Cortland Local, Jack Gerhard, Returns Home to Perform at the Cortland Repertory Theater!

John Harrison: [00:00:00] Good afternoon everyone. It’s John Harrison back in the Cayuga Health System Sponsored Studios with a very special guest on the line. I’ve got a Cortland local who’s gonna be performing this Saturday, May 3rd at the Cortland Repertory Theatre, Jack Gerhard. Jack, thanks so much for joining me today. 
Jack Gerhard: Hey man, how you doing? So good to be here. 
John Harrison: I’m doing great today. Well, you know, I say Cortland local playing, uh, this weekend and some people might think, okay, so, you know, he lives in town and he just walked on over and said, “Hey, let me play in the Cortland Rep.” But no, you’ve actually been living down in New York City. Can you tell me a little bit about, uh, how that experience has been, how, how long you’ve been down there and you know, just how different it is, uh, in terms of the music scene?
Jack Gerhard: Yeah. Uh, I’ve been down here for about five years now. It is, uh, it’s definitely a faster pace. It’s been nice, you know, the music scene down here in New York, it’s kind of what you make it, you know, it, it’s, uh, I think anyone who’s lived in New York is gonna tell you that, you know, um, nobody’s gonna just reach out their hand and, and be like, “Hey, come do this. Come do this,” the [00:01:00] second you get down here.
Um, but if you dig in, uh, and you really invest in, the community and you know, your neighborhood and, um, just get really involved with, uh, what is the local scene, then it’s, um, it’s incredibly rewarding. And five years in now, uh, just in the East Village, which is where I live, um, I have this wonderful studio, um, that I’m a part of where I’ve recorded my last couple albums and tons of, you know, um. Venues that we play music at all the time. Um, and it’s, uh, it’s been a lot of fun. It’s been pretty great. 
John Harrison: Yeah. And it, it looks like you’ve been doing some really cool stuff down there. I know you’re involved in both music and theater, um, but, you know mm-hmm. Wanted to touch on, uh, you know, your, your newer album. It’s, uh, October Sound, I believe is the, the newest one that you’ve released. 
Jack Gerhard: Yes. 
John Harrison: Yeah. And, uh, you know, there’s a particular track, um, off that album that, that I was listening to, [00:02:00] um, that, you know, I think a lot of people, especially up here are gonna be able to relate to it. Uh, and the song’s simply called “Cortland”.
Um, and I, I thought it was a great song and you know, me and you were talking a little bit, uh, before this interview started, but I’m actually from down by the city, Long Island, uh, and listening to this song and talking about, you know, driving through Binghamton and, and going through, uh, you know, 81 and having to slow down past Marathon, that was something I, I really connected with, um, because I was like, yeah. It feels like home, yeah.
Jack Gerhard: Yeah I’ll tell you what man, I mean it’s funny. You know, anybody, anybody from that area can tell you about that speed trap when you come down, um, headed up, uh, up 81, uh, off a Marathon. You come down off that hill and right around the corner of those trees right there, they, uh, yep, they’re just waiting. I think my, my brother’s gotten nagged a couple times before he finally learned.
John Harrison: Oh yeah. 
Jack Gerhard: Uh, but yeah, you know, that song, I don’t know that that song is, uh, really special to me. Um. And it’s interesting the way that it came about. You know what I mean? I [00:03:00] didn’t sit down to just, uh, write a song about Cortland. Um, but I was, uh, it was this, um, a visit that I spent home, uh, in recent years, a particular one that just kind of stuck with me.
And then, you know how you are, you’re just sitting down, messing around with chords and it just kinda sprang to life. Um, and I, I, what I love about it is that it seems like it’s. You know, uh, resonated with a fair amount of people that, um, that live up there that I’ve, you know, never met before. Um, it’s my most streamed song on Spotify, uh, even though it’s, you know, it hasn’t been out for nearly as long as some of my other music. Um, and I’ve really enjoyed, uh, how much other people have seemed to enjoy it. 
John Harrison: Yeah, definitely. And you know, it, it tells that story that, that familiar experience that you know, whether or not, you know, you’ve lived up here your whole life or like me, it’s only been the last five-ish years. This, funnily enough, the same amount of time you’ve been in the city.
Jack Gerhard: We [00:04:00] swapped. They made a trade. 
John Harrison: Yeah, exactly. Couldn’t both be in the same place at the same time. 
Jack Gerhard: Yeah. 
John Harrison: Yeah. Well, uh, Jack Gerhard playing at the, uh, Cortland Repertory Theatre Saturday, May 3rd. Uh, it’s not the only performance you have on the horizon. You’ve got another one coming up. And, uh, this one, you know, really for me, uh, your song Cortland reminded me of, uh, particular artists that you’re gonna be portraying, uh, in an upcoming show. You wanna talk a little bit about how you’re gonna be playing John Denver? 
Jack Gerhard: Yeah, sure thing. I’m really excited about this. We, uh, we have a, a good team. Putting together a show up at the Weston Playhouse in Vermont. Uh, next month in May, uh, May 20th, we’re going up there and I’m gonna be playing John Denver.
Um, and it’s, we’re just gonna be kind of telling his life story and recreating his music. And it’s a fun one. I’ve done the show once before where I didn’t play the, um, titular track up at. Uh, The REV used to be Merry Go-Round Playhouse up in Auburn. Um, and every time you do it, you know, it’s just a great experience [00:05:00] and people respond really well to that music, obviously, ’cause he’s such an iconic songwriter and people love his work. So that’s, that’s a good time. 
John Harrison: Yeah. I’m looking forward to, I think that’ll be super cool. And you said that’s, that’s up in Vermont, correct? 
Jack Gerhard: Yes. 
John Harrison: Whereabouts in Vermont? 
Jack Gerhard: Uh, Weston. 
John Harrison: Okay. Okay. Just asking, just in case, ’cause uh, I actually have some family over in Vermont. I happen to know the drive’s only a couple of hours from Cortland.
So anyone here, if you decide to be, uh, vacationing over there around May 20th, it’d be super cool to show some support for our local boy, Jack Gerhard. Uh, Jack, you know, starting to run outta time here. Uh, any last minute stuff you, you want to talk about? I mean, you’ve got your show coming up at the, uh, Cortland Repertory Theatre on Saturday, May 3rd.
It’s gonna be, uh, an awesome time. Any particular songs maybe you want people to, to check out that you’re just really looking forward to getting to perform live up in your hometown? 
Jack Gerhard: You know, I’d say, uh, I’d say hop on Spotify or Apple Music or wherever you listen to your music and, uh, listen to “Cortland”.
Um, and if you like that, then uh, check out a [00:06:00] couple more songs. And if, if you like what you hear, uh, which I hope you will, I hope you’ll come on down to, uh, CRT Downtown. We’re starting at about 7:00, 7:30 or doors open at 7:00. The show starts at 7:30, um, on May 3rd. And I’m really excited, man. We got a, uh, you know, a bunch of.
Uh, upstate people in my band. Um, it’s a really, really great band, uh, full of just incredibly talented musicians. Um, and they’ve really been working pretty hard to bring this music to life, and it’s gonna be a hell of a show. I’m, I’m really, really excited about it. So, uh, so I hope people come on out. 
John Harrison: Yeah, I, uh, I know it’s gonna be a great show. I’m looking forward to it. I’ll try and be right there in the audience, folks. Jack Gerhard playing the Cortland Repertory Theatre, Saturday May 3rd at 7:30 PM Get your tickets now at cortlandrep.org. Jack, thanks so much for joining me today. 
Jack Gerhard: Absolutely, man. Thanks for having me. 
John Harrison: Of course. And for everyone listening at home, it’s been John Harrison on X101.