Dear live music audience

SHUT. UP.



I just found this clip of Wilco's Jeff Tweedy reading the riot act to some audience members who chose to talk during an acoustic song. I'm pleased Tweedy wouldn't stand for such rudeness. It reminds me of the time I saw Patti Smith tell a fan who kept keening "Paaaatiiii! I looove you!" to be quiet. "Nobody wants to hear that shit!" she snarled.

Did people talk as much or as loudly during live musical performances twenty years ago as they do now? Maybe my memory fails me, or maybe the concerts I attended back then were too loud to allow conversation. Saturday night, I saw Robyn Hitchcock at the Logan Square Auditorium. The audience skewed toward my age, and most were reverently attentive. Not however, the two Trixies behind me, who were talking non-stop. Instead of acting on homicidal fantasies, I moved to another spot.

When I saw Will Oldham at the Walker Art Center, there was a talker, a young woman, seated on a cushion at the foot of the stage. She must have had a brain injury, or just snorted a line of coke. I mean, there has to be some plausible explanation for the torrent of chatter pouring out of her cake hole. The worst of it was during the opening act. It's a thankless job to open for Bonnie "Prince" Billy, made even more so when forced to listen to this during one's set:

wehavetroublebuyingshirtsforhimbecausehessotallandthinarentyouhoney
ohthisremindsmeofthatbandthatplayedatmysistersweddingdiditellyouthat
theyrepregnantimknittingthecutesthatforthebabyitsgoingtobeaboythis
floorishardishouldhavewornflatstonightidontknowwhatiwasthinkingilove
hishairnowthatitslongerandkindofemolookingidontcareilikeemolookingboys

And so on, for at least 30 minutes, like somebody had put a quarter in her. She finally settled down after Oldham came out and her friends ignored her. I am bewildered by this behavior. Issues of etiquette aside, why would you pay $30 for a concert ticket and then use the time to catch up with your buddies?

I see I'm not the only one puzzled by this.

Dave Herrera. "So what's with all the talk during shows?" Westworld [Link]

Sunday Music: The Equals

The Equals on German television, c. 1968.

In his profile of the band in Roctober, James Porter summed it up nicely. "Imagine Sly Stone fronting the 1910 Fruitgum Co. and you've just described the Equals." Lead Eddy Grant, best known in the U.S. for his 1983 solo hit "Electric Avenue," was born in Guyana. His infectious tunes sound very Caribbean to me, perhaps a touch influenced by Shanto, the Guyanese version of calypso.

"The Equals: Puttin' Some Rock & Roll In Your Soul." James Porter. Roctober [Link]

Amusing Searches

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Sunday Music: Happy Easter

"Let's Pretend We're Bunny Rabbits," by The Magnetic Fields. This is one of the best music videos ever made.

69 Love Songs Companion [Link]

Sunday Music: Evie Sands

Singer/songwriter Evie Sands should have been a shoo-in as the American Petula Clark. But, in the hit-crazed environment of the early 60s, Evie had a few bad breaks. Her first recording for Blue Cat Records, "Take Me For A Little While," was stolen by a producer from Chess, re-recorded and released a full week before Sands' version. The controversy over the theft buried her next single, "I Can't Let Go." In 1966, the song was a huge hit for The Hollies. A little trivia: "I Can't Let Go" was written by Chip Taylor, who also authored the classic garage-pop "Wild Thing." Taylor's real name is James Voight, and his brother is actor Jon Voight.

Obama Fan Art

Has any other sitting president generated this much bad thrift store art? I looked around to see if I could find anything similar for George W. Bush, and: nada...bupkis. I felt a little sorry for him, actually. You'd think Bill Kristol could of done a quick pencil sketch or something. Anyway, there are still some "Laughing Bush" posters left at Dan Lacey's website.

Bad Paintings of Obama [Link