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Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Let's Talk About... Two Things At Once

Posted by Andrew R Tonry on Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 4:22 PM

1.) A follow-up to yesterday's post: Carl Barat was a goddamn train wreck last night, opening for Glasvegas. The former Libertine stepped out solo, with an electric guitar, and proceeded to stumble lifelessly through the well worn songs of his long-past former band. Let it rest, that ship sailed years ago.

A shameless cash-in or a very sad man. Or both? And on this note, has anyone ever successfully performed solo with an electric guitar? (Barat failed to even re-interpret the songs for solo performance, instead poorly playing the simple solo licks, flailing in a sea of emptiness.) From experience I know that solo songs with a loud electric guitar are an incredibly difficult sell. Acoustic guitars create a different rhythm, and seem to mesh better with a lone voice. The delicacy of a lone performer is heightened. Plus if the audience isn't really interested, it's much easier to disregard, tune out, or talk over the acoustic show. Loud electric guitar almost forces attention, which isn't always deserved.

Of course, I'm sure someone has pulled it off, although I can't think of who. Can you?

2.) Despite whatever qualms I have with Kelefa Sanneh for his godawful piece on "Rockists," he's come through with a mighty fine profile of Will Oldham for the New Yorker. It ought to kill a good few minutes at work for sure, and if you're fairly uninitiated with Oldham's work, as I am, it'll get the saliva glands running.

 

Comments (6) RSS

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1
I've seen Westerberg and Bob Mould do it. Billy Bragg too. But youre right, it's extremely rare and ill advised.
Posted by D on January 13, 2009 at 4:55 PM · Report
2
I like this post. Ted Leo does some great solo work with an electric a few years back. D is right, Bragg is excellent solo and electric as well.

Why aren't there more?
Posted by ezra on January 14, 2009 at 7:14 AM · Report
3
has anyone ever successfully performed solo with an electric guitar? J. Buckley
Posted by Llama on January 14, 2009 at 8:34 AM · Report
4
I'd agree with Llama: Jeff Buckley.

And in the realm of the living: While he has nominal pre-programmed beats (which his wife pretends to "play" during live sets), Dan Boeckner as Handsome Furs is pretty much a one-man electric guitar & vocals machine.
Posted by Mr. Chuck on January 14, 2009 at 9:53 AM · Report
5
Dave Bazan
Posted by Ben Moral on January 15, 2009 at 12:22 PM · Report
6
Couldn't agree more with your assessment of Carl Barat's set, Andrew. Going for a solo electric set instead of an acoustic re-interpretation of his back catalogue was ill-advised. he just couldn't hold the room's interest. My disappointment in his set was only heightened by the fact that I had seen him before, fronting both the Libertines and DPT, and he was a totally different performer then: confident, generous with the audience, and really passionate about what he was doing. Worse than his weak musicianship in Portland was his obvious disinterest in what he was doing. If you're opening for a band as tight as GlasVegas, you better bring it or stay home.
Posted by Raskolnikova on January 23, 2009 at 7:45 PM · Report

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