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Tuesday, June 23, 2009
DVD review: Plastic Ono Band in Toronto ‘69
John Lennon and the Plastic Ono Band
‘Live In Toronto ’69’ DVD (Shout Factory)
B
This is a 50-minute film by D.A. Pennebaker about the night a sitting Beatle went to Toronto to play with his idols and unveil “Give Peace a Chance.” Wearing a white suit, the fully bearded John Lennon is in vibrant voice as he sings the likes of “Blue Suede Shoes” and “Dizzy Miss Lizzy,” backed by an especially flashy Eric Clapton on guitar.
But Yoko Ono steals the show. (Words I never thought I’d type.) This DVD opens with “Bo Diddley” by its namesake, followed by “Hound Dog” by Jerry Lee Lewis and “Lucille” by Little Richard. But it ends with the primal screeching, gutteral moaning and staccato yelping of the music world’s most hated woman. Now, THAT’s rock ’n’ roll!
Ono’s otherworldly mashup of sounds on “Don’t Worry Kyoto” gave birth to experimental rock. But the true artist gets even bolder, braver on the mood piece “John, John (Let’s Hope For Peace),” instinctively intoning over guitar feedback, while the crowd no doubt thought they’d been dosed.
At times, Lennon looks a tad uncomfortable at the pop music deconstruction, and he clowns a little when “John, John” goes on too long. But Ono is so focused that she loses any self-consciousness. It’s a powerful performance.
“Live In Toronto” is a flimsy package, devoid of extra footage and the like. But it solves the mystery of what Lennon saw in the strange little Japanese artist. Ono spends most of the classic retreads sitting under a white sheet, but when she emerges, it’s with a revolutionary new way to rock.
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Jay Bennett died of accidental overdose, coroner says
It looks like former Wilco songwriter/member Jay Bennett died of an accidental overdose of the prescription painkiller fentanyl the Champaign County coroner said Wednesday. Fentanyl is a synthetic opiate used to treat chronic pain.
Bennett died May 24 at his Urbana, Ill., home. He had noted on his MySpace site that he was facing hip-replacement surgery.
Bennett left the storied band after their 2001 breakthrough “Yankee Hotel Foxtrot.” Wilco’s new album “Wilco (The Album)” arrives in stores June 30.
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Interview: Scott Miller
Scott Miller shapes sin and salvation into breathing highway poetry on his recent album ‘For Crying Out Loud.’ Restlessness fully obliges reflection only once: Miller’s gorgeous Patty Griffin duet ‘I’m Right Here, My Love.’ ‘I met Patty through a mutual friend before she moved to Austin,’ the former V-Roys leader says. ‘Last year I toured with her for a good four months. It was a no-brainer to have her sing on the record.’ Miller performs Wednesday (June 24) at the Continental Club and Thursday (June 25) at the Cactus Café.
American-Statesman: Seems like self-financing your new record was a smart idea.
Scott Miller: Yeah, I opted off Sugar Hill, and a lot of people told me I was stupid. But I took the guitar and vocal demos, made handmade covers for them and put them up (for sale) on my Web site. That increased my Web site traffic, because people were coming on right as we put them up to pick their covers. You know, at 20 bucks a pop, everyone gets an individual one signed and numbered and there’s my 20 grand to make a record.
Do you think creative fundraising like that is the future of the music business?
Totally. As an independent artist, I can reach my consumers through the Internet. Record labels are gonna be like buggy whips. There’s just no need for them anymore. Today, it’s not about making more money, but keeping more money.
Of course, there still can be an argument made for signing to a label.
Well, sure, if you’re gonna swing for the fences. If you’re gonna be selling millions and you’re willing to give up your rights, then by all means, man. Never stop anybody from dreaming.
Your latest blog ends with meeting a coal lobbyist in a bar. Is there a song in there?
No, man, that was probably just me getting kicked out of a bar in D.C. (laughs). You know, my mom’s from Kentucky, and I thought I was talking from somebody back home. As we got further into the conversation, I realized that, no, he went to a private school in Connecticut and just has his schtick down. He was a lobbyist for mountaintop removal. That’s a big deal where we’re from.
Influence from Woody Guthrie makes sense, but what about Steve Martin? You have photos of both on your Web site.
Well, after Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie created it all, didn’t he? As a singer-songwriter, I went through all the stages. I was in the middle of farm country Virginia and it was like, ‘Love Woody Guthrie.’ Then I went from Woody to Dylan to John Prine. It was the natural progression. Woody was not the simple Okie that he portrayed, you know, he was a smart artist who hated fascists. Steve Martin: Name me an album and I can recite it from start to finish, word for word.
You hooked on anyone right now?
Right now, I’m on a big Los Lobos kick. You could argue a point for Credence being the best American rock band, but I’d say Los Lobos just for the consistency. I have never heard anything bad.
Scott Miller performs at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday (June 24) at the Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave. Tickets are $8 at the door. 441-2444. Miller performs at 8:30 p.m. Thursday (June 25) at the Cactus Café, 24th and Guadalupe on the UT campus. Tickets are $10 at the door. 477-6060, texasboxoffice.com.
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Sunny Day Real Estate coming to Austin!
All four original members of the Seattle rock band Sunny Day Real Estate - Nate Mendel (bass), William Goldsmith (drums), Dan Hoerner (guitar,vocals) and Jeremy Enigk (vocals, guitar) - will reunite group for a U.S. tour starting Sept. 17.
On Sept. 15, Sub Pop will re-issue LPs and CDs of their landmark debut “Diary” and the band’s second full-length album, commonly known as “LP2” (or “The Pink Album” for its entirely pink cover) in remastered versions with bonus tracks and new liner notes albums.
The band plays La Zona Rosa Oct. 7. Tickets are not yet on sale.
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Live shots: Jenny Lewis at Stubb’s BBQ
Bret Gerbe FOR AMERICAN-STATESMAN
- Photos: Jenny Lewis at Stubb’s BBQ
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Guest list giveaway: ‘Love, Janis’ at Zach Scott Theatre
We’re giving away tickets to see the musical “Love, Janis” chronicling the life of Janis Joplin at Zach Scott Theatre.
Email us at events@statesman.com before midnight to enter. You MUST include your full name, email address and daytime phone number in the email to win. Winners will be drawn randomly and notified tomorrow. For complete contest rules email events@statesman.com.
