October 20, 2004

1:35 AM

After 26 years of remaining unidentified, it has been confirmed that Jandek has come out of hiding, playing a set at the Instal festival in Glasgow on October 17. [previous MeFi Jandek discussion]
posted by Quartermass (20 comments total)

Copies of the show are floating around Soulseek. Unbelievable.
posted by Quartermass at 1:37 AM on October 20, 2004

Freaky deaky. Can't wait to hear the show.
posted by jonmc at 8:35 AM on October 20, 2004

I stand by my position that it would be more accurate to say that the guy pictured on Jandek albums played a show.
posted by drezdn at 8:49 AM on October 20, 2004

Don't forget Jandek on Corwood, a documentary made by our own cadastral.
posted by dobbs at 8:55 AM on October 20, 2004

Wow. That picture is amazing. The Jandek on Corwood movie is great, by the way. The last ten minutes of the film, well, I don't want to spoil it, but suffice it to say that Corwood participated in the making of the movie, and for those last ten minutes, you should really think hard about what it is you are seeing.
posted by tomharpel at 8:56 AM on October 20, 2004

Live mp3s here.

The "set" link is being blocked, it's checking referrer tags I think. Jackasses.
posted by kenko at 9:08 AM on October 20, 2004

(Heh, this wasn't posted because of yesterday's derail comment, was it? I was going to make an FPP myself, but I assumed no one knew/cared who Jandek was!)
posted by dhoyt at 9:10 AM on October 20, 2004

You can copy and paste the URL to avoid sending a referrer, kenko, and the pic will open fine.

I think Jandek (assuming it's him, which I am) kind of looks like a horseman of the apocalypse.
posted by bcwinters at 9:18 AM on October 20, 2004

Anyone have a suggestion for a specific track that someone who's never heard this guy should listen to?
posted by biscotti at 9:36 AM on October 20, 2004

I like the song "White Box" from the album "White Box Requiem".
posted by kenko at 9:42 AM on October 20, 2004

I think it's probably pretty likely to be Jandek (or someone who is part of the Jandek project, if it's actually a collaborative thing) rather than an impostor, based on the comments from the other folks who were part of the show.

Jandek played out in public. The Red Sox won three games in a row. I feel as though the heat death of the universe may be at hand.

Dobbs, one of Quatermass's links goes to JandekOnCorwood, actually...

And I think that the one Jandek song that someone who's never heard Jandek before should hear is "Message to the Clerk". Or "You Painted Your Teeth".
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:07 AM on October 20, 2004

" Anyone have a suggestion for a specific track that someone who's never heard this guy should listen to?"

You could put a cat in the dryer and pretty much get the idea.
posted by 2sheets at 10:18 AM on October 20, 2004

So I go away for a few days, came back and start downloading my e-mails. And suddenly there were twice as many as I was expecting - which freaked me out a bit until I saw the one titled "Jandek Plays Live". Then I was really freaked out. But then that's what happens when you're on the Jandek mailing list and the man himself appears from his cave.

Anyway I've listened to the MP3's and it sounds pretty damn good. He should certainly leave the house more often.
posted by dodgygeezer at 10:27 AM on October 20, 2004

No, 2sheets, that way you wouldn't get the OCD/psychotic lyrics...
posted by Sidhedevil at 10:28 AM on October 20, 2004

The illusion of mystery has been shattered. 26 years of reclusion and this is how it ends? In Scotland??
posted by car_bomb at 10:42 AM on October 20, 2004

(Heh, this wasn't posted because of yesterday's derail comment, was it? I was going to make an FPP myself, but I assumed no one knew/cared who Jandek was!)

heh... no.
posted by Quartermass at 11:11 AM on October 20, 2004

You could put a cat in the dryer and pretty much get the idea. Not very true at all. Jandek's gone through quite a few styles, and "cat in the dryer" is only one.

Try the following. (song in italics, album in bold)

Upon the Grandeur -- One Foot in the North
About as far from "cat in a dryer" as one can get... stunningly beautiful.
I'm Ready -- On the Way
Plaintive, reflective, as melancholy as a neutron star is dense... very beautiful
Quinn Boys II -- You Walk Alone
When I walked outta there I went Awwwww!. Great roadhouse blues
Only Lover -- Blue Corpse
Jandek's magnum opus... wonderful strumming
Crack a Smile -- Lost Cause
mirthfull and filled with intentional comedy. Very warm
Bring it in a Manger -- Somebody in the Snow
possibly the only heartfelt, Christian, sacred song to offer "[your] genitals in a paper cup"
Babe I Love You -- Lost Cause
Jandek's radio hit
You Painted Your Teeth -- Telegraph Melts
Don't paint your teeth. Don't EVER paint your teeth. Terrifying
Lavender -- You Walk Alone
more pleasant atmospherics
Down in a Mirror -- Chair Beside a Window
most haunting song I've ever heard. The backdrop for my favorite sequence in the film
I'll Sit Alone and Think a Lot About You -- On the Way
quite beautiful... recording is flawed. It either ruins the greatest song ever, or makes it the best song ever depending on your aesthetics
Rain in Madison -- Glad to Get Away
Jandek does Dylan
You Wake Up Deadmen -- Worthless Recluse
your new answering machine message
posted by cadastral at 11:12 AM on October 20, 2004 [1 favorite]

Oh my goodness. Could this be the October Surprise?
posted by cowboy_sally at 12:48 PM on October 20, 2004

For the curious among you: I found some Jandek mp3s here (along with a review of cadastral's film).

He's quite a bit more accessible than I had been led to expect (or at least he is in these samples). Early Beat Happening is less listenable, and they're famous. I think I might buy a few albums.
posted by mr_roboto at 1:18 PM on October 20, 2004

I think that anonymity thing is working. I never heard of him and had to check the Wikipedia profile on him to know what you guys were talking about.
posted by RavinDave at 10:02 PM on October 20, 2004