I have very little patience for Americana. Maybe it's from growing up in the south and having a desire to distance myself from all things that could be construed as "southern." I know, I know, Americana can be midwestern or for that matter can be associated with any part of the States. Call it roots music, call it whatever you want. For the most part I don't care much for it. So it was with very little concern on my part that I had the opportunity to bear witness to an indie rock rarity, a bit of indie rock history if you will: a performance by one D.C. Berman of Silver Jews fame. To sweeten the deal (if you're into these sorts of deals) he was joined by indie-folk impressario Will Oldham (Palace, Palace Brothers, Palace Music, Bonnie Prince Billy, et. al.) and a bandmate of mine that I don't care to mention. What followed was the most pathetic, inept, vapid, banal display of bullshit indie rock posturing I've yet to bear witness to. If you've heard the records you already know Berman can't sing, but I'll be goddamned if he can't play either. I knew already because every guitar part he put to tape in Nashville for Bright Flight had to be replaced, but it was far worse than I expected. Was he coked out of his gourd? Probably. Oldham didn't even bother playing anything. He just stood on the stage with that crazed look in his eyes, occasionally singing (read shouting) into the microphone. Was this historic? Apparently. Berman refuses to play live so I saw something that many don't have the opportunity to (with another star no less). Frighteningly, lots of people would pay money to have seen it. Was it memorable? Kind of. It isn't everyday that one is afforded the opportunity to see grown men humiliate themselves with their own self-important infantilism. Am I glad I saw it? Of course. I love being disillusioned and bitching about it.

I don't think this can be termed an "indie rock rarity." The real culprit here is the fact that you were present at Springwater, a serious lapse in judgment. Nashville is actually the epicenter of "bullshit indie rock posturing." But don't worry...in a few weeks you'll be partying with me at sports bars in Wrigleyville, screaming "Who Let the Dogs Out?" by Wrigley Field.

(Edited by etcetera at 4:17 pm on Oct. 8, 2003)

i wish i would have known about it. not for me so much, but for my wife, who is in love with will oldham. she is going to be pissed that she missed it.

Will you be rooting for the yankees or the marlins?

Sorry, I had to. I'd like nothing more than to see BoSox vs. Cubs, but I'm not optimistic.

I like Berman. Not because of his music, but because when he is coked up at your parties, he'll clean your house for you.

Holy shit. I can't believe I missed this. I guess I didn't miss much though...

D.C. Berman was in a similar state at the Broken Social Scene show—completely drunk/high/whatever, and making a complete ass of himself. I love his (and Oldham's) records and it was disappointing to see him loudly grunting unintelligibly at the band, and receiving looks of dismay from all those around.

yeah, he stepped on my foot that night (or wait, i should say he stood on my foot) and after i proclaimed "owww," he said, "i beeet youuuu didn'tttt driiiiive alllllllllllllll the waaaaaaaaaaay from murfreeeeeeeeeesboro just to haaaaaaave your foooot stepped on by meeeeeeee."

i wonder why he assumed i came from murfreesboro?

Honestly, Berman can be a nice guy when he's not totally fucked up. And I suppose I don't think he's completely untalented. I'm not crazy about his writing, or his music, but he's always been relatively pleasant to me. His wife is nice. He calls her a sloppy drunk. Must be horrible.

if she's a sloppy drunk, what the hell does that make him?

almost dead

etc.,

Come on. Are we forgetting about Lambchop, Cheetah Chrome, the Liars and other bands that have played the Springwater that don't fall into the posturing category? And didn't I see you at one of those shows....?:-)

I would say that 75% of the time I am at the least intrigued by whoever is playing at the shitwater. Yes, some of these bands/acts could be considered pretentious, inaccessible, even "unlistenable." No, I don't always enjoy all of the bands that "intrigue" me, but I do like the challenge a noise band presents. Or the challenge a poet/hack musician and indie rock superstar sans guitar presents. At the end of the night, I'm usually not blown away by whatever/whoever is at the springwater, but I wouldn't exactly call it a waste of time, either.


In the end, I guess I see where neuboy is coming from. And I would have liked to have seen that show.

Non-pretentious bands I've seen at the Springwater:

Mostly Robot
Dewese Family Singers
Less Than Perfect
Cab Over Pete

(Okay, so the last two are hard rock bands, but I dig 'em. I'm sure there are others I'm just forgetting right now. I think I may have seen the Luxury Liners there, too, back in the day.)

For the most part, though. I agree that Springwater prides itself on bringing in the kind of bands that Sina likes, so I tend to only go when my friends or a band I already know are playing.

I don't know anything about the Liars or Cheetah Crome. I was sort of exaggerating and I joke about Springwater with neuboy a lot.
I really think my animosity towards Springwater started when a bartender who shall go unnamed attempted to charge me to see Lone Official play on a Wednesday night at ten o'clock, without charging any of the other 10 people who were there. I was told by other Springwater regulars that this was because I was some sort of Springwater outsider. Anyway I haven't worn my Gucci business attire to the place since then and everything's worked out fine.

And they only serve beer.

i want names!!!

i'm not very liked by the staff there. probably because i go in and comfortably mingle/ make out with the springwater kids and they love me and i guess some of the staff don't think i deserve it since i'm an "outsider". especially old, fat, balding ones with jacked up teeth.

I guess that's why the price is always TBA. You can't fault them for charging, though. I mean, they have to keep up their super clean venue.

Roadie,

Who the hell goes out be aurally "challenged" after a long work day/week?

I think you and I need to go to the Cantina when I get home, where the only challenge for you will be to keep up with my sick moves and margarita intake. Yowww!!!!

I can't believe people actually wish they'd been there to see these guys suck. Wait, yes I can. Star worship goes a long way.

I'm not sure about "star worship," and I'm sure I would have been very disappointed with the disastrous show that you described. However, if I had known that two songwriters whose albums I enjoy very much were playing in Nashville, I would have been there expecting a good performance. I’ve seen Will Oldham’s band Bonnie Prince Billy before, and they were a great live band. I have heard that the Silver Jews are less than stellar when they do perform live, but since I’ve never seen them, I would take the chance.

If Springwater is where you go to be challenged friend then I suggest you invest in some books.

Also, it wasn't a show. They did one song. It was shit.