When the Blacks reunited after nearly five years apart, the initial attention focused on the relationship between former lovers Gina Black and Danny Black (originally Danny McDonough and no relation to Gina).
Danny realizes this, and when questioned about the difficulty of playing music again with Gina, the now-married singer/guitarist offers a halfhearted explanation.
“I’ve heard this theory that people forget horrible things that happen to them as a defense mechanism to go on,” Danny said. “It’s like you filter out all of the crummy memories and just remember the good stuff.”
It’s understandable the band–known for its dizzy spin on blues, country and jazz, as well as Gina’s dominatrix stage wear–doesn’t want to rehash its painful split.
Anyone who wishes to share in the misery need only listen to Healthy White Baby’s self-titled debut. The 2005 album, Danny’s first since the Blacks’ demise, is awash in the devastation of lost love–not surprising since a bulk of the material originated from his time with Gina.
Yet eventually enough time passed that Danny began to realize he “didn’t hate [Gina] anymore.” The second time around is not nearly as emotional of an experience, he said.
Gina might disagree. “The week we were rehearsing for [Taste of] Randolph, my boyfriend dumped me on Monday, and I got to go rehearse all these songs about how much I suck,” she said. “It was like, ‘God, I’m so glad we’re back together.’ “
When the Blacks appeared at the Taste of Randolph last month, it was the first time Danny, Gina (stand-up bass/vocals) and James Emmenegger (drums) had been onstage since 2001. Nora O’Connor, who hasn’t played with the band in more than seven years, will complete the original lineup for Saturday’s Empty Bottle show.
The foursome assembled at Danny’s Ravenswood apartment in May to begin rehearsals.
The Blacks
When: 10 p.m. Saturday
Where: Empty Bottle, 1035 N. Western Ave.
