OUTRO (WITH PEEVES)
It was bound to happen. You go to as many live music shows as I do, and you're bound to hit a dud every now and then. Figure I was due. Sadly, I must report the deliverer of the dud was Neko Case, who you wouldn't think capable of the ridiculousness I'm about to describe.
It's like this: Geoffrey and I headed out to a wee club to see our beloved Neko Case on a school night -- me having to get to work the next day by 8 a.m. Ick. But we went anyway, figuring it wouldn't get out too late since it allegedly started at 8:30. First off (and this may or may not be Neko Case's fault), stuff started super late, not only ruining our plans for getting in a decent amount of sleep, but also destroying our chances of getting home the way we came -- on Metro, which shuts down at midnight, quite ridiculously. It wouldn't have been too big a deal, except it was 200 degrees in the airless (unless you call concentrated cigarette smoke "air") club, so standing around for a long time was no fun. Adding insult to injurt, the opening band SUCKED. Sucked bad.
But the kicker: Neko Case and her band were met with sound problems of some vague sort. Aw, too bad. Most artists, thought, being professional musicians, can work around this. Not so here. She started a song, only to stop (!!!) after a couple bars for some extensive sound futzing. Much looking around, much jiggling of cords. Then she disappeared for a good while -- not sure if it was a storming offstage situation or if she just went to get something, no one bothered offering an explanation. She comes back, there's more futzing, and finally they launch into another song. She sounded great -- great! What a voice, lawsy. But it was almost impossible to concentrate on her great voice, let alone the rockin' band, as she was the entire time gesturing frantically at the sound guy to do ... something ... with her mic. Now, I'm no expert, but everything sounded fine to me, good ever. I'm sure if you're a sound nerd of some sort perhaps you could notice some deficiency, but I sure couldn't. Lots of other people were with me, I think, since after the second song, and another loooooong pause for futzing, folks were yelling "Keep playing! It sounds fine!" The futzing devolved into unplugging of various equipment, hauling stuff around, general cluelessness on the stage and complete failure to take fans into account. Already cranky as hell from the heat and the smoke and the prospect of having to catch a cab home at 2 a.m., Geoffrey and I bailed. Yeah, after two songs. Just couldn't take it anymore.
I'm sad we left, as I love Neko Case and have wanted to see her live for a long time, but man, I can only put up with so much, $17 ticket or no. Sound problems gotta suck when you're an artist, but how 'bout BE an artist and creatively work around it? How 'bout go without mics entirely and go acoustic and give everyone a really special show to boot? I've seen folks do it. Stacey Earle, Thad Cockrell (to an evil end -- see last post), Alejandro Escovedo, Steve Earle and the Del McCoury Band. Hell, Steve Earle I've seen break not one, but TWO strings while playing all alone, and he can still keep going and sound awesome. Now THAT'S a musician. Harrumph.
But all was not lost. When Geoffrey and I got home, we had our own dang Neko Case show, and not a single sound problem. Check it out:
Rawk.
This is the best blog entry, EVER. EVER! Great title! Sad story... And amazing rawkin' pics! EVER!
And if you hear that knockin' at your door, run! It's the folks with the nice coats that tie in the back.
"Won't you pack my things,
give the doc a ring?
Maybe he'll make me a bed.
And then the men come round
That tie me down
And put the wires
to my head!"
Posted by: larry | June 18, 2004 at 09:47 AM
holy f-ing crap. that show you guys had a home was probably the best one i have ever not been to. Sorry to hear the show sucked so bad. also, peeg sure looks SMRT (yep, no A) in them glasses.
rock on.
Posted by: joe | June 18, 2004 at 07:42 PM
y'all are so damn weird. love it.
Posted by: sara | June 21, 2004 at 03:23 PM
The show at your apartment looks WAY more awesome than any concert I have ever seen! Not only can you get up close to your favorite singing sensations, you can also hang backstage!
Posted by: Liz | June 22, 2004 at 09:37 PM
Um, with his mouth like that, Geoffrey looks like the backstage fluffer. That's a little TOO rock-n-roll.
Posted by: Sharon | June 28, 2004 at 12:51 PM