Neko Case at Stubb's, taken by Chad Wadsworth
First, I must apologize for the lack of pictures. Miss Case had a policy of no cameras at the show which was probably not strictly enforced. The Stubb’s employees implied it was mainly pointed at phones and people recording the performance with it. However, the security workers were more vocal. Since I got to attend for free as an EA volunteer (Ecology Action, not the videogame company), I chose to follow the request of the artist and for the good of EA’s reputation. I’m of two minds about it. The pictures, even if they’re mediocre (and I’ve posted plenty) are my mental souvenirs to go with my massive concert-shirt collection I have. Plus I try to keep my photography from being intrusive. On the other hand, I understand the performers’ complaint because you can always count on a jerkwad to ruin it for everybody by continuously setting off a flash, etc. or the sea of LEDs from phones (the Duran Duran show in 2007). There were rumors of it deriving from Neko’s vanity, not likely unless she had a special air system to prevent sweating.
Now with my excuse/editorial out of the way, how was the concert? Quite excellent. The opening act Shearwater wasn’t my cup of tea. They had a song or two I thought were okay, otherwise it was 30 minutes of noise, fuzz and distortion on par with an awful opener I saw with Juliana Hatfield in 2000.
The audience erupted when Neko hit the stage. I think most of the people there were long-time fans and very diverse by age, appearance and gender. Not a gaggle of hipsters trying to latch on to the next breakthrough artist to make them look cool or alternative, those people were here last week. I do wish I had more time to listen to the current release more. I did enjoy what I heard even if I only recognized the current single, the Harry Nilsson cover and “Hold on, Hold on,” from her previous album. Ahh, someone took a picture of the setlist.
Neko is quite a different performer when she is in the lead versus being a member of the New Pornographers. It would’ve been cool if she did a couple of those songs she wrote/co-wrote; give a demonstration on how it’s reinterpreted should she have the opportunity to do it her way entirely, strip out the A.C. Newman touches. Don’t get me wrong, I dig the solo stuff from the other guys.
Should you get the opportunity to catch her on this North American tour, check Neko Case out. This may be the last chance you can see her in a decent venue. I fear this record might turn her into the next Sarah McLachlan which my friend Helen and I consider a derogatory term.
I hope to have a picture posted tomorrow when the Statesman reveals theirs in the next issue of XLEnt, the Thursday insert which has failed to kill the Austin Chronicle for 15 years. I ran into the paper’s photographer to ask him when the public could see what he was allowed to shoot (traditionally, media people have to stop after the third song as per the performer’s contract at the venue).
Turned out someone via Flickr had better luck. He didn’t have any means to be contacted but I gave him credit and I hope we have a positive interaction over this. My site doesn’t make any money.