pnêyu Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 This post is dedicated to Dreamin' and ms yvon. Back in April or so, Nels's site listed this show as the latest in his series of improv nights with Jon Brion. Alas, Jon has developed tendinitis, and this show was changed to reflect that. Still, we held on to the tiny bit of faith afforded by the "Nels Cline solo and not" announcement on Largo's calendar. We couldn't admit it too loudly at the time, for fear of jinxing it, but of course, we secretly wished for a Jon Brion appearance--his first known gig since April 7, before the tendinitis really kicked in. Well, I don't know how we got so lucky, but Jon showed up and sang on three songs in Nels's second set, composed entirely of "off the beaten track" Neil Young tracks. His tendinitis hasn't left him, so he didn't play an instrument, but apparently, he's set for Intonation. It was just a great night overall. Nels opened with a characteristically modest caveat about how weird the set would be, but the crowd was very supportive and grateful, I think. His choice of covers was unexpected, and he even sang--perhaps a testament to the relaxed, accepting atmosphere of Largo. The second set, without a doubt, kicked all sorts of ass. I love LA. Set 1 (Nels Cline solo)Look Through My Window [Mamas & Papas]Tom Violence [sonic Youth]I Hate Myself for Loving You [Joan Jett]I Got No Answers [Joan Jett]Little Argument with Myself [Low] Set 2 (and not)featuring Mad Cow, the backing bandHippie DreamRunning Dry (Requiem for the Rockets)*Don't Cry **On the Beach ***Walk On ***Fucking Up *** * = with David Garza and Jeff Gauthier** = with David Garza*** = with David Garza and JON FUCKING BRION p.s. Starfucker alert: Danny Elfman and Matt Chamberlain were in the audience. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hodie Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 JON FUCKING BRION is RIGHT! I can't add much more, because I'm preparing to go to bed soon, only, I'm sure, to stare wide-eyed and grinning at the ceiling for hours. But GEEZE, how lucky can two fangirls be? Nels was just absolutely fantatsic -- besides the covers, he did some very melodic jazz, some very mayhem-oriented avant jazz, and some sitar-sounding wonderfulness. And then his entire concept of doing an entire set of Neil songs was just inspired. But to pile on top of that goodness, we got to see the guy we've been missing for a very long time. I feel amazingly lucky, and it underlies the famous Largo principle: when in doubt about going to a show, for goodness sake, just freakin' GO!! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Picador Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 I love Nels Cline and can't wait to move to California next month. Where exactly is Largo? BTW, I'm a huge Danny Elfman fan and it pleases me to hear he was there to see Nels. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamin' Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 Jon showed up and sang on three songs in Nels's second set, composed entirely of "off the beaten track" Neil Young tracks. Hippie DreamRunning Dry (Requiem for the Rockets)*Don't Cry **On the Beach ***Walk On ***Fucking Up *** ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hodie Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 I love Nels Cline and can't wait to move to California next month. Where exactly is Largo? I'll let the fangirl who actually lives in California give you the details, because I can say only that it's in LA, on Fairfax across the street from Canter's and two doors down from a spacey pizza place. Did we remember to mention that Nels was full-on singing throughout the night? It was ridiculously cool. I'm still pretty blissed out. Judy, we were SO thinking about you... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
miss jayne Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 Wow, Wow, Wow....you are still floating, right? Ah ha Hoodie I see you are. Looks just about perfect! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pnêyu Posted June 4, 2006 Author Share Posted June 4, 2006 Where exactly is Largo?432 N. Fairfax, between Melrose and Beverly Judy, we would've died for you if they had broken out in "Motion Pictures." Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Dreamin' Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 I died a little bit inside just thinking about that. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
El Picador Posted June 4, 2006 Share Posted June 4, 2006 432 N. Fairfax, between Melrose and Beverly Thanks. I look forward to meeting some of you at future shows there. I have seen Banyan @ Dipiazza's a couple time, chatted w/Nels, etc. I've become one of his biggest fans. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ms. yvon Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 ... Jon showed up and sang on three songs in Nels's second set, composed entirely of "off the beaten track" Neil Young tracks. Nels'... choice of covers was unexpected, and he even sang--perhaps a testament to the relaxed, accepting atmosphere of Largo. The second set, without a doubt, kicked all sorts of ass. Set 1 (Nels Cline solo)Look Through My Window [Mamas & Papas]Tom Violence [sonic Youth]I Hate Myself for Loving You [Joan Jett]I Got No Answers [Joan Jett]Little Argument with Myself [Low] Set 2 (and not)On the Beach ***Walk On *** *** = with David Garza and JON FUCKING BRION[/i] SWEET JESUS!!! HOORAY for suprise vocal perfs by se Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pnêyu Posted June 6, 2006 Author Share Posted June 6, 2006 did nels intro the neil young set, or did it unfold? i can imagine the looks across the table as the band began another neil young song. The selection of covers was very intentional. He claimed that the "lovelorn ballads" and "existential angst" of the first set had nothing to do with his life, but well, you kinda had to hear it for yourself. As for the Neil Young set, he talked a lot about how big an influence Neil has been on him, even going back to the Buffalo Springfield days. He admitted to not only being 14 years old and wanting to be Neil Young but also to the ridiculousness of the idea (and getting called out by Kathleen Hannah on it). Nels is seriously the coolest guy in all of Greater (and lesser) Los Angeles. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Hodie Posted June 6, 2006 Share Posted June 6, 2006 i don't recognize any of the covers from the first set, You haven't heard I Hate Myself for Loving You? I think I'd assumed it was injected into all american citizens at birth, but I overheard a guy talking to Nels after the show, and he hadn't heard it before, either. In any case, Nels' version was MUCH more intense than Joan's! I had no idea how very emotionally jagged those lyrics could be... (also--heard that los angeles had a bit of a record-breaking heat wave last weekend. hope you all stayed cool enough!)It WAS hot! But we coped by seeking out groovy restaurants and assorted beaches during the blistering part of the day. Fortunately, LA has an abundance of both. And it was deliciously cool at night, so we're very grateful for the use of your place as a rock tourism base camp. I even played the ever so untuned piano -- I just pretended I was in a honky-tonk. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
ms. yvon Posted June 7, 2006 Share Posted June 7, 2006 I even played the ever so untuned piano -- I just pretended I was in a honky-tonk. i had hoped to have it tuned before last week, but the tuner (tunist?) was booked until mid-june. alas. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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