Jandek playing live in Portland Oregon

So, I'm seeing him three times in four days, all with different bands (if Seth's site is to be believed).

I'm totally at this show -- bringing my girl and some dancers from Magic Gardens as well. Maybe they'll dance? Hmmmmmm.

The fact that it's at the Hollywood makes it pretty amazing. Wow oh wow, and stuff!

Aldo - wow.

Bristol shows are "TWO shows - one with a trio and one with a duo compromising of a special pick-up band" according to the promoter. I'm guessing ATP might well be the 'usual' live band with Richard Youngs.

The ATP show - to be frank, the first 20 minutes was a mess, mainly because the drummer didn't seem prepared to do anything simple. Band was Richard Youngs and Alex Neilson, the "usual" British band. I went for a wee and when I came back it had suddenly turned brilliant. The band had somehow gelled and the rest of the set was short songs which were much more of what we'd expect.

Tonight, first show - from the outset, much the same as the best bits as Sunday, with even one of the same songs (the one which goes "I stayed alive... you were 22..."). Band were Chris Corsano and Michael Flower. Flower seemed happy, even keen, to play a drone which allowed Jandek much more space to break out with what he was doing - we saw him throwing some real shapes, even dancing at one point, and one of the songs sounded like Talking Heads (Wrap it up... bring me your presents..."). Corsano far more restrained than Neilson, and in a very good way.

Tonight, second show - much more droney. The first and last songs were with Corsano and Flower bowing something (bowls in Corsano's case, the instrument he played throughout - steel gtr? - in Flower's case) to superb effect. Even better, however, were the non-bowed pieces Flower played on the other songs. It ended up with a real Santiago Durango tone, to the one one song actually broke into "Kerosene" at one point for a couple of bars. I never knew Jandek was a Big Black fan, but after tonight am prepared to believe it.

Honestly, go see him. Someone suggested to me afterwards they seriously think the reason for the current (past 18 months) live shows is that he's seriously ill and this is his last chance, so don't miss it. It's easy to dismiss him as someone who can't sing or play the guitar, but he can when you actually look.

!!!!!!!!

My brief Portland show review, already posted a couple of places...

Big old theater, nice place, sold out. The representative entered through a side door, all in black. probably 90 minutes, no breaks but there were pauses between songs. The backing was, to my ears, noticeably more "rock" than the primarily improv musicians used thus far, and I thought this made it interesting. The man in black was rocking out at times, practically banging his head. Some lyrics, paraphrased from memory:

first song:

i like you too
i know other guys like you
but i like you too
she said "thank you"

and then, later:

thank god i'm alive
and the pain is gone
thank god for life
and the glory of humanity
i know we got troubles
but i don't care

I am probably not the only person here who finds those lines particularly interesting. there were some quite beautiful parts in a song about wanting to be with someone all the time, at the end he was almost singing and Sam C was playing a bass melody.

then, a mindfuck yet again as two women got up on stage and performed backing vocals for a song that began "quantum physics got me down". they repeated a single line in a "Governor Rhodes" style call and response, that line being "whose mister is this?".

I saw the drummer today and he confirmed that the three "styles" were the same as before (blasted, blues, and ballads iirc) and that the representative was quite particular about what he wanted. They had the standard day-of rehearsal, about three hours worth.

another lyric i just remembered:
the flowers are blooming
the placid river scintillates

there were two videographers present. I left feeling pretty lucky. Quite an experience. I was also struck by the slow deliberate aspect of his movements, it was very considered. no interaction with the audience, but he smiled numerous times. I also saw him tune once, briefly.

So that was my Jandek review. I might also add that it was genuinely spooky. THe dude looked like a ghost. Laurie (my registered nurse GF) said he looked exactly like someone who has just had cancer.

anybody going to the gig w/ Thurston? just bought plane tix...

The Portland thang is tres fantastique!! Great line-up! ! > http://www.jackpotrecords.com/products/view/1799/all <

man I really need to buy this CD, after all I saw the damn show.

There are some yet-to-be-released shows that I'm really looking forward to, with some fine folks in the back-up band. Chris Flower, Susan Alcorn, C. Spencer Yeh, Matt Heyner, Heather Leigh Murray...! There's one where The Representative From Corwood plays piano & is accompanied by someone on theremin..... I sure do wish The Rep would get busy releasing! LOL > http://tisue.net/jandek/live.html

Absolutely, I'm so greedy to hear the one in Vienna that I promoted.

>> there were two videographers present. <<

My understanding is that all of the shows have been videotaped.