From Twitter - Ian Accoustic Appearance NYC Dec 3-4

[Sick4Tunz]

But you will never persuade us.

[vertigone]

I went. It sucked.

[Mr. Brian]

I went. It sucked.

Details?

[black francis]

sick4tunz while doing his interpretive dancing accidentally let loose with a half empty tequila bottle which struck Mac in the head ending the performance.

[Mr. Brian]

sick4tunz while doing his interpretive dancing accidentally let loose with a half empty tequila bottle which struck Mac in the head ending the performance.

YouTube?

[kook]

sick4tunz while doing his interpretive dancing accidentally let loose with a half empty tequila bottle which struck Mac in the head ending the performance.

[electrabunny]

Dammit Sick, how many times have I told you to watch out for your tequila consumption - now you went and pissed off the interpretive dance group for stealing their choreography!

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OOhycSTFa2c&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OOhycSTFa2c&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

[JackT]

I went. It sucked.

I bet that would sound better in Latin.

[vertigone]

Details?

I know some people at Other Music so I got in early, about the time he was doing soundcheck. He made the staff change the lighting (track lighting on the ceiling) because it was too bright for him (sound familiar?). This required a staffer to get on a 15' ladder and manually adjust each light bulb.

Once the audience was let in and he took the "stage", he demanded that all the lights be turned completely off. The only lighting at this point being that which came in from the street, as well as from the room behind the counter.

He started with Rescue, which took him about 15 minutes to get through. He would play a few chords then stop, and launch onto some tangent related to nothing in particular. This may have been charming at first, but soon it became clear that he was hammered (as usual?) and not making much sense.

Once he was done murdering Rescue, he played about 15-20 seconds of Villiers before stopping so he could be "funny" again.

The highlight (I use this term VERY loosely) was a shambolic version of Candleland which I'm surprised he finished. Next, another 10 minutes on why he hates Bloc Party, the Specials, Genesis, Yes, the Marx Brothers, etc., while proclaiming that he wants to be a comedian.

Another pearl of wisdom offered was his observation that (i'm paraphrasing) "I'm not being sexist, but women never invent anything, only men."

He kept referring to his sycophant seated next to him (why was he seated in a chair next to him while not performing? I have no idea) as Johnny Christ from Texas. Kept bringing it up like he thought that name was the funniest thing.

All this is interspersed with admonishing the crowd for any combination of singing, talking, moving, taking photos, whatever...

By this point we're approaching 45 minutes and have only heard 2 songs. The crowd nearest the door makes a merciful escape, but those not as fortunate are held hostage by fear of being called out by Mac - not everybody of course, some were eating it up.

Of course he mumbled about writing 2 of the greatest songs ever written. <yawn>

He started Start Again, which could've been great if he actually played it through, but more stop-start-stop-start bs. At this point my friends have had enough and frankly so have I, so we brave it and swiftly exit and head to a bar.

And lest you think i'm the only one who felt this way, here's some comments posted on Brooklyn Vegan.


Tonight was a waste of time. He barely made it through a song.

Posted by Anonymous | December 4, 2009 3:01 AM

Excuse me, but what was up with the Other Music show? Lame.

Posted by Anonymous | December 4, 2009 6:44 AM

it was strange.


Posted by Anonymous | December 4, 2009 7:03 AM

Last night was the worst show I've ever seen. I'm so glad I wasn't more of a fan.... these older ladies in the line outside went on for about 10 minutes how they've each seen Echo and the Bunnymen something like 20 times in the past 25 years. Last night must've broken their fucking hearts.

Posted by Anonymous | December 4, 2009 8:17 AM

[JackT]

This must be a NY solo gig thing, because my brother saw him play solo at a Hard Rock Cafe in the late 80s and it was exactly the same story.

[In The Margins]

I think you've just witnessed his bon vivant, debonaire persona. He thinks it's charming, but it's not, obviously.

He was only going to perform 4 songs, but wanted to stretch it out as long as possible. He might think the ramblings and starts and stops are fun and interesting, but he's wrong.

Good for you for escaping!

[In The Margins]

This must be a NY solo gig thing, because my brother saw him play solo at a Hard Rock Cafe in the late 80s and it was exactly the same story.

I was going to hypothesize that he needs the structure of a band to keep him on track, but the Liverpool solo shows didn't sound so scattered.

[vertigone]

My cynical take on it is that, despite his proclamations about being the greatest-this/greatest-that, he's just super insecure.

Insecure about his looks/age (demanding the lights be off), and his ability to carry a performance solely by himself (the stop-starts) trying to disarm the audience with his jokes, and intimidating some with his don't-do-that routine. Sad.

[electrabunny]

Wow - how tragic! Hopefully you salvaged your night at that bar!

[Mr. Brian]

Well that's too bad. Did he appear to be very drunk or anything? He was very good on that radio show the other day.