Thursday February 4th, 2010
The Metro Theatre, Sydney
Daniel Johnston
It's a rainy Thursday night and a small crowd is gathering to watch up-and-comers Kid Sam. The two piece played a set of loose energetic indie rock with some wistful jams and danceable beats. The obligatory bearded frontman was just awkward enough to identify with and the whole thing had a humble charm.
The power went out as their set ended, raising fears we would miss out on Daniel Johnston. Unfortunately it came back on in time for Old Man River to play a full set. The band was technically skilled, the sitar player was a great touch and their psychedelic tinged pop was instantly appealing. The smug banality of songs however, like 'Where Is The Sunshine' ruined the set. The insistent cheerfulness and insipid lyrics made Old Man River's full set impossible to tolerate.
Daniel Johnston's beloved Beatles play on the PA before he takes the stage in a new Akubra. He started into his painfully direct songs about loneliness, depression, and unrequited love. It was slightly uncomfortable, like a therapy session crossed with a gig. A few ironic yells from the crowd showed up the elephant in the room - were people here just to laugh at this childlike man with his bold drawings and personal songs? Most seemed genuinely touched and Johnston's voice was a great instrument, galloping it's way through songs that sounded like the skeletons of fuller songs. He was charming, and even his bleak lyrics and jokes about suicide had a hopeful feel. The naïveté was almost too much sometimes but an amazing cover of The Beatles 'You've Got to Hide Your Love Away' proved Johnston's gifts.
Old Man River's band joined him for the rest of the set and injected a bit more energy into the night. I later heard complaints about the sound quality and the band but I really enjoyed them. Some of the rougher edges of Johnston's songs were smoothed out and songs like 'Fake Records Of Rock and Roll' had a nice anthemic quality. He sang about rock and roll saving his soul and that joy animated the room. The ragged Jonathan Richman-style music had me grinning all the way through to the sad-but-hopeful acoustic closer 'True Love Will Find You In The End'.
Like his colorful drawings Daniel Johnston's music is joyously naive and, though it started out heartbreaking, the fact that Johnston played for a devoted crowd was enough to give anyone hope. His honesty cut to the core of live music and elevated his gig beyond your usual guitar slinger. He isn't the second coming of Brian Wilson but Daniel Johnston is more then just a mockable 'outsider artist'.
by Christian Brimo
+
Share on Facebook