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

[fitzcarraldo]

Excellent. Thanks for the report Vaccuuman!

[BH]

Nice, thanks for the report Vaccuman!  Sounds like a lot of fun.

Murph, nice new avatar!  Ha!

[The Big Come Up]

So is this going to be streaming on the Rock HOF website or not?
i hope so.....

[...vacuuman...]

oh, and thanks to CC for the heads up and to Mike for the the tix!

let's hope they stream the show in its entirety, and not just little clips.

[mls1]

I have been reading this forum for well over a year now, and have never posted.  But since I figured I was one of the only ones on this board to have attended the Jim James show last night at the Belly Up in San Diego, that I should offer my 2 cents as well.

The person who already offered a review and a picture did a really nice job of describing the event.

I would also add that I thought the entire event was wonderful and very special.  It was a real treat for any music fan to attend, but especially great for a huge MMJ fan like myself to be able to go to.

The only problem I had with the whole thing, was the interviewer himeself was pretty grating and really liked to hear himself talk.  Jim James was being extremely nice and open throughout the entire interview, even when the questions were less than thought provoking.  

The interview was a huge music geek, not that that's a bad thing, but he seemed intent on letting everyone know just how much he knew about music, and that was annoying.

He also neglected to ask the #1 thing that I wanted him to ask JJ about -- and that is the live shows.  He asked him a little bit about the Oknonokos DVD, but never about what JJ feels up on stage or the arrangements of any of his special shows IE: NYE at the Fillmore or the Prom at the 40 Watt.

However, the show itselft was very special and entertaining.  My favorite part was when JJ was explaining that lots of great songs get lost when he is in a "remote location" and doesn't have any of his standard recording equipment to capture raw jam sessions.  You could tell that JJ said "remote location" very tongue and cheek, and was basically saying -- "whenever I am really wasted and playing an awesome jam session -- but don't have the right of mind to actually record any of it."

JJ also mentioned that he will just be driving around and listening to music, and he will record a snippet of a song he really likes on his cell phone or mini-disc player, and then go home and listen to that clip, and that often times, he will get an idea for a new song from that one small clip alone.

He also mentioned the idea that the band is trying to get away from having everyone just banging on their instruments all at the same time within the same song, and that he has realized that songs can be better when everyone in the band gives each other space to let others play their instruments, while other guys in the band just listen to that part of the song, and then react later in the song with their own instruments.

Another very cool part of the interview is when they played music from other artists and had JJ respond to it.  They played a song from Flamenco that highlighted why JJ likes Reverb so much (in fact, they talked about Reverb extensively.)  

They also played a clip of a song from John Prine, and JJ talked about how much he resepcts Prine's voice, and how that JJ is aiming to write some new songs with more of a narrative -- like Prine tends to do.

All in all, a very fun and entertaining night, wish all of ya'll could have been there.

The one thing I walked away with is this:  JJ seems to be just a normal, fun loving dude -- who is extremely talented at making music.  He seems to truly love his band and he just loves all music.  He is very chill and laid back, and seems like a guy that anyone would want to be friends with and hang out with.  There seems to be very little of any "rock star" complex to him at all.  

[BH]

Nice post mls1!  Thanks!

[megisnotreal]

thanks for the reviews, y'all. thinking about how awesome this must have been makes my shitty day better.

[BH]

Looks like Jim's hair is coming back in nicely. ;)

[bridget]

thanks mls1!:) fantastic details.

I love that they played clips of music for him to comment on. That's the first time I've heard of that one.

[Sherpa]

Thanks for the great reviews. I just wish I would have checked te thread earlier and gotten to go. Oh well.

[Ive got an EVIL plan babe]

JJ holding a power drill?  Maybe it was a little play on the title of the show.  JJ doing carpentry, a craft, on stage.

[BH]

JJ holding a power drill?  Maybe it was a little play on the title of the show.  JJ doing carpentry, a craft, on stage.

Good thought!  That makes sense, in a "Jim Humor" sort of way. :)

[vespachick]

Holy mother of god!  I f'ing love the Belly Up!  Been there a ton of times.  Plus, just down the road is Alberto's, the best rolled taco's EVER - especially at 2:00 a.m.  Damn!  Had I not been on a can't-get-on-the-computer-feeling-too-intruded-upon-at-home embargo, I would have flown down.  See what happens when your life gets turned upside down!?!?  I hope this show gets posted soon.

[EC]

JJ holding a power drill?  Maybe it was a little play on the title of the show.  JJ doing carpentry, a craft, on stage.

maybe he thought he was supposed to fix some stuff?