Daniel Live in Austin

[HowdyHowRU]

I saw a deal in the Chronicle, stating that Daniel would be playing a small show in the Me TV studios on South Congress.  Anybody know the details.  Anyway to get tickets without winning them?

[tuna ketchup]

Did it have a date?

On the website (rejectedunkown) it says that the October 17th show is private and "by invitation only" but I called the place and they said anyone could go.

Anyone know anything more about this, either?

[HowdyHowRU]

Show is apparently from 6 - 8 at a new place called "the belmont" in downtown Austin.

I have no idea if it is invite only.  I registered to win an invite with the Chronicle.  If I don't win, I'm going to show up and beg to be let in.

[tuna ketchup]

this is still weird to me, cause i talked to the guy in charge of the event and he said "come on down"

[notdaniel]

this is still weird to me, cause i talked to the guy in charge of the event and he said "come on down"

I think there's been some confusion between two different events. The ME-TV taping was this evening (Dan was in excellent form, doing mostly new/recent songs but also adding "Speeding Motorcycle" on guitar and a dreamy "I Had a Dream" on piano). The material that was taped tonight is expected to be edited into a one-hour special of music and chat with Daniel & long-time friend David Thornberry (plus a special cameo appearance by a can of Mountain Dew). The "Belmont" show on the 17th is a different kettle of frogs altogether, though Dan's brother Dick gave me the impression that it is not exactly a regular public performance deal either.

Oh, and since the person who was scheduled to host (Austin Chronicle editor Louis Black) didn't show up, guess who ended up "moderating" the interview/Q&A parts of the program? Yep, it was yours truly, li'l ol' Not Daniel! It was quite a fun (and often funny) experience, Dan was quick-witted and eager to talk about pretty much any subject that was presented to him, and I think everyone will enjoy the heck out of this show when it's aired. (No, I have no idea when that will be, but I'll pass on any & all info I get as it comes along).

  - NotDan

[tuna ketchup]

AWESOME. That sounds so cool. I'm stoked to get to see that.

Also, I have again spoken with Dean, the night manager at the Belmont, who assures me the gig on the 17th is open to anyone who wants to come.

So I hope he is right, cause I'm gonna drive up there.

Maybe I'll see some of you guys there.

[HowdyHowRU]

Arrived at the Speakeasy around 7:00 last night.  Daniel was standing in front of the club smoking a cigarette.  He looked great.  He's lost a lot of weight and he even smiled at us as we walked into the door.  I was too star struck to say anything.

There was a list, that you supposedly needed to be on to get into the show.  We walked up to the door and told the bouncers we weren't on the list, but wanted to come anyway.  They let us in without any problem, and even gave us a raffle ticket for a chance to win Rolling Stone's tickets.  Hoot Nanny.

Daniel started to play at about 8:30.  He was backed by a band called One Mississippi.  They were similar to the Nightmares, but I got the feeling they didn't really know/appreciate who Daniel was.  Nonetheless they did a servicable job of backing Daniel.  Daniel sang, no guitar, four songs.

1) Rock This Town
2) the song about how much he likes the Beatles (I don't know its oficial title)
3) Speeding Motorcycle
4) I saw Her Standing There

The performances were passionate, especially on Rock This Town.  He kept leaning on the microphone stand and as the songs progressed the microphone got lower.  His voice really sounded good when he was able to stand upright and still sing into the microphone.  Daniel really seemed to be enjoying himself, and he looked great and sounded great. 

Other times I've seen Daniel, at various Austin shows between 1998 - last night, he has seemed so nervous that he wasn't able to enjoy, or at least express his joy, in the crowds that love him.  Last night he seemed to be soaking it up.  I hope thats an indication of his general mental state these days. 

[YipJumpJustin]

I was at the Speakeasy last night also and it was an amazing show. I was right up front by Daniel and his backing band for the night, One Mississippi.  I don't know if they were huge Daniel Johnston fans, but they seemed really stoked to be up there with him.  I saw them singing along with songs and rocking out.  I think they did pretty well for not having practiced with him.  Before Daniel got up there, they did a cool little instrumental version of Band on the Run which sounded awesome.  I was a little disapointed that Daniel only played 4 songs, but I got to meet him, so it was an amazing experience.  Probably the funniest moment of the whole night was this guy who looked like Jason Schwartzman (at least with his sunglasses on) and was totally taking advantage of the situation.  I saw some guy go up to him thinking he was Schwartzman, and this guy just went along with it.

[tuna ketchup]

Second song Dan played last night is called "the beatles"

It's on Yip Jump! Music.

Show was totally awesome. Daniel looked really good and sounded really good. The band was great and considering that the guitarist told me they never rehearsed with Danny, they sounded totally awesome with him.

I talked to Dan after the show, he was terrific. A lot of the people in the crowd didn't even know who he was... it wasn't what I'd imagined: a huge, throbbing Austin crowd of really intense Daniel Johnston fans, but rather it seemed to be whoever was (unknowingly) lucky enough to have been invited and a few devoted Daniel fans.

That part was weird... cause I'm not too keen on trendy go-somewhere-cause-its-cool type people in the first place... but when we're talking about the greatest songwritter ever, i'm REALLY not into them.

This one girl there tapped me on the arm in the middle of Dan's set and leaned over and asked me, "are you friends with him or something?" and I said, "who?" and she goes, "the guy singing," and I said, "ummm, kind of?" I didn't know what to say, really. I was just blown away that someone who didn't even know who Daniel Johnston was had been blessed with standing three feet in front of him while he sang songs from Yip Jump! Music!!!!

Incredible.

Anyway.  The night was great and I am REALLY hungover.  And yeah, Daniel was AWESOME.

[HowdyHowRU]

Second song Dan played last night is called "the beatles"

It's on Yip Jump! Music.

Silly me.  Thanks for the heads up on not needing to be on the invite list.

Can't wait to see the ME TV show.  Even more stoked to know that Not Dan is the moderator, and that Austin Chronicle editor didn't show up.

[tuna ketchup]

Yeah I can't wait for the airing of the show either... I hope it's on the web somewhere cause I live in San Antonio.

Maybe someone can video tape it.