Bob Walkenhorst is among the most impressive songwriters that I’ve heard, a vibrant and literate lyricist who packs his songs with social commentary. As the lead singer and songwriter for Missouri’s Rainmakers in the late 1980’s, he matched intelligent lyrics with the force of classic rock and roll. Although I didn’t share his political views on songs such as “Government Cheese” I was always impressed by his ability to convey them through his songs.
The story of the Rainmakers, however, is a familiar one. After three incredible releases that didn’t achieve tremendous commercial success in the US, the band was dropped by their label. Though they put out a two additional releases in subsequent years, they soon disappeared from view.
Fast forward to 2003 and Walkenhorst reemerges with The Beginner, a self-released acoustic gem. Since then he’s held a fairly regular weekly gig at a Kansas City bar, much of which is recorded and available for download.
Here are several tracks culled from some of his recent performances. You’ll find the complete collection available at the Internet Archive.
Just Leaving, from Bob Walkenhorst‘s 2003 release The Beginner:
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/BobWalkenhorst2006-06-21.shnf/bobwalkenhorst2006-06-21d1t11_vbr.mp3]
Love has a way of hanging around
Long after kindness has left town
Sorry to come between you and your demons
Excuse me, I was just leaving
Spend It on Love, from the Rainmaker’s 1989 release The Good News and the Bad News:
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/bobwalkenhorst2006-07-19.shnf/bobwalkenhorst2006-07-19d1t03_vbr.mp3] I hear of an army taking lots of money
Spending it on guns and rolls of barbed wire
Blew it all away, their homeless and their hungry
Had to bite the bullet, taste of bloody war
No Romance, from the Rainmaker’s 1987 release Tornado:
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/bobwalkenhorst2006-08-16.shnf/bobwalkenhorst2006-08-16d1t05_vbr.mp3] Are you looking for some answers
Well you’ve come to the wrong place
You might find lines but no valentines
Written all over my face
Government Cheese, from the Rainmaker’s 1986 self-titled release:
[audio:http://www.archive.org/download/bobwalkenhorst2005-07-27.shnf/bobwalkenhorst2005-07-27d2t01_vbr.mp3] It’s the man in the White House, the man under the steeple
Passing out drugs to the American people
I don’t believe in anything, nothing is free
They’re feeding our people the Government Cheese
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.