This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2011, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Between 2002 and 2009, Scott Wexton, also known as the Voodoo Organist, performed more than 700 shows throughout the west.
The red-clad, pint-sized singer/keyboardist performed spooky, supernatural songs with a crazed, almost religious fervor. Few people left a Voodoo Organist show without breaking a sweat.
Wexton became such a regular presence at Salt Lake's Burt's Tiki Lounge that many fans assumed he was a local act.
But then his life intruded, and he took an extended musical break of more than two years. In the interim, Wexton says he was simply "trying to survive."
"My wife lost her job two years ago," he explained. "Around that time I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. Losing the job meant us losing our health insurance. To keep our coverage under Cobra, it would have cost us almost twice our mortgage. That's insane."
So Wexton paid his bills by driving a taxi and opening a profitable memorabilia/curio store named Hoodoo in Joshua Tree, Calif. And he became an activist, on behalf of health care issues and for an organization called Keep Our Desert Clean.
The forced break proved to be good for Wexton's life, and also for his music. "I think my songwriting has really progressed," he said. "My stuff has a very unique sound and vibe. It's certainly not for everyone, nor would I want to be."
But Wexton, who turned 40 this year, missed performing, and so he's back on the road, once again being joined by drummer/percussionist Robin Kennon (aka, the Necro Tonz). "Hopefully my hiatus brewed some extra excitement," he says.
He had compiled enough new material for a seventh album, to be titled "Organeddon," that he hopes to record after the tour, which will be only a dozen dates.
"I don't have the best health, and touring is very physically demanding. Night after night of drinking insane amounts, getting up to drive for eight hours, then load all our heavy-ass gear, play, unload, repeat — it's tough as hell. I really don't think I can physically do long, three-month tours anymore."
When it came time to selecting a Utah venue, Wexton felt like there was only one choice: It had to be Burt's.
"Dive bars, that's where I feel the most at home," he said. "I dig the fact that it's an old Tiki bar. Obviously I love the Tiki and exotica culture. In fact, I would even go on to say that I'm sort of a punk-rock exotica act. So I think I'm a perfect fit for Burt's."
Voodoo Organist
When • Friday, Oct. 21, at 9 p.m.
Where • Burts Tiki Lounge, 726 S. State St.
Tickets • $8 at the door
With • Tuxedo Tramps