Sous chef serves up grunge with a side of folk-rock
By Charles Cassady
happenings
Published June 28, 2006

Do you want your acoustic, grunge-leaning, gothic-spiced folk-rock well-done or rare? Place your order with Jeff James, of North Olmsted. When he isn’t cooking with guitar and vocals on stage, he’s cooking in the kitchen of the Cleveland Grill, one of the most acclaimed restaurants on the west side of town.

Saturday night James is one of the stars at a night of glam, punk and gothic rock at No Excuses in North Olmsted. The bill includes the Ohio musicians Creepshow 1977, Drae Coe, and Dead Letter Room. James will take the stage with special backing vocalist Nick Estra. “He’s more of a tenor,” James said. “I’m a baritone.”

Though showtime is 9 p.m., James won’t show up for his set until later, as he has to wrap up his shift as sous chef at the Cleveland Grill. “I’m right out of hell’s kitchen.”

James is a promoter as well as a musician, and No Excuses, at 27330 Lorain Road, has been a regular haunt lately; he also staged a show there last weekend. And he’s looking forward to a big Halloween blowout there in October.

“I used to be in a band that was fairly known in the area called Mission of Corruption, and we were, like, a gothic-rock band,” James said. “And we broke up in 2003, and I took a hiatus. A really long hiatus.”

Now James has adopted a grunge-folk-rock vibe, with some of this more prominent influences being Pink Floyd, Concrete Blonde, Peter Townsend and Carlos Santana. “Kind of experimental, kind of like early Pink Floyd … a lot of people compare me to Tim Buckley, Jeff Buckley’s father. He was really big in the ‘60s.”

James’ sounds have the ear of a small label called Contraband Records, which is issuing his CD due late this year. James has been recording some of his live sets for possible inclusion, at venues such as Verlie’s in Cleveland, Common Grounds in Fairview Park, and Pats in the Flats. The No Excuses show may also wind up on the disc.

Son of Fred and Dolly Antolini of North Olmsted, James graduated from North Olmsted High School in 1987, then attended Syracuse University in New York state — no, not in music or culinary arts, but in marketing. It was actually while in the Army that James took an interest in food preparation.

He worked at the acclaimed Ohio City restaurant Parker’s New American Bistro, under local star-chef Parker Bosley. At the Cleveland Grill, James serves up Greco-Mediterranean fare, including hummous, salmon and gourmet salads.

At No Excuses he’ll serve mostly his own originals, plus a Nirvana tune. Take special note: in November, James said, he’ll be the opening local act for the legendary Leonard Cohen, at the House of Blues in Cleveland. James said he spoke with the musician personally to get his approval. “Some of my songs people say are a little like him.”

Admission to the No Excuses show is $10 for those 18 to 20, $5 for anyone 21 and over.

Admission to the Cleveland Grill is free, but you have to pay for the food. And reservations are strongly advised, given the great press that this restaurant has gotten. The Cleveland Grill is located at 3359 W. 117th Street. For more information call (216) 251-1025.

The Cleveland Grill also hosts live music. Has its sous-chef been asked to come out from behind the apron and perform?

“It’s been offered a couple of times, but I don’t think my style would really fit in,” James said.

You can keep up with the latest on Jeff James at his Web site www.myspace.com/syckmusicimagery.