Yuku free message boards

Well, I figured I’d go ahead and post a review. I haven’t done one of these in ages, but I’ve had some requests to see one so I’m going to give it a shot. I will say upfront that I am not a writer by trade, so forgive me in advanced. Hopefully, if anything, you might enjoy my perspective. THIS IS NOT A SHORT READ.

For those who don’t know, I’ve been following John and his music since September of 2000. It’s not super early, but it’s earlier than the average fan. Prior to this recent Eddie’s extravaganza, I had never seen John play at Eddie’s. I had visited the venue a few years back when I was in the area, but that was the extent of it. In fact, I didn’t even see John play for the first time until April of 2001. There were supposed to be a couple other opportunities prior to April, but due to age restrictions, it didn’t happen any earlier.

The funny thing is, the first time I saw/met John, I told him it was nice to finally get to see a show and that I was beginning to wonder if I was going to have to go down to Eddie’s to make it happen. While John did play 2 more shows at Eddie’s after that (not including December of 2005), 1 was invite only (and I would NOT have been invited) and the other 1 occurred just a few months after that encounter. I even remember a time after he played (what I thought would be) his last show at Eddie’s that it just didn’t seem likely he’d play there again due to his growing popularity. Why play at Eddie’s when you can play the Roxy? I have to tell you, I’m glad I was wrong on that account!

To sort of paint a picture of what Eddie’s encompasses, it’s right in the heart of downtown Decatur (Ga). To access the venue, you must go up steps. When you get to the top of the steps, you have an outdoor patio area to your right (although covered this time of the year) and you’re pretty much standing in the pool room (merch area) and to the left, you have the music room. I think if you’re (previously) unfamiliar with the room, you’re really not expecting the venue to be as small and intimate as the place actually ends up being. Heck, even when I visited a few years ago, the mental image I had going back was that the room was a little bit larger than it actually was. There’s not a bad seat (or place to stand) in the house and it’s very geared towards “listening”, something that often gets forgotten at shows.

So, I arrive at the venue night 1 after the doors open. Not intentionally, but due to traffic getting to the venue, I just don’t make it there before the doors open. Not the ideal situation, but not the end of the world either. I remember one of the first things I saw after walking in the door was John, Dela and Scotty (but not altogether) in their own areas scattered throughout the patio area I described above. They were all just doing their own thing and I just thought that was really cool. I briefly talked to John before the show on night 1 and he was explaining to me the whole idea behind not allowing taping for the shows. After he cleared up the reasoning behind it, I completely understood. I can really only think of a few shows throughout the many years that this has been the case and they have all been for good reasons.

Shortly after, I-Nine (the opening act) took the stage. If you haven’t already, it would be a good idea to check them out. They have a cool vibe going on and they’re very enchanting. I was impressed and you will hear more about them in the future, I’m certain of it. They did a wonderful job considering some limitations they had with song selection and I think they made a lot of new fans.

John came out very shortly after they left the stage and he received a warm welcome from Eddie Owen (Mr. Eddie’s Attic). Most of you have seen the setlist by now and are aware that John opened night 1 with Victoria. I just remember after he started that song thinking to myself that it had been a long while since he had played that song at a show I had seen (or at shows period). I know that sounds really apparent, but it was just one of those things. Many people have hit on the banter that came before/after most of these songs, so I’m not going to get too much into that. However, I want to touch on some things that either weren’t touched on or just some general comments about the show night 1.

- While Victoria and Love Soon had surely seen droughts (in terms of when they were last played), no song had seen a longer drought that “Outside in the Underground”. If I’m not mistaken, I think the last time he played that at a show was in November of 2001 at the Vogue in Indianapolis (oddly enough a show I was at). I remember him making a comment that it was a song that just didn’t “fit in” with the rest of his repertoire and I don’t know why, but I never had thought of if that way, but it totally makes sense. I still like the song though and think it’s got a really cool guitar part to it.

- During “My Stupid Mouth” he talked about the guitar part being a ripoff of “Sonny Came Home” by Shawn Colvin and I’m positive he’s mentioned it somewhere else along the way (at some other show I attended in the past) but for some reason it had completely slipped my mind. It was interesting to be reminded of it though!

- After “Wonderland” was played, I thought he made an insightful comment. He said something along the lines of, “See, the song sounds a lot better like this”. It’s never been one of my favorite tunes, but I remember the earlier recordings and liking those versions a lot better. When he’s playing it was just Dela and there are not a lot of people cheering/shouting the words, it makes a difference.

- A comment about “In Your Atmosphere”. For those of you who were there, couldn’t you tell (if it wasn’t apparent before) how much this song means to the guy? The version he played was very heartfelt and he seemed very into it while he was playing. I just thought it was one of those cool, (previously) unspoken moments.

- Was not previously familiar that “Come Back to Bed” stemmed from listening to Cody Chesnutt though it definitely made sense when he was talking about how Cody “sings from his gut”. It’s definitely true, even if his lyrics are sometimes a bit more off color.

- I like that he mentioned that “Tracing” was recorded in Indiana in his hotel room in 2003 (for those of you who don’t know, it is where I reside). I’m making it sound cooler than it is.

- During “Gravity”, John mentioned that it was (to him) the most important song he’s ever written. Was not aware of that previously, but considering it’s some of his finest work, it’s not a surprise either. Just interesting for him to declare that.

- For those of you that have heard “The Hurt”, is it me, or does this remind you of acoustic Eric Clapton (a la “Tears in Heaven”)? I don’t know why, but that’s what I thought of when I heard it. It’s a great tune and I’m looking forward to hearing the studio cut.

- “Stop This Train” may be my favorite of all of the newer material of his I’ve heard. It’s deep, it’s personal and it just hits you hard when you hear it. It’s one of those tunes with universal appeal. What I mean by that is I think nearly everyone who listens to that song will feel what he is saying in it at some point in their life (past, present or future).

That’s all I got for night 1 (as if that isn’t enough). Moving along to day 2…

So, I stayed at the Holiday Inn in Decatur which I might add is a very close walk to Eddie’s. I mean, literally, 5 minutes. It was nice to not have to worry about parking and all that. After I woke up on Wednesday (the day of night 2), I tried to get on my laptop and there was something jacked up with the phone. I don’t know what was happening, but after going down to the front desk, they assured me the problem was fixed (even though I later found out they had wireless internet). As I was walking back towards my room, I noticed that the hotel offered “free internet access” in their business center. I was curious to see what the initial response was from this community and so I moseyed on in there just to get a peek and what do I see? Mystupidmouth.com clearly displayed on the monitor. Talk about seeing something unexpected. Whoever you are, you’re busted!

After sleeping in very late, I unfortunately didn’t have a lot of free time the day of night 2. I’ve gotta say, Mick’s is a good place to eat. I think they have a couple other locations in Atlanta too. Jake’s definitely lives up to its hype (the ice cream place right below Eddie’s). A must-stop if you’re ever in the area. I got to Eddie’s a little bit earlier for night 2 than I had gotten there night 1. I was actually able to secure a table and have a better view. So just like night 1, I’m going to talk about what were some things I found interesting or that I was unaware of.

- As you may already know, the show started off with “Man on the Side”. John stated the first night that what he found about his earlier work (pre-Heavier Things) was that it was more cerebral than it was from the heart. I think generally speaking, that’s an accurate assessment. However, I think of his earlier work, this song hits more on the heart side than the others. Maybe he would disagree with me, but I’ve always viewed this song that way. It was nice to hear it again.

- When John was talking about “Neon”, he mentioned that Clay and he were playing open mic nights at Eddie’s (as the Lo Fi Masters) and that the first time around, they actually lost! I feel like this is also something I previously knew from somewhere, but maybe just forgot? I just thought it was kind of humorous now.

- Before John started playing “83”, he mentioned that he really liked “Blue Note” album covers and that they have inspired some of his album covers and I immediately thought of Try! and Cannonball Adderley’s, “Somethin Else”. If you’ve never seen the cover, it can be found here:


.


Compared to:




I had a suspicion, but didn’t know for sure.

- I liked how he mentioned in “83” that the line, “Whatever Happened to My Lunchbox” has landed him a lot of lunchboxes over the years and that he should’ve made the line, “Whatever happened to my Rolaids.” I don’t know why I’m just not that surprised that he’s received a lot of lunchboxes over the years.

- I was glad to hear John mention that “New Deep” was really only 80% done when it was recorded and that he wishes he could’ve redone it and that it was his “delinquent child”. I don’t know why, but I’ve just never really been into this song. I like the guitar part, though. I would’ve been curious to see what the extra 20% would have added.

- I really enjoyed the “Daughters” explanation. For those of you who attended (or have read), I’m sure you did too. I wasn’t previously familiar that there were so many “intricate” details that went into writing that song.

- “In Repair” is also another very cool new tune. The sing-a-long was cool and he said that it was a “man’s song” and that “all is not lost” and I just couldn’t help but think of Coldplay (Everything is not Lost) both in relation to that comment and how the song just seemed reminiscent of the band. Maybe I’m off base, I don’t know.

That’s all I got for night 2.

Night 3…

At this point, it’s starting to unfortunately set in that the “Eddie’s Experience” is almost over. It’s one of those bittersweet feelings though, you know? I tried to make it to the Atlanta Aquarium, but after arriving there and seeing the line, it just didn’t look feasible. The line was wrapped around the building. Anyone been? Beforehand, I had to make another stop at Jake’s since I knew that I probably wouldn’t be having it again anytime soon. For this show, I made sure that I got there a little bit earlier. My spot for night 3 was better than it was for the previous 2 nights. As a result, it turned out some cool pictures that I’ll try (no pun intended) to post at some point. So, on to night 3 with some general comments…

- Like “Wonderland”, it’s amazing how much an audience can shape your opinion of hearing a song like “Comfortable”. It is a cool tune and while some people have grown to dislike it, I’d bet that many people feel this way due to the reaction it would receive when it would be played. Isn’t it strange (or sad!) how that works?

- When he started to play “Quiet”, again, this was just one of those tunes that I know I had heard him play several times in the past, but I was jogging my memory and it seemed like forever ago (probably because it was) that I had last heard him play this tune.

- John playing “Kid A” may have been one of the biggest surprises from his catalogue. After seeing the setlists from the first 2 nights, I just don’t think anyone prior to the show beginning would have called it. Even though I couldn’t remember the last time I heard him play “Quiet”, I REALLY cannot remember the last show I was at that he played “Kid A”. Very cool stuff.

- Anyone else that went or heard, how cool did “Only Heart” sound on an acoustic guitar? It’s one of those songs that before you hear it on an acoustic, you try to envision how it’ll sound (or if it’s even doable), but it was totally doable and it sounded great.

- John inviting up Matthew Kahler during his set was a very admirable thing to do. Surely, he didn’t have to do it and I think Matthew was surprised himself by getting to play a song solo (though he sort of hid it). I think the crowd loved it and I’m betting he wished he would’ve brought some discs along to sell!

- I thought the banter for “Another Kind of Green” was very interesting. I was completely unfamiliar with the back story behind that song, but having the insight definitely adds something to it.

- The show closing with “Wandering” and having John, Dela, Matthew Kahler and Eddie come up was a great way to cap off the 3 nights. It had a really nostalgic feel to it and it really was the perfect ending.

I’ve seen a lot shows throughout the last 4, going on 5 years and this particular set of shows easily ranks near (if not at) the top. I was expecting to have fun and to enjoy the shows immensely, but my expectations were exceeded. Just seeing the Eddie’s Attic banner sit behind him as he played, you really got a feel for what it must have been like early on. It was very authentic and it’s unfortunate that not more people could experience it directly (though the recordings when they surface will help). John did say something along the lines of it would be cool to have it be an annual tradition (shows at Eddie’s). Who knows if that will happen or not, but if it does, I suggest you “take all your big plans and break them”. Break the bank, make arrangements, do whatever you need to do. You will walk away from the experience satisfied.

I have some other comments that were more general and not directly related to the shows and so I’m going to post those below.

- I remember one of the first things I noticed (and it was apparent throughout all 3 nights) was John’s enthusiasm towards the shows. You could tell he wanted to be there and he was excited to be there and that it was something he wanted to do. It sounds like it should be a given, but people (and musicians) are human. They do not enjoy every hour and every day of what it is they are doing.

- I hope everyone that wanted to meet John got their chance and appreciated the fact that John made himself more accessible than he’s been in probably the last 4 years (maybe even a little bit longer). He literally signed and took pictures till he was blue in the face every night before and mostly after the shows. I didn’t watch the madness that ensued as a result and hopefully you got the opportunity you wanted, but hopefully people didn’t go overboard with (outrageous) requests.

- For the most part, the audiences (during the show) were attentive and respectful. It made the experience more enjoyable. If this applies to you, pat yourself on the back. If you’re the lady who shouted things out in between every song of night 3, please slap yourself a couple times. I could be wrong, but I think you also were shouting things out night 2 as well. If John really wanted your participation, he would’ve asked for it. Camera flashes also fit into this area. I don’t know about the rest of you, but I think Bob (of the Eddie’s staff) made it very clear what the camera (flash) policy was. NO FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY. Now, I’m not naïve, I know that some cameras can be tough to turn off the flash and that some of these flashes were accidental, but I don’t buy the fact that this was continually the case. I was concerned myself that they were going to not allow cameras for night 2 and/or 3 as a result.

- You know how sometimes you’ll go to a show of an artist you like (maybe an artist you really like), but for some reason, there just happens to be a song they play or a moment or two during a song that just don’t grab your attention the same way the rest of the show does (ie you daydream or you’re just not as interested for a short time)? I know I’ve felt that way at many shows I’ve seen of artists I really enjoy. However, these shows kept my attention from start to finish thoroughly. I was completely encapsulated while watching these shows and I can’t remember the last time that’s happened. That speaks a lot of volume to me.

- For those of you who went (or heard), weren’t you impressed to the way a lot of the songs turned out on an acoustic guitar? I had mentioned “Only Heart” above, but “Gravity”, “Try”, “Who Did You Think I Was” and “Good Love is on the Way” came out quite nicely.

- Like myself, I’m sure some of you may have thought, “…but he didn’t play all of his songs!” I got to thinking about it and I think what John was going for was playing songs that were either recorded in studio at some point (“Outside in the Underground”), songs that could be played on an acoustic guitar (no “Vultures”) or songs that he had played live for a long while (no “Tell Me What to Say”). I think that eliminates a lot of songs. I don’t think “Why Did You Mess with Forever” qualifies. It did occasionally pop up in setlists in 2001 and 2002, but I don’t feel like that song was ever completely finished. Now, the one song that I was surprised not to see in a setlist was “Perfect Sense”. Maybe not finished, but from Feb-Nov of 2002 (and even the summer of 2001), this song was regularly played. “Same Time Last Year” was another song that would’ve been cool to hear, but also another one that just wasn’t played a lot live. Playing “Kid A” made up for it though.

- This is my last comment and it has to do with bringing the shows full-circle. Most people watching the shows (or soon to be listening) found out about John at different points in time. There were people from all over the country (if you didn’t already know). I’m sure for many people in the room; you were starving to see John play at a smaller, more intimate type of venue. For others, it may have been a homecoming and you had seen John play there back in the day and this helped you reminisce. Surely, there are people that fall somewhere else on the spectrum. Either way, the shows were pinnacle in the sense that they spanned his entire career and that everyone came along for the ride at different points in time. Whether you prefer the really old stuff, the songs in between or the new material, there was something at each one of these shows that everyone that has liked John at some point in time could get into (and at Eddie’s Attic of all places). I’m not sure it gets much better than that.

I think that’s all I got. I met many old and new faces over the 3 nights and had a pleasure doing so. I won’t try to recite names because there are many and I could see myself forgetting some. The entire Eddie’s staff did an exceptional job in what was an atmosphere that they probably don’t normally see.

Here’s to hoping there will be future Eddie’s outings!
-RY