Jim James McKittrick Hotel 2/20

[korief]

That settles it. I'm going back so I can have a hot nurse straddle me and spit a nail in my face.

[ynwa]

I have mixed feelings.  I'd read a little bit about SNM prior to last night (and even stumbled upon a PBS special about MacBeth recently, which had bits about SNM ((not to be confused with S&M)), so I thought I had just enough info to prep myself for this show.  Overall, SNM is something that's completely out of my comfort zone, but sometimes you have to challenge yourself, right? 

I think I freaked myself out more than what was actually put before me.  I didn't get nailed by any creepy nurses or anything like that (Kyle, they totally picked on you!).  I got a couple pieces of red licorice from one of the players (still not sure who he was in the plot of MacBeth, or what candy had to do with anything.  But it was a tasty snack.).  And I stumbled upon the post-murder, bloody, naked bathtub scene between The Lady and Mac, which was really intense, but I didn't find it to be erotic, as advertised.  I will say that the actors in this scene were fantastic.  There were a few partial-utterances during the scene, but for the most part I can best describe it as a violent ballet dance. 

I think I lasted about two hours.  I got blocked from the 6th floor and then found myself walking into rooms I'd already been in, so I figured my time was up. 

The whole thing was confusing.  And I understand the idea behind the production being an extended mysterious personal journey.  Uncertainty adds to mystery and intrigue, which can heighten the experience, if you are so inclined.  There were a few moments where I was like, "Oh, fuck this.  I'm outta here," (cemetery, funeral parlour... do we see a theme here?) but then repeated my mantra, "You are in a safe place."  Weakly .

And THEN there was the line debacle for Jim's show.  It was horrible.  Even if my nerves weren't twitchy after the SNM experience, this would have been too much.  I won't repeat what's already been said, because I don't want to dwell on the one true negative aspect of the night.  But it was the worst line experience I've ever had.

Anyway!  Once a spot was secured in the 2nd row of the balcony with Headhunter and Fiddle, and the music started, it got better.  And as the crowd thinned out as the show went on, it got even better.  Although I was really bummed that HH had to make an early exit.  It got to a point where I had to tell myself to forget all the nonsense in the buildup and just enjoy the moment for what it was.  And then, I danced.         

[Crispy]

WAITWAITWAIT, there were hot nurses at this thing? Straddling people and hacking up nails in their faces? WHY THE HELL WASN'T I THERE

[FiddleCastro]

And I stumbled upon the post-murder, bloody, naked bathtub scene between The Lady and Mac, which was really intense, but I didn't find it to be erotic, as advertised.  I will say that the actors in this scene were fantastic.  There were a few partial-utterances during the scene, but for the most part I can best describe it as a violent ballet dance. 

That scene was really fantastic. The choreography was incredible.

[pattilovesmmj]

I don't know anything about the McKittrick, but it sure sounds like a trippy place.  Is it performance art?

[ynwa]

I don't know anything about the McKittrick, but it sure sounds like a trippy place.  Is it performance art?

patti - here's the wiki info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_No_More_(2011_play)

Rich - the choreography was something else.  I was in complete awe.

[JaneCool]

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.

I don't know - I was up front and had room to dance and wasn't getting smashed or pushed. And yes it was worth it to me to get in the "line" a bit early to be up close - though I think the wait was closer to 1/2 an hour. I did enjoy the first band very much.

I also really enjoyed Sleep No More although I feel like I probably missed a lot of stuff. I wasn't terribly concerned with watching the acting so much as I was exploring everything - I purposely walked away from the crowds on several occasions and stayed behind after people cleared out of the rooms just so I could check everything out unhindered.

[pattilovesmmj]

I don't know anything about the McKittrick, but it sure sounds like a trippy place.  Is it performance art?

patti - here's the wiki info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_No_More_(2011_play)

Rich - the choreography was something else.  I was in complete awe.
[/quote ynwa - thanks for posting the link.  very interesting to say the least 

[ynwa]

Sure thing, Patti

Having a couple of days to reflect on the whole thing, I'm finding that I wish I'd been less concerned with the JJ show following this.  A lot of my anxiety and reluctance to "just go with it" came from wanting to make sure that I got a good spot for Jim's show after SNM.  Which didn't happen anyway.  Although, once the majority of the people cleared out from the balcony during Jim's show, I was more than okay with having a lot of space and a great vantage point.  There's something to be said about not being right up in JJ's business, and watching fellow fan go bonkers over being down front.  Maybe it was because I saw a bunch of forumites up there, and was happy for them.  Actually, it was pretty cool seeing "strangers" freaking out and dancing their asses off too.  Watching people experiencing sheer joy is wonderful.

[johnnYYac]

Sure thing, Patti

Having a couple of days to reflect on the whole thing, I'm finding that I wish I'd been less concerned with the JJ show following this.  A lot of my anxiety and reluctance to "just go with it" came from wanting to make sure that I got a good spot for Jim's show after SNM.  Which didn't happen anyway.  Although, once the majority of the people cleared out from the balcony during Jim's show, I was more than okay with having a lot of space and a great vantage point.  There's something to be said about not being right up in JJ's business, and watching fellow fan go bonkers over being down front.  Maybe it was because I saw a bunch of forumites up there, and was happy for them.  Actually, it was pretty cool seeing "strangers" freaking out and dancing their asses off too.  Watching people experiencing sheer joy is wonderful.

Like.

[MrWhippy]

One very cool thing about this show that I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned yet was the "Touch Me Continuum".  It was very cool to hear Touch Me Parts 1 and 2 done together.  I don't think I've heard them together before.

[MMPJ6306]

Any possibility of a tape surfacing? Or just video of the God's Love jam? I need that in my life.

[korief]

Before leaving town, I had to go back to Sleep No More. I went without a reservation and explained I had been there for JJ and it was my last opportunity for a good while, so they let me in!

Without show anxiety, I had a much more exciting and interesting experience. In fact, now I'm hooked and will try to go anytime I am in the city.

Still wasn't admitted to the sixth floor though...

[moflojo]

can anyone tell me how Jim was utilized in the SNM performance. I was told he was going to be one of the "actors" in a sense

[snuggalo1]

I saw Jim in the crowd wearing a mask and watching the performance like the rest of us. He had his hair in a bun, but it was still pretty easy to tell it was him because he was wearing the suit he's been wearing with that thing in the pocket. Plus, beard.

My sister said she saw him a few minutes later at the "orgy" (ha) - when he noticed people staring at him, he ran off to another part of the building.

I haven't heard anything about him actually acting, but that would have been super cool.

[rjlemons]

This article mentions him in the audience:
http://www.rollingstone.com/music/blogs/alternate-take/jim-james-energizes-his-songs-of-praise-in-new-york-20130221

This one mentions that he was part of the play as a "crazed wheelchair-wielding doctor":
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kristina-ensminger/state-of-the-art-jim-jame_b_2744004.html#slide=more282568

[parkervb]

Pitchfork.tv with interview and performance from Sleep No More

http://pitchfork.com/tv/youtube/5-special-presentation/729-jim-james-performs-state-of-the-art-at-sleep-no-more/

[ericm]

Pitchfork.tv with interview and performance from Sleep No More

http://pitchfork.com/tv/youtube/5-special-presentation/729-jim-james-performs-state-of-the-art-at-sleep-no-more/

Really cool! Thanks for posting the link. 

I was getting some flashbacks looking at some of those rooms, and pics in the early part.   That was  our forum's own Janecool at the 5:34 mark who Jim  gave the rose to.   

[FiddleCastro]

Still wasn't admitted to the sixth floor though...

I think i figured it out 

[Jenfarr]

So I decided to post this in a few threads...It looks like 9 songs from Sleep No More were released today.

http://www.rdio.com/artist/Jim_James/album/Sleep_No_More_Live_at_the_Mckittrick_Hotel/