Daniel IS Daniel - Late, Great & Worth the Wait!

[notdaniel]

Thought this was worth clarifying, just in case:

I have had a few people contact me thinking that I, "Not Daniel Johnston", might be performing tonight at the Cactus Cafe instead of the real Daniel Johnston. This, I assume, is due to the fact that the show is credited as "The Late Great Daniel Johnston" instead of just Dan's name - and because last year I played before Dan at SXSW under the name "Not Daniel Johnston".

For the record, the REAL Daniel Johnston WILL be performing at the Cactus Cafe at 9pm, 3/17/05. I have asked numerous people, including the clubowner, and have not yet really discovered why the extra adjectives were added for this particular performance. If it denotes a special band who will back Dan, then my money would be on Kathy McCarty and/or other people who are performing at the club over the course of the evening. I am sure that in any case, the vast majority of the set will be pure solo Daniel.

So don't pass up the gig thinking it's not the real thing, okay?!? I will only be a member of the audience, so the music world is safe!

 - Not Daniel

PS: I missed Dan's set at the Music Awards show, but I was told (by a non-posting "lurker" here - you know who you are!) that he premiered two really excellent new songs. I wouldn't be surprised if they were repeated tonight.

[Henry Long]

Not-
I expect a full review by the next morning, including set list.
(If not, Not, it will affect your Grade Point Average)

[notdaniel]

Not-
I expect a full review by the next morning, including set list.
(If not, Not, it will affect your Grade Point Average)

Sorry -- I'm not officially "working" the fest or anything (so screw my GPA!), but I'm still constantly running errands, popping in & out, talking to a zillion people. So no set lists will be forthcoming.

Here's what I can tell you: The tiny Cactus Cafe was packed for Kathy and Dan's shows, as expected, but when half of the crowd split after Dan finished, the people supply never replenished and so Mark Eitzel (American Music Club), Michelle-Shocked and Stan Ridgway only played to like 30 or 40 people. We all guessed it was one of those deals where everybody figured "it'll be too crowded so let's not go" but that doesn't explain why Dan had a full house, especially when people were still confused over that whole "Late Great" title thing (plus most SXSW materials ONLY list Dan's Saturday nite show!)

Lemme see, other footnotes - Mark Eitzel at one point, around two songs in, sighed and muttered "Man, Daniel Johnston! How am I supposed to follow DANIEL JOHNSTON for God's sake!?!"

After the Thursday movie screening, in the Q&A it was stated that hopes are to have the CD box set of all the cassette-era stuff out by the end of the year after the movie garners some more attention to Dan. Devil wanna add to that?

Um, lessee... People asking about original art were told to buy now before prices go through the roof.

Daniel addressed the crowd* by telling them he was confused, because he thought this movie was supposed to be a COMEDY! (Actually, the funny parts are VERY funny) He tossed out several doses of his patented offhand dry humor in fact, but specific quotes aren't coming to mind.

*(very well-filled 600-seat theatre with GREAT SOUND - I didn't notice the fantastic audio mood at the Paramount showing)

I heard that after the "hoax' incident at the Paramount, Dan and Laurie got together for a long friendly reminiscence session.

I checked briefly on Mary Lou "Speeding Motorcycle Target Ad" Lord at her spot way down Sixth Street, and it looked like she had a nice littl audience for her street-corner singing thing, with no cops hassling her for daring to play through her 2 and a half watt amp!

I think Kathy said the new, complete "Dead Dog's Eyeball" CD should be available now - if not, it's just about ready to go, as is her new CD.

Saw Wammo yesterday, he's looking hale and hearty (I believe he claims to be the very first act to ever cover Daniel).

Offstage, Dan himself has been ... ooh, I get to use the word "pensive"!  Other than exchanging pleasantries, about the only words he's spoken to me were his thanks for what I said and the way I said it in the film - in other words I didn't exaggerate or sensationalize him. (When you're looking up at 30-foot high people on a screen talking about you in front of 500 regular-size people, I guess those sorts of things become VERY important!)

That's all the relevant stuff that comes to mind at the moment... Hey, I can cut & paste a couple of parts of this to send to someone I'm "unofficially' reporting in to - y'all saved me some time, sorta!

  - Still Not Daniel

[guest]

Nothing about the big Gammon-Strest showdown that took place outside???

[allbets]

my money is on gammon.

[guest]

my money is on gammon.

What was the weight discrepancy? Something like 300 pounds vs. 130?

[allbets]

the music bizness is like street fighting.  there are no weight issues in a dark alley.  

bring it on.  
yeehaw.
sxsw style with some beer and bbq.

[Not Daniel]

Nothing about the big Gammon-Strest showdown that took place outside???

I swear,  people wait until I'm not looking to do that sort of physical stuff every time. Like years ago when Jeff Smith of the Hickoids chucked a new Shure mic 30 yards and took out the sound man that cut him off - square in the mouth -- I had JUST walked out the far door 10 seconds before.

For the moment, I'd say that it's pretty obvious there are several people here who could tell the story better than I could in any case.

It's officially not my job and hasn't been since 2003. I'm a friggin' ACTOR now, mannn!

  - Not Daniel

[dbeefy]

"After the Thursday movie screening, in the Q&A it was stated that hopes are to have the CD box set of all the cassette-era stuff out by the end of the year after the movie garners some more attention to Dan."


Whoa !  

Oh yes please (although I'll still buy a few tapes Jeff before that happens)
Db

[Henry Long]

Not-

Wow! Thanx for the scoop. I can't believe Stan Ridgway played to a room of only 30 or 40 people! Maybe that's why, according to his own tour date schedule (www.stanridgway.com), he is "High tailing outa Austin," and heading to Fort Worth.

As for the "Late Great" crap in Daniel's title, it's starting to piss me off, actually. All joking aside, promoting the martyrdom machine myth of the self-destructive long suffering artist is wearisome at best, if not downright vile. It has been known to become a self-fullfilling prophecy. Ask any a dead bluesman! Know what I mean? Okay...okay...

The Mark Eitzel quote is so honest and true. How can anybody "follow" Daniel?

"Daniel addressed the crowd by telling them he was confused, because he thought this movie was supposed to be a COMEDY!"-------Ha! PRICELESS.

Well Mr. Not, I'd say Austin is a place this old Yank should consider among his possible future destinations, if there's room. At least there'd be forty ONE people at a damn Stan Ridgway appearance!

Final grade: A

[Stress Records]

As for the "Late Great" crap in Daniel's title, it's starting to piss me off, actually. All joking aside, promoting the martyrdom machine myth of the self-destructive long suffering artist is wearisome at best, if not downright vile.

As usual very well said Henry. One of the major points of the film is that Daniel is not an outsider artist and those who promote him in such a way are doing in a terrible disservice.

[Stress]

That should have read "doing HIM (meaning Daniel) a terrible disservice.

[The Devil]

http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/dispatch/2005-03-18/music_phases54.html

[Dan'sOldBuddy]

The "Dan is more than an Outsider Artist" argument was something I really wanted to get into the movie, but they cut out me talking about that concept.  The Movie Twins did a SUPERB job with that film, but some stuff I really wanted to get said got cut, but, hey, that's show biz.  At least the L.A. gallery owner guy made the point about "outsiders".