Jim James McKittrick Hotel 2/20

[Fully]

Definitely made me gain a deeper appreciation of the new album, but I fully expected that to happen. 

I'm glad :)

[headhunter]

Nice to see so many good people from around these parts last night.  Especially Eric, Jon, Kyle and Laura who made the long trek to nyc

I enjoyed the night before in Brooklyn much more.  The overcrowded scene and near-stampede to get in was really a buzz-kill.

First time I ever left a Jim or MMJ show early.     

[scosby2]

Everything was awesome about his set from those two covers, to the both fake and real sax playing. To how he did really stretched the new songs out. The whole sleep no more thing was a trip and might actually go back even if it is not with the addition of jim. Quite the theater experience to say the least, and I will probably have weird nightmares for weeks (mostly from the creepy nurse). Other than that, the show was bananas (except that lady who kept yelling "I love you jimmy" and just being a jerk on lots of levels. I might have pushed one or two people in that rush to get to the main stage. But I ended up front and center and rocked to every second. Will add more tomorrow with a couple pictures.

you have to elaborate on the "creepy nurse"

sorry, it's my job

[SauceGod]

Everything was awesome about his set from those two covers, to the both fake and real sax playing. To how he did really stretched the new songs out. The whole sleep no more thing was a trip and might actually go back even if it is not with the addition of jim. Quite the theater experience to say the least, and I will probably have weird nightmares for weeks (mostly from the creepy nurse). Other than that, the show was bananas (except that lady who kept yelling "I love you jimmy" and just being a jerk on lots of levels. I might have pushed one or two people in that rush to get to the main stage. But I ended up front and center and rocked to every second. Will add more tomorrow with a couple pictures.

you have to elaborate on the "creepy nurse"

sorry, it's my job

On the 5th flooor that is the hallway with a bunch of doors and then the maze thing on the other side. I went through one of the doors, into a room and then in another room I could see that there was an actor. I walked over, there were already three other people looking around her nurse's office. I stood at the doorway. She just sat at her desk with a book using a scalpel to cut the pages and then press the scalpel against her arm. There were hundreds  of pages cut in different shapes in the corner of her room hanging. Then the music playing got louder and more dramatic so she finally look up at us. She looked directly at me in the doorway, then just started to smile. Once the music hit the peak, she went back to cutting up the pages faster. Oh, and her uniform was covered in blood.


...in other non-creepy news. I heard from the photographer standing next to me last night that he was from pitchfork.tv and they were filming videos with jim.

[mahg33ta]

I suspect I have the best creepy nurse story of the night.   I will type it up when I get home tonight.

[FiddleCastro]

I suspect I have the best creepy nurse story of the night.   I will type it up when I get home tonight.

You definitely do, Kyle. 

[scosby2]

loving these creepy stories! makes me sick I wasn't there...

I am not a creepy nurse for the record though...

[zutronics]

It was a lot of fun except for the angry mob pushing to get into the Jim show.  Great set, great encore! Even if I ended up in the balcony.

Yeah, this got really ugly.  The guy in front of me freaked out and pushed everyone back inflaming folks even more.  What a recipe for disaster - loud music, booze, and flinging doors open with little to no warning while people were waiting for an hour.  Good show overall, and great vibe but this was very scary.

[korief]

I didn't know anything before walking in, had to forfeit not only my coat but my entire purse. I felt like my control and power had been stripped. We were ordered about, not allowed to speak. Wandered around in the dark for hours with fellow masked patrons who bumped into you, somethings because of the dark, sometimes because they used anonymity as an excuse for some human contact.

Some of the rooms I explored bored me, some excited me, some terrified me. I loved the performers, all very beautiful and quite skilled dancers (the choreography was great, I'd like to know who did it). I oscillated between wanting to just be able to speak, find my way, have some clarity and just wanting to sink further into the darkness and silence. It was like a silence meditation retreat but conducted at an adult-style Tower of Terror. What I did not expect was to internalize so much - I thought I would be taking it all in rather than examining myself so much. The whole environment was very sensual though with all the pretty people, the inviting beds, the random masked strangers bumping into you, the darkness...

I thought it would be thrilling to see Jim James after so much "tension." But in reality, it was like topping a brownie with hot fudge - for some, a revelation but for me, too much on too much. I think I would have enjoyed the Sleep No More experience more if I didn't have the "show anxiety" and I would have enjoyed Jim James more if I didn't have the "mind-fuck exhaustion."

Not knowing where the show was, how to get there, when it was, if we would be told anything, what time it was... I think that fed into the angry, pushy mob. They were reclaiming their voices, their faces after being voiceless and faceless for so many long hours. It was late too, the show didn't start till about 10:30 and after most people had been stumbling around in the dark for many many hours. But Jim seemed in good spirits and I really liked his duo with that lady Karen. That's a nice name, Karen. 

The best part of the night for me was sitting in the cocktail bar and watching the Django Conway quartet. It would have been cool if Jim James performed there, where I could have casually sipped my St. Germain and champagne while watching the cigarette girls work the crowd. 

[Penny Lane]

Great recap, korief--(and nice meeting you offically on Tues). They took your purse? Did they take your phone, too? So you could all be released from our addictions and take it all in? Sounds like my worst nightmare.

I think separately, SNM could have been a moving thing, but it sounds like it was weird and gave everyone pre-show anxiety, which led to real show anxiety and a lot of waiting around in cramped dark places?

So was JJ part of the play at all? Or maybe you don't know because it was dark...hmmm

[tdb810]

I didn't know anything before walking in, had to forfeit not only my coat but my entire purse. I felt like my control and power had been stripped. We were ordered about, not allowed to speak. Wandered around in the dark for hours with fellow masked patrons who bumped into you, somethings because of the dark, sometimes because they used anonymity as an excuse for some human contact.

Some of the rooms I explored bored me, some excited me, some terrified me. I loved the performers, all very beautiful and quite skilled dancers (the choreography was great, I'd like to know who did it). I oscillated between wanting to just be able to speak, find my way, have some clarity and just wanting to sink further into the darkness and silence. It was like a silence meditation retreat but conducted at an adult-style Tower of Terror. What I did not expect was to internalize so much - I thought I would be taking it all in rather than examining myself so much. The whole environment was very sensual though with all the pretty people, the inviting beds, the random masked strangers bumping into you, the darkness...

I thought it would be thrilling to see Jim James after so much "tension." But in reality, it was like topping a brownie with hot fudge - for some, a revelation but for me, too much on too much. I think I would have enjoyed the Sleep No More experience more if I didn't have the "show anxiety" and I would have enjoyed Jim James more if I didn't have the "mind-fuck exhaustion."

Not knowing where the show was, how to get there, when it was, if we would be told anything, what time it was... I think that fed into the angry, pushy mob. They were reclaiming their voices, their faces after being voiceless and faceless for so many long hours. It was late too, the show didn't start till about 10:30 and after most people had been stumbling around in the dark for many many hours. But Jim seemed in good spirits and I really liked his duo with that lady Karen. That's a nice name, Karen. 

The best part of the night for me was sitting in the cocktail bar and watching the Django Conway quartet. It would have been cool if Jim James performed there, where I could have casually sipped my St. Germain and champagne while watching the cigarette girls work the crowd.

Thanks for the recap -- holy panic attack!  This would not have gone well for me. 

[CountSA]

Pretty cool article about the McKittrick Hotel (with Jim quotes):

http://www.miamiherald.com/2013/02/18/3240854/nycs-sleep-no-more-shows-off-its.html

[headhunter]

An excellent and well written recap Karen.  Many of our thoughts and concerns were expressed succinctly by your words.  And yes those "actors" and 'dancers" were all in spectacular shape and very talented.

Either part could and would have been terrific on it's own but for me at least, this was a rare example of when the whole was much less than the sum of the parts.

While I can appreciate what they were trying to do with the combination,  I've seen JJ and MMJ over 30 times the past 4 years or so and this was clearly my least favorite experience.

[johnnYYac]

Amazing recap, korief!  I think you really nailed it, a caustic mix of moments that make an already tense experience more so.  I wonder if anyone anticipated this, intentionally engineering the moment as part of the experience.  I'm reminded of when my brother and I were kids on Space Mountain in Disney.   The ride shut down while we were at one of its highest points and the lights were out.  For quite some time (or was it?), we were left confused and scared, which made the rest of the ride pretty tough once it was fixed. 

[APR]

Cool that you got some different covers.  I'm not familiar with the original versions, but I'll check them out on spotify.

Not so cool about all the problems pre show. 

[vespachick]

I didn't know anything before walking in, had to forfeit not only my coat but my entire purse. I felt like my control and power had been stripped. We were ordered about, not allowed to speak. Wandered around in the dark for hours with fellow masked patrons who bumped into you, somethings because of the dark, sometimes because they used anonymity as an excuse for some human contact.

Some of the rooms I explored bored me, some excited me, some terrified me. I loved the performers, all very beautiful and quite skilled dancers (the choreography was great, I'd like to know who did it). I oscillated between wanting to just be able to speak, find my way, have some clarity and just wanting to sink further into the darkness and silence. It was like a silence meditation retreat but conducted at an adult-style Tower of Terror. What I did not expect was to internalize so much - I thought I would be taking it all in rather than examining myself so much. The whole environment was very sensual though with all the pretty people, the inviting beds, the random masked strangers bumping into you, the darkness...

I thought it would be thrilling to see Jim James after so much "tension." But in reality, it was like topping a brownie with hot fudge - for some, a revelation but for me, too much on too much. I think I would have enjoyed the Sleep No More experience more if I didn't have the "show anxiety" and I would have enjoyed Jim James more if I didn't have the "mind-fuck exhaustion."

Not knowing where the show was, how to get there, when it was, if we would be told anything, what time it was... I think that fed into the angry, pushy mob. They were reclaiming their voices, their faces after being voiceless and faceless for so many long hours. It was late too, the show didn't start till about 10:30 and after most people had been stumbling around in the dark for many many hours. But Jim seemed in good spirits and I really liked his duo with that lady Karen. That's a nice name, Karen. 

The best part of the night for me was sitting in the cocktail bar and watching the Django Conway quartet. It would have been cool if Jim James performed there, where I could have casually sipped my St. Germain and champagne while watching the cigarette girls work the crowd.

Thanks for the recap -- holy panic attack!  This would not have gone well for me.

I think the stress would have given me a heart attack.   

[SauceGod]

http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/jim-james-energizes-his-songs-of-praise-in-new-york-20130221

[dp74]

I thought it was pretty remarkable that the audience was overwhelmingly respectful or considerate given how much latitude they got inside the Sleep No More performance.  Without our phones, our faces, or our voices, we became anonymous but also part of a weird community.   Pretty cool I thought.

You people who waited by the door for an hour to be up close to the stage instead of listening to the other 2 bands that were playing in the lounge and the bar will always puzzle me.  And then only to be crushed up front...is it really worth it?  Especially in that small of a place. 

I was right in front of the soundboard and had plenty of room to actually dance instead of being squished.

* and I'm hoping that the dude stealthing the show will put it up somewhere soon.  wondering how good his mics were....

[FiddleCastro]

You people who waited by the door for an hour to be up close to the stage instead of listening to the other 2 bands that were playing in the lounge and the bar will always puzzle me.  And then only to be crushed up front...is it really worth it?  Especially in that small of a place. 

I don't think anyone expected it to be another hour of waiting. We went over when one of the bands said "This is our last song! You guys ready to see Jim James!?" then that band proceeded to play at least 3 more songs. At one point they asked "should we keep playing?" after a song...

[mahg33ta]

My Nurse Story at Sleep No More

At one point in the show, one nurse collapses and the other tends to her until the first one recovers.   Then the 2nd nurse grabs me by the hand, leans in close, and says "follow me", and pulls me through the "woods" and through some halls until we get to a hallway.   She unlocks a door and pushes me inside and shuts the door behind us.    I'm thinking, this could be interesting.

We're in a small room, maybe 8x8, looks like a doctor's office.   She leads me over to a couch, has me sit, then lifts up my legs and swings me around so that I'm laying down.    She then covers me in a white sheet from the neck down, tucking me in firmly so I'm basically stuck.   I'm thinking, this is weird!

Then she straddles me and lays on top of me.   Have I mentioned that these actresses are young, attractive, and in fine shape?   Slowly, she takes my mask off and gives me the shhh sign.   Then, she leans towards me, slowly, slowly, slowly.   Until she's about an inch away from me.   (as a side note, if anyone watches Impractical Jokers, the thought flashes through my head to do the close-eyes-and-pucker move Murray does when he has to elicit a kiss from a stranger).   Does she know I'm a happily married man?    Can she feel my heart racing?   I try to stare at her but she is super unnerving.  Plus, after having a mask on for 2 hours, I feel naked.   I am having trouble making eye contact.  I'm thinking, I'm really sweating!

Suddenly, the lights change, and writing on the wall is illuminated.   She turns to read it and so do I.   Something about the raven and insects and something else.   It's scrawled and creepy.   The music turns harsh and crazy.   She leans in again and coughs.   Out drops a nail!  A big, serious, metal nail on my face.   She screams and hops up.   She grabs my legs, whips them around which makes me sit up, throws on my mask, and says "do not tell anyone".   The door opens, she pushes me out, and I'm alone in a dark hallway.   I'm thinking, WTF?