Daniel Johnston played in DC yesterday "backed by members of Fugazi" (at least that is how it was advertised).
Anybody here have any details as far as the players involved? Can't find anything but a setlist online at the moment.
FlexMyHead wrote:He and Wesley Willis fans always confused me, somewhat. Did you 'really' like the songs or just think it was arty or cool to like songs written by someone with mental health issues? I get that someone that thinks differently and has very different perceptions and interactions with their environment, world, people and themselves is going to create something pretty unique, but from memory, I didn't really think the songs stood out that much? For Wesley Willis (who seemed more impaired and had more pronounced issues) I straight up feel like people were laughing "at" and not "with" him.
I think I lump Beat Happening in with this. What the fuck was that band all about?!
FormerLurker wrote:FlexMyHead wrote:He and Wesley Willis fans always confused me, somewhat. Did you 'really' like the songs or just think it was arty or cool to like songs written by someone with mental health issues? I get that someone that thinks differently and has very different perceptions and interactions with their environment, world, people and themselves is going to create something pretty unique, but from memory, I didn't really think the songs stood out that much? For Wesley Willis (who seemed more impaired and had more pronounced issues) I straight up feel like people were laughing "at" and not "with" him.
I think I lump Beat Happening in with this. What the fuck was that band all about?!
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scannest wrote:Daniel Johnston has written some great songs. I could listen to other people play his songs and enjoy the hell out of them. I saw him open for (I think) fIREHOSE once at CB's. I knew nothing about him but it was obvious that the man had a tenuous grip on reality. Several times he was actually screaming at the audience and there was no confusion as to whether it was real or a shtick. I was scared for him (I just read a piece in the NY Times that confirmed this was '88 and that he was checked into Bellevue Hospital prior to the show for assaulting Steve Shelley).
So, while I have no doubt that his mental condition can't be separated from his artistic abilities, I don't think most of the people who buy his records/go see him perform are there to stare at the freak. I'm sure there are some, but they are the minority.
His brother conceded that the tour was his idea, not Daniel’s,
When asked if he was excited about touring, he answered with a long, drawn-out, “Ehh,” before adding, “a little bit.”
If nothing else, the artists Mr. Johnston is scheduled to perform with are excited.
Mr. Johnston doesn’t know the musicians personally and isn’t familiar with their music
It’s not clear the musicians involved understand Mr. Johnston’s current level of impairment, which appears more pronounced than it had been in the past
I can't speak to Mr. Willis.
As far as Beat Happening goes, those guys were middle-class art students playing at being outsider artists. Like Johnston, they did manage to write some great songs that I enjoyed listening to other people cover.
FlexMyHead wrote:Again, I have no idea what his life would have been without the shows or if he made decent money. It's likely he could have been still doing the same thing in Chicago with zero income and lived a much worse life if people hadn't released his music etc. I just felt weird being part of it all.
xxxMidgexxx wrote:But perhaps I just love drone stuff in general.
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