Live music video shoot and concert a "pilgrimage" to unsung musical local hero

When Tennessee singer-songwriter Dan Spencer planned his tour for his new album "Weave Your Web, Liar Man," he included a show in Lorain for Tuesday. Spencer, a former mortician whose distinct sound plucks influences from folk, Southern rock, alt-country and heavy metal, is making his way north as an homage to one of his primary musical influences, Lorain native Jason Molina. "He has spoken openly and enthusiastically about Jason Molina being one of the most important artists, if not the most important artist, in his musical career," said Tommy Nickoloff, a Lorain filmmaker who last year directed and produced a documentary "You (expletives) Figure It Out," based on Molina's life. Nickoloff and Molina first met at Admiral King High School in the 1980s. Molina was generous, patient and whip smart and played bass in a punk band, the Spineriders. He went on to study at Oberlin College, then left Lorain County to live and play music at venues around the world. Molina died in March 2013 at his home in Indianapolis of alcohol abuse. He was 39. Molina left behind a body of work with 15 full-length albums and many EPs, live albums, and singles between 1997 and 2009. He was known for his critically acclaimed lyrics, and many artists claim him as an influence. Spencer performs a cover of a Molina-penned song, "An Ace Unable to Change," and Nickoloff will be filming the live performance for a music video. "It's my favorite cover of any song of his, and I'm not really a fan of any covers, and I think it's amazing," Nickoloff said. "We will have a full crew of local guys in there shooting, we'll have a drone shooting overhead and the location will be just amazing for this song, too." The lyrics speak of someone "gambling with their sentiment and repentance" and losing "to a gambler in a crown in thorns." The imagery fits well within the soaring sanctuary of the concert's venue at Church of the Redeemer, 647 Reid Ave. "It's a pretty big deal for him, and for us," said Mark Fletcher, a Lorain promoter and fan who organized the concert. He'd worked with Spencer before, including booking him at the 5 O'Clock Lounge in Lakewood last year. "There've been a lot of people — My Morning Jacket, MJ Lenderman, that are huge fans of Jason's and Dan's getting ready to do this tour and this is kind of his pilgrimage to Lorain because he's a real fan of his music. "I thought, you know what, this would be perfect for him. I thought this would be perfect for a song Jason wrote in his hometown and Dan re-did, and to pay homage to one of the great talents who isn't a household name, but damn sure should be a household name," Fletcher said. "I think it's a great tip of the hat." Doors open at 7 p.m. Local band Holographic Throne will take the stage at 7:30 p.m. Dan Spencer and his band the Love Cuts will perform at 9 p.m. Cash donations of $15 will be taken at the door, but no one will be turned away for lack of funds. Contact Rini Jeffers at rinijeffers@gmail.com.