I’ve always known that I should like Daniel Johnston. Kurt Cobain regularly and famously wore a t-shirt with the cover art to Johnston’s Hi, How Are You album. Nirvana aside, Johnston’s ubiquitous influence has spread to some of my favorite bands, including Yo La Tengo and the Flaming Lips. Bright Eyes even covered his song “Devil Town” on the closing episode to the first season of NBC’s “Friday Night Lights.” But listening to Daniel Johnston’s recordings was a struggle. The man’s childlike voice, tinny instrumentals, and grim lyrics made me feel creepy just for listening, as though I secretly had Lolita on tape streaming through my headphones. After seeing Daniel Johnston live, however, I get it. I understand why Daniel Johnston is awesome.
Thursday night opened with the horrendous Gregory Miles Harris crouching over a small white keyboard singing infantile lyrics about suicide. Think a male, less witty and somehow more annoying Kimya Dawson. The set progressed with him rapping a terrible cover of the Fresh Prince of Bel Air theme song. Dear Gregory Miles Harris, just because you are white and goofy-looking does not give you the right to make everything ironic.
Daniel Johnston took the Wonder Ballroom stage to a rock star’s welcome, despite his decidedly un-rockerly appearance. Overweight with disheveled hair, Johnston wore holey sweatpants and an ill-fitting and stained t-shirt. He seemed pretty comfortable onstage, flattered and happy to be there. Johnston broke into his opening two songs that seemed written to the same lost girl. In his first song, Johnston wished he had a “girl or even a whore.” It’s this brand of simple lyrical twist that makes Daniel Johnston great. He’s at once sweet and desperate; pining and vicious.
Johnston then told the story of the dream he had the other night where a man was sentenced to death for trying to commit suicide and in the back of the courtroom Johnston was yelling, “No! No! No!” The crowd laughed as though this was some sort of a joke. Considering Johnston’s own history of mental health problems, I was pretty disturbed by this stage banter and felt as though the crowd was simply pandering to anything their hero said.
My favorite part of the evening was his cover of the Beatles “You’ve Got to Hide Your Love Away.” With the remastered release of the Beatles collection, I’m admittedly a bit crazed right now, but it just seemed right for Johnston to sing this song. Yes, Johnston is dark. But he’s also punchy and poppy. He belongs in the canon.
Other highlights of the evening were “Fish” from Fear Yourself and “Speeding Motorcycle” from Yip/Jump Music. In “Speeding Motorcycle,” Johnston sang, “Speeding motorcycle of my heart. Speeding motorcycle; always changing me. Speeding motorcycle, don’t you drive recklessly.” I realized Johnston’s brilliance through this song. He sang “Speeding Motorcycle” in the same unsettling, juvenile voice as the rest of his songs. But here especially through his accessible yet unlikely metaphors, Johnston communicated the fragility of love. I now consider myself a Daniel Johnston fan, though I will probably never laugh at a thing he says.
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Oh I see. I was wondering if you were talking about the picture. Really glad you liked it. Have you checked her out yet?
by Colin on Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 02.29 pm from the entry: Interview - Kelli Schaefer (Portland, OR; Winter, 2010)
yes! The interview is great, and the photo shows off the glow
by Ian on Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 01.29 pm from the entry: Interview - Kelli Schaefer (Portland, OR; Winter, 2010)
Great post! Really digging the new record a lot. The Rainwater LP has some gorgeous moments - definitely recommend checking it out. There are 3 of the new songs up on the myspace page: myspace.com/citizencope
by MattKlomp on Sun Mar 14, 2010 at 03.16 am from the entry: Citizen Cope - Paradise Theater (Boston, MA; Feb. 27, 2010 )
haha is that a compliment?
by colin on Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 06.49 pm from the entry: Interview - Kelli Schaefer (Portland, OR; Winter, 2010)
love that melophobe has more “couples” reviewers, and more “Ian/Ion/Ian/Iain” than the average site…
by Ian on Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 06.48 pm from the entry: sevendust + drowning pool + digital summer + the flood - showbox market (seattle, WA; Mar 07, 2010
you’re positively glowing in this interview, Colin
by Ian on Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 06.46 pm from the entry: Interview - Kelli Schaefer (Portland, OR; Winter, 2010)
Hey Merseilles did a live web show at sonicbirds office gig on Friday that was pretty spectacular. Can anyone find a copy of that?
by Smallweed on Sat Mar 13, 2010 at 11.40 am from the entry: SXSW Send Off Show - Visqueen + Hey Marseilles - Neumos (Seattle, WA; Mar. 5, 2010)
can i take those pictures and remove your shitty blogs web address? I’ll give you name credit.
Wow, I hate when people who blog are unable to put together a readable or grammatically correct sentence.
Here’s an example…
“Think a male, less witty and somehow more annoying Kimya Dawson.”
When your going to insult another persons talent make sure yours is up to par jackass.
Bright Eyes did cover “Devil Town” but that was not the cover used on that shitty TV show. It was Tony Lucca, someone willing to make money off of Daniel Johnston.
Scott, if you want to be a grammar nazi, you’d be well advised to remember that it should be “when you’re going to insult,” not “when your going to insult...” Also, it’s not “persons talent,” it’s “person’s talent,” as it is possessive. School’s out.
point, Colin.
Don’t mess with the ‘phobe, or we comin’ in to get cha.
seriously...can i steal these pictures?
Looks like Gregory Miles Harris googled himself and took this review to heart. How cute.
i did.... and i’m totes not mad. but again I would rwally like to use these pictures. word
Gregory, if you want to use the pictures, feel free to contact me.
Gregory Miles Harris was a very interesting, original, quirky singer with a new voice for all the world to hear. He did a great job. Maybe he should have picked different songs, but who are YOU to judge him. My friends are I, who were at the concert,are looking forward to hearing him perform locally in the near future. Shame on you for saying what you said. I’m sure you’re a loser based on your comments.
I went to the concert with Amanda, and I thought GMH rocked it. What’s with the negativism. So, you didn’t like his choice of songs, and maybe he couldn’t afford a better keyboard. He did a great set and sang his heart out. You’re a loser just like Amanda said.......