band and the audience. By asking themselves “what we feel like playing” after each song, Cake ensures that their performances are driven by authentic energy and present emotion. While acknowledging the difficulty in naming a definitive favorite song to perform live due to this ever-changing dynamic, McCrea expressed a fondness for revisiting tracks from Cake’s debut album, Motorcade of Generosity.
Image alt text: Cake band members, including John McCrea on vocals and guitar, passionately perform on stage during a concert, capturing the energy and musical talent of the alternative rock group known for hits like “The Distance” and “Short Skirt/Long Jacket”.
He appreciates the opportunity to bring a “bigger sounding” rendition to these early songs, particularly for fans who might find the original production “not powerful enough.” McCrea playfully recounted a review that described the album’s drums as “dinky,” highlighting Cake’s early aesthetic choice to rebel against the “big dumb rock of the early 90s” by embracing a smaller, more subversive sound. Despite his self-deprecating “not a very good sales pitch,” McCrea’s genuine enthusiasm for the first album resonates, especially when recalling the band’s intention to “make things sound small.”
Beyond the Stage: John McCrea’s Engagement with HeadCount
John McCrea’s commitment extends beyond music, encompassing active involvement in civic engagement. For a period, he served on the board of directors for HeadCount, a non-profit organization focused on voter registration and participation. While transitioning away from his board role due to other commitments, McCrea remains a staunch supporter of HeadCount’s mission, emphasizing the critical importance of voter engagement, “now more than ever.”
McCrea articulates a concern about anti-democratic narratives that promote the idea of moral equivalence between political sides, leading to voter apathy. He stresses the “objectively gigantic difference between a democratic system and whatever else,” advocating for informed participation and recognizing the nuances within the political landscape. Cake actively supports HeadCount by providing them with space at their shows to register voters, demonstrating McCrea’s ongoing dedication to promoting civic participation through his platform as a musician.
Planting Seeds of Change: Reforestation Efforts and a Festival of Ideas
McCrea’s environmental consciousness is another facet of his multifaceted persona, exemplified by his long-standing reforestation efforts. He recounts a personal anecdote that sparked this passion: illegally planting a plum tree in a median strip as a young apartment dweller. Years later, encountering the now “gigantic tree” in the same location, McCrea experienced a profound sense of time and growth, inspiring him to share this experience with others.
This deeply personal moment led to Cake’s initiative of giving away trees at their concerts. McCrea envisions a global map dotted with tree icons, each representing a fan-planted tree, creating a collective project that connects music, community, and environmental action. He dreams of a future where fans share photos of themselves alongside their growing trees, witnessing a shared progression over time. Cake has also collaborated with One Tree Planted, amplifying their reforestation impact.
Looking ahead, McCrea is conceptualizing a “festival of good ideas,” centered around tree planting and community engagement. His vision includes a concert preceded by a large-scale tree planting event, transforming ecologically degraded land and fostering a sense of collective action. The festival would ideally feature booths promoting alternative energy and other “life-affirming” concepts, creating an inclusive and inspiring space for positive change. McCrea actively seeks collaborators to help bring this ambitious vision to life, underscoring his commitment to leveraging his platform for broader positive impact.
The Enduring Enigma of Songwriting: John McCrea’s Creative Process
In a reflective turn, John McCrea delves into the elusive nature of songwriting, offering a candid perspective on his creative process. Despite his extensive catalog and proven ability to craft compelling songs, McCrea admits to approaching each new song with a sense of uncertainty. “Each song, I’m never sure if I can even do it, you know?” he confesses, highlighting the persistent challenge and lack of guaranteed formula in his songwriting journey.
This inherent uncertainty, McCrea suggests, might be a crucial element in keeping his creative process fresh and authentic. He resists the notion of expertise in songwriting, feeling like “every time I do it I’m like starting from scratch.” He emphasizes the intricate interplay of chord patterns, rhythms, and lyrical choices, viewing each song as a unique entity with its own “DNA.” For John McCrea, the magic of songwriting lies in embracing the unknown, constantly starting anew, and allowing the creative process to unfold organically, driven by intuition rather than rigid rules. This perspective reveals a humble and perpetually curious artist, forever engaged in the ongoing exploration of musical creation.
Conclusion: John McCrea – Musician, Visionary, and Advocate
John McCrea’s insights reveal a multifaceted artist who is not only the driving force behind Cake’s distinctive sound but also a thoughtful and engaged individual deeply connected to both his art and the world around him. From his therapeutic T-shirt cannon and spontaneous setlists to his commitment to voter engagement and reforestation, McCrea embodies a unique blend of creativity, humor, and social consciousness. His reflections on songwriting underscore his enduring humility and dedication to his craft, constantly seeking newness and authenticity in his musical expression. John McCrea’s journey as a musician extends far beyond the stage, encompassing a broader vision for positive change and a genuine connection with his audience and the world.
