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Some plants thrive in the shadows. Arlo Guthrie should know. Although he’s never reached his father’s iconic status, he has nonetheless enjoyed a long, successful career as a songwriter, bard and philanthropist in his own right, starting with his first public performance at age thirteen. Seven years later, his well-timed debut, containing “Alice’s Restaurant” — an epic about littering and draft-dodging — grabbed much attention, while 1969’s widely banned smuggler’s ode “Coming Into Los Angeles” cemented his renown. Guthrie’s only hit single came in 1972, thanks to Steve Goodman’s “City of New Orleans.” Since those dramatic early years, Guthrie has released several largely overlooked records, many on his own Rising Son label. Now in his sixth decade, Guthrie has assumed the rank of elder statesman and earned a reputation as an engaging, endearing live performer, proving that a rising son doesn’t have to be in the spotlight to shine.
