We asked Head Cut drummer John Crerar to share his tips for fellow musicians. Crerar is such a pillar of the Ventura/Oxnard punk scene (dubbed “Nardcore”) that reuniting just some of his previous bands to mark his recent 50th birthday required two nights of stacked bills. On June 26-27, he performed with Head Cut and nine of his prior outfits in separate Ventura venues. Around 40 musicians travelled in to participate, and both shows sold out in advance.
“To get that many people to say, ‘yes, I’ll come back and play with you,’ meant a lot,” said Crerar. “Because that just means that the friendships I’ve made over the past 30 years are pretty strong.” Indeed, Crerar ranks the “JC50” reunion shows as the greatest achievement of a 32-year music career that’s included global touring and multiple record deals. (I attended one of the JC50 shows which, as well as an incredible lineup, epitomized musical community and mutual support.)
Crerar is both a singer and a drummer. He’s a deeply passionate musician, yet devoid of ego or pretense. A devoted husband and dad, he sees music, friendship, and community as almost indivisible. “I found out a long time ago that music kind of keeps me sane,” Crerar mulled. “I’ve never really thought about [longevity]—I just kept going!”…