One of the first undeniable things that stands out when watching Joshua the Bock perform on stage with an acoustic guitar slung over his shoulders and a dazzling smile is theatricality. This is not the relatively numb singer-songwriter playing coy or jaded with his audience. Joshua grins brightly, warming the microphone with his baritone voice and infectious energy.
“I was home schooled in [North Chicago] in a co-op with a couple families. We had a small drama program and it was my favorite part of the school year. It was still a homeschooled high school experience — nothing too crazy,” he explains. The young Bock (Joshua’s last name) recalls a murder mystery in which he particularly shined — a murder mystery where he died in the first act and was resurrected in the second, this time with an unexplainable mustache. He laughs and supposes he does have a flair for dramatic performance.
“Hearing my mom at church, watching my brother on stage, listening to my sister’s cds, and eventually seeing my friends bang on their own instruments i was inspired by all of it.” Bock adds. “I saw people in my life creating art seemingly out of nothing and thought, ‘I’ll have what she’s having!”
Bock started his musical journey as a teenager, playing the banjo. “My mom was and still is a worship leader and songwriter,” he says. “She was my biggest cheerleader when I joined her in worship many many moons ago.” Bock’s mother is a guitarist and songwriter and as most teeangers rebel against their parents, young Joshua decided that was exactly what he was not going to do. He leaned into the banjo parts and harmonies accompanying his mom every Sunday. Until he found that the banjo wasn’t all that different from the guitar and songwriting wasn’t that much different from journaling. Soon enough he was channeling his voice, ideas, and energy into his own music.
It’s often been said that while jazz was born in New Orleans, it grew up in Chicago. In Joshua’s musical journey, his alterna-folk, catchy pop ear worms fermented in The Windy City and blossomed in The City That Care Forgot. Chasing a girl, Joshua headed South about five years ago and took his time learning the city through its performers and various spaces of creation. “You can play anywhere at almost any given time,” he explains. “It can be a little overwhelming. There’s almost too much going on here.” Eventually finding his footing among the many open mics and jams, Joshua was able to continue his creative endeavors through his music and his showmanship. “I’ve been lucky to know some great performers and producers who hold space for newcomers like me and so many others.”
Part of the lovability of Joshua the Bock, who calls himself that simply because he thinks it is funnier than Joshua Bock, is that he knows how to make confectionary sweetness out of sour grapes. Bock seized the opening at Coffee Science to put together his own open mic series which also features a local performer each week to highlight artists in POC and queer communities “Let’s be real,” he says, “So many open mics around this city (and every city) are made up of a straight white guys with a guitar. And while I would never turn anyone away from the stage, I wanted to make it a point to shine the spotlight on those who might not be the first in line to take the mic.”
Bock coined his series Sundown and as it grew, he moved the venue to the cafe Rising Sun at Margaret Place, a swanky hotel, bar, and event space in the Lower Garden District. Now the singer-songwriter hosts the free open mic series each Thursday evening at 7 p.m. Before the featured performer of the week takes the stage, emcee and organizer Josh serenades the crowd with a sampling of his own music.
When asked what kind of music he aims to make, Bock pauses. “I wanna say it’s more complicated and thought-provoking but at its core, it’s pop music.” He cites Mexican pop-rock, jazz and folk singer Natalia Lafourcade; Natalie Bergmen of indie duo Wild Belle; Laura Marling; and Leon Bridges as his primary influences. “I’m trying to plant that little ear worm in your head before the end of the song. I’m learning now more than ever to share the creative process and trying to connect with other creators before closing the door on a song or project but it’s about the journey, not the destination, right?”
Catch Joshua the Bock’s SUNDOWN series each Thursday at 7 p.m. at Margaret Place, 1133 Margaret Place New Orleans, LA 70130. Note: There will be no performance on Thanksgiving. Follow him on Instagram @joshuathebock.
