Chuck Prophet

Chuck Prophet’s old band, Green On Red, enjoyed a cult following in the ’80s and early ’90s, and the same can be said of the solo career he’s maintained since 1990. The San Francisco songwriter may not have tons of fans, but the ones who continue to follow his eclectic path have been constantly rewarded with bare-bones rock ’n’ roll and a refreshing sense of self-aware wit. The title of 2009’s Let Freedom Ring is meant to be taken with a grain of salt, given its protest-as-patriotism lyrics, while this year’s Temple Beautiful is a cycle of songs paying “tribute” to the namesake bar/concert venue adjacent to the temple run by cult leader Jim Jones.

Updated 06/26/2012