Chuck Prophet performs at Union Stage on Jan. 7, 2023. (Photo by Casey Vock)
Chuck Prophet seemed excited to be playing live again after a few years off the road. At Union Stage recently, he attacked his set with verve and displayed his trademark wry humor. Expressing his gratitude to the audience, he said, “There’s probably 17 places you could hear live music just in this mall.” I’d never really thought about it, but I guess The Wharf in Southwest DC is a mall, isn’t it?
In the age of streaming, musicians depend on touring for their livelihood, and they all faced challenges when the pandemic forced them off the road. On top of this, Chuck also had to deal with a diagnosis of cancer. Fortunately, following treatment, he was declared cancer-free, a fact that all of us who’ve followed him over the years are very glad to hear.