Jim James - Tonight in San Diego *WANNA GO???*

[CC]

The first two people that respond here and are able to go tonight will be put on the guest list, courtesy of Jim James. Each person will get a pair of tickets.



Jim James to perform a special acoustic performance as part of The Rock n'
Roll Hall of Fame's "The Craft."  Jim will be interviewed by Warren Zanes
formally of The Del Fuegos, as well as perform a special acoustic set.

WHEN:    Tonight, July 9th
DOORS:  8:30pm
WHERE:  The Belly Up Tavern
             143 South Cedros Avenue
             Solana Beach, CA 92075

[fitzcarraldo]

CC, you so cool.   8-)  Hope the luckies have a blast!

[thebigbang]

If only we weren't a couple thousand miles from San Diego!

Well, we'll try and be there in spirit and play some JJ tonight at 8:30 pacific time (11:30 here). Sigh . . .

[red]

Man, that's so sweet.  If only...

[.Walt]

thats sweet that jim thought of the forum members. have fun whoever gets to go! lucky son of a guns.

[EC]

you know you've got a problem when you're like : ok, what can i sell for money, how long to get to the airport, and then how long to san diego - damn, there's no way i can make it on time. ;)

is this being taped (sorry, i only have time to read about 1/4 of the threads these days) because i really would like to hear this interview.

[Coltrane]

So, my heart just broke into 3 million pieces!!!

My wife and I live in Philly, but hail from San Diego. We're only here for her to get her MFA at UPenn, then we're moving back home.


WHICH IS IN TWO FUCKING WEEKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!


We totally could've gone to this!!!!


And maybe Jim would have played "our" song (I Will Be There When You Die) which he played especially for us in Los Angeles back in 2003!!!!!!!!!!


One more time: Yet another reason why I hate Philadelphia!!!!!!!!

[EC]

you hate philadelphia, coltrane?  i never knew...

;)

we are working on a pretty cool project just outside of philly right now.  but it won't be ready until after you move away.  ah well.  did you at least enjoy the cream cheese?

[Coltrane]

Damnit!!! I miss everything!!!



No cream cheese. But they have these little markets called Wawa's and you can order up a sandwich ala Subway, but you do it through a computer--so you don't ever have to speak to a human being--and it's open 24/7!!


P.S. Cheese steaks are gross.

P.P.S. EC rules. Hardcore.

[mjkoehler]

Coltrane: I total feel your pain.

EC: As soon as I read this (6:15 PM CT), I looked at my clock and thought, shit, I can get a last minute flight. I can chrage this on the company card and pay it back in a month. ARRRRGH dammit, it's a 3 hour flight I won't make it with drive times. Shit.

We seriously need to invent the Star Trek Teleporter technology......

EDIT- PS And yes it is total BADASS that Jim is doing this. Just another reason in a VERY long list why we love this band.

[corey]

Did anyone get the tix yet? What are y'all waiting for?

[...vacuuman...]

yes!  i'll be there as long as i can weave my way through traffic from LA in time.

[Kory]

what a treat, awesome of Jim to do this. Enjoy vacuuman!

[...vacuuman...]

thanks.  i'll try to come back with a full report.  traffic gods be with me!

[bug]

oh to live in San Diego!  What a great birthday that would have been.  Whoever goes please tell us all about it :)

[...vacuuman...]

Just got back.  Here's a quick review...

Made it down to the Belly Up just after 9 pm.  Never been there, but it's a small to mid-size venue that lots of bands stop at during their west coast treks.  Very beachy, San Diego vibe (think skaters and orange county types).  

Warren Zanes (interviewer) came out, quick intro about the craft series and himself, and  then introduced Jim, who came out sporting a red and white scarf and holding a power drill (wtf?).  no idea what that was about, and he only picked it up again at the end.

The format was interview questions bookended by songs (played Gideon first, then sat down for first interview segment).  I enjoyed the interview more than I thought I would.  Warren had done his homework on past press and critical attitudes toward the band, so while he touched on some familiar territory, the questions gave Jim a chance to open up quite a bit.  Topics included the songwriting process, inspiration, the question of band vs. solo performer, rehearsing and recording the new record in Colorado, album theory, and musical heroes and influences.  As for the new record, they're holed up in a remote corner of Colorado somewhere, playing music in a barn (again) and playing lots of basketball.  Jim's been holding interviews to find a producer for the record (they don't have one yet).  He said that they've come in with 20-22 songs, but that they'll try to pare that down to the best 8-10.  Talked about how sequencing of songs on record is important, and to be able to make a concise, cohesive album without fluff (hence no double discs of new studio material).

Perhaps the best moment was when Jim got up and played two new songs (unsure if they've ever been performed before?).  The first included the repeated refrain of "I feel so wonderful...".  A very hopeful song that Jim said was "a study in opposites," about leaving the hospital but feeling vibrant and full of life.  The second new song is about looking up to a model citizen/being and is very soulful and spiritual.  Wish I could give you more detail, but I was caught up in it and not about to try to transcribe the entire thing.  It'll be interesting to see how they come out on record.  Promising stuff.

Here are a few of the best quotes from the interview that I wrote down:

"It's this big pulsating beast."  (describing James Brown and his band performing "The Big Payback")

"You want the band to be moved by what they're playing."  (talking about how he brings the band the songs and their basic structures, but wants everyone to be able to put themselves into the songs, and not feel like they're just conduits for what he wants.)

"Your influences are always alive in your body."

"People don't think enough about rooms."  (describing how vocal tones vary depending on the surroundings: bedroom, bathroom, office, studio, kitchen, etc.)

"There are still bands out there that think in albums, and we think in albums."  (on how he'd rather have a shorter statement of the best tracks, a la dark side of the moon, than something rambling and incoherent)

"Some things I do well and some things I wish I could do better."  (on how he's not that comfortable writing narrative songs--though the new album has one or two.  i love this quote.  it's all glass-half-full, no pessimism, no "things I can't do.")

Setlist:

Gideon
WAWM (omnichord)
Golden
New Song ("I feel so wonderful...")
New Song ("peace & glory...")
The Way That He Sings
Bermuda Highway
Anytime (omnichord)

Totally worth the 2 hour drive each way.  And since the event was sponsored by miller beer (=drink tickets), my only costs (other than gas) were a few bucks in tips.

They were very anti-camera in there, but here's what I managed to get:

[bridget]

Up at dawn to go for a run and this totally made my morning.

Thanks so much for the as-soon-as-u-got-home report. Those are always the best kind:) And you're right - I love the quote you love.

Heading out the door with WAWM and a smile...

[Kory]

Thanks for the review, sounds like an awesome time! I was just in SD a couple weeks ago and walked right by that Belly Up place... oh to have been there...

[aMD]

thanks for the review!  That one new song is called Wonderful (the way I feel).  not sure about the other one.

[JacketGal]

Vaccuuman - that was a wonderful review. Thanks for sharing your experience. :D

"You want the band to be moved by what they're playing."  (talking about how he brings the band the songs and their basic structures, but wants everyone to be able to put themselves into the songs, and not feel like they're just conduits for what he wants.)

"Your influences are always alive in your body."

"People don't think enough about rooms."  (describing how vocal tones vary depending on the surroundings: bedroom, bathroom, office, studio, kitchen, etc.)

"There are still bands out there that think in albums, and we think in albums."  (on how he'd rather have a shorter statement of the best tracks, a la dark side of the moon, than something rambling and incoherent)

GOD, I love this guy. He just gets it: life, writing, interviews -- whatever it may be. He always seems to talk from his heart and make a motherload of sense.