New Pornographer's show goes horribly right
June 22, 2010 8:36 AM Subscribe
The girl who threw it got bounced and the CD was given to an audience member an hour later.
Awesome.
Neko, I love you. I'm sorry I screwed up on getting tickets when you're here in July with the New Pornographers (fantastic new album, btw!), so we won't be there, but I still love you.
posted by rtha at 8:41 AM on June 22, 2010
Awesome.
Neko, I love you. I'm sorry I screwed up on getting tickets when you're here in July with the New Pornographers (fantastic new album, btw!), so we won't be there, but I still love you.
posted by rtha at 8:41 AM on June 22, 2010
She's tough AND sensitive - watch her cry while listening to Jesse Winchester.
posted by davebush at 8:44 AM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by davebush at 8:44 AM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Neko Case reminds me of all the country girls I grew up with--the kind of women who were tougher, smarter, worked harder then the men folk. Also, who throws shit onto the stage, not cool asshole.
posted by PinkMoose at 8:45 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by PinkMoose at 8:45 AM on June 22, 2010
I wish the person would have gotten on stage so we could have another tool moment.
posted by cashman at 8:46 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by cashman at 8:46 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
I was at this show. Neko Case is a great singer and songwriter and seems like a super lady, but this act went on for so long that everyone was uncomfortable. Seemed like towards the end even Carl Newman was desperate to calm her down.
Also, why didn't they play more Electric Version :(
posted by telegraph at 8:47 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Also, why didn't they play more Electric Version :(
posted by telegraph at 8:47 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
I don't remember where or if it is written down, but there's a possibly apocryphal story involving Gibby Haynes, former college football player and frontman of the Butthole Surfers, taking a beer bottle thrown at him while he was on stage and perfectly spiraling it right back into dude's head. This took place back in the day and, unfortunately, I can't find any info on it as it is overshadowed by the other time Gibby Haynes chucked a bottle at someone.
Meanwhile, Don't fuck with Maynard. And, also, Danzig can't take a punch.
posted by griphus at 8:50 AM on June 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
Meanwhile, Don't fuck with Maynard. And, also, Danzig can't take a punch.
posted by griphus at 8:50 AM on June 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
boy those stage lights must be totally blinding because it was fairly obvious from the video that the cd was thrown from the first row.
posted by any major dude at 8:52 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by any major dude at 8:52 AM on June 22, 2010
Neko Case will not only fucking fight you, she will drive-by impale you with a sword from the hood of her car.
posted by oulipian at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
posted by oulipian at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [8 favorites]
So somebody else isn't too fond of the new one either.
posted by Flashman at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by Flashman at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
She's no Bill Hicks.
posted by BeerFilter at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by BeerFilter at 8:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
The first concert I went to, some guys try to get wild and rowdy with De La Soul. Who were all too ready to throw down, "Come up here, we'll do this right now." Let's just say the guys must have realized thick the arms were on De La and decided not to test.
posted by yeloson at 8:57 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by yeloson at 8:57 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
"I will fight you. I... I will fight every one of you". Uh huh. Learn from your crowd-fighting superiors and get back to us.
I'm not saying anything about Neko or the general worth of G.G. as a musician, but shit or get off the pot, lady.
posted by boo_radley at 8:58 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
I'm not saying anything about Neko or the general worth of G.G. as a musician, but shit or get off the pot, lady.
posted by boo_radley at 8:58 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
"Watch GG Allin get suckerpunched"? I honestly think any punch thrown at GG Allin is a suckerpunch, considering he would be too blitzed to see it coming even if you sent him an engraved invitation a week ahead.
posted by griphus at 9:00 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by griphus at 9:00 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Yeah, one "I will fight you," was fine. The rest of the stupid shit was not. Unimpressed.
No. Scratch that. Deimpressed.
posted by uraniumwilly at 9:03 AM on June 22, 2010
No. Scratch that. Deimpressed.
posted by uraniumwilly at 9:03 AM on June 22, 2010
Also, why didn't they play more Electric Version :(
So you're the asshole that shouts requests for old songs over and over again? Fuck you, I'll fucking pummel your face. I will go to jail.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:13 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
So you're the asshole that shouts requests for old songs over and over again? Fuck you, I'll fucking pummel your face. I will go to jail.
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:13 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
I've been to a number of shows in which the band stops playing for the duration of time it takes security to eject someone. Certainly those mefi music folks would know more or why, but my guess is it is part punishment, part precaution. And I've been to several Case shows where she chats a bit between songs. A particularly prized recording is when she was riffing on her obession with R. Kelly's trapped in a closet videos, which are a real treat.
And there is there is this: fans are often shitheels, especially to the ladyfolk who may happen to get up on stage.
And if you don't get trash talk, well, I just don't think there is any helping that sort of condition.
posted by zenon at 9:20 AM on June 22, 2010
And there is there is this: fans are often shitheels, especially to the ladyfolk who may happen to get up on stage.
And if you don't get trash talk, well, I just don't think there is any helping that sort of condition.
posted by zenon at 9:20 AM on June 22, 2010
(link goes to village voice article titled: Do Not Taunt Neko Case/ the Man Eater/ Happy Fun Ball that includes boorish fans)
posted by zenon at 9:23 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by zenon at 9:23 AM on June 22, 2010
The only thing that could make Neko Case more awesome is if her speaking voice sounded like Jessie the cowgirl from Toy Story.
(it does in my imagination)
posted by Senor Cardgage at 9:25 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
(it does in my imagination)
posted by Senor Cardgage at 9:25 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Video keeps stopping at the half-way mark, just as Case gets to "I'm a piece of shi-". While tossing stuff is totally not cool, she's always kinda come across as sort of a pompous jerk.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:25 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 9:25 AM on June 22, 2010
I'm seeing them Friday and now I'm really tempted to throw something. Maybe a soft cd case with a white flag attached to it.
posted by farishta at 9:25 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by farishta at 9:25 AM on June 22, 2010
I was there!
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:26 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:26 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
They figuratively kicked my ass a couple weeks ago in Minneapolis. I only wish this video had included literal ass-kicking, it would have made my whole week.
posted by padraigin at 9:27 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by padraigin at 9:27 AM on June 22, 2010
Alvy Ampersand: "Video keeps stopping at the half-way mark, just as Case gets to "I'm a piece of shi-". While tossing stuff is totally not cool, she's always kinda come across as sort of a pompous jerk."
Make a tiny cd-case pillow out of felt, fill it with batting and lavender.
posted by boo_radley at 9:29 AM on June 22, 2010
Make a tiny cd-case pillow out of felt, fill it with batting and lavender.
posted by boo_radley at 9:29 AM on June 22, 2010
does that count as a meetup, telegraph?
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:30 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by kuujjuarapik at 9:30 AM on June 22, 2010
And I just found this decent interview by Pitchfork where she answers this rather relevent question:
Your live show is a weird mix of stark seriousness during the songs and goofball bathroom humor in between, can you explain the dichotomy?
posted by zenon at 9:31 AM on June 22, 2010
Your live show is a weird mix of stark seriousness during the songs and goofball bathroom humor in between, can you explain the dichotomy?
posted by zenon at 9:31 AM on June 22, 2010
Sailormom: "This is how it's done ."
oi, keef, wot waz you finkin', 'ittin' that bloke wiv yer strat?
posted by boo_radley at 9:32 AM on June 22, 2010
oi, keef, wot waz you finkin', 'ittin' that bloke wiv yer strat?
posted by boo_radley at 9:32 AM on June 22, 2010
The first concert I went to was a Public Enemy show and it opened with the S1W troops running out on stage with Uzis. Nobody threw anything at them.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 9:33 AM on June 22, 2010 [9 favorites]
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 9:33 AM on June 22, 2010 [9 favorites]
I never knew Neko Case was American until I just read her Wiki bio. Makes me feel dirty.
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:34 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by ethnomethodologist at 9:34 AM on June 22, 2010
I never knew Neko Case was American until I just read her Wiki bio. Makes me feel dirty.
posted by ethnomethodologist
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:38 AM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by ethnomethodologist
posted by Threeway Handshake at 9:38 AM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
Bonus points to the first rapper to say something like
"Hit you hard, put you back in your place
Kick your ass like Neko Case"
Now I love her more.
posted by lumpenprole at 9:40 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
"Hit you hard, put you back in your place
Kick your ass like Neko Case"
Now I love her more.
posted by lumpenprole at 9:40 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
My dad was just telling me about seeing Lily Tomlin at a standup show in the 70s where a big group was just talking loudly the whole time and generally ignoring her. After repeated requests for them to be quiet brought no relief, she just lay down on her back on the stage. She stayed there for a while until everyone shamed the loud group into silence, then she got back up and continued.
Not as confrontational but very effective.
posted by freecellwizard at 9:43 AM on June 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
Not as confrontational but very effective.
posted by freecellwizard at 9:43 AM on June 22, 2010 [6 favorites]
...where a big group was just talking loudly the whole time and generally ignoring her.
While seeing some band open for A Silver Mt. Zion, a similar situation was going on. The lead singer/violinist of the opening band refused to start until there was complete silence and, on the verge of tears, threatened to tell Efrim about all the talking. You know, like that kid asked to watch the class while the teacher uses the bathroom. She was dead serious, too.
posted by griphus at 9:47 AM on June 22, 2010
While seeing some band open for A Silver Mt. Zion, a similar situation was going on. The lead singer/violinist of the opening band refused to start until there was complete silence and, on the verge of tears, threatened to tell Efrim about all the talking. You know, like that kid asked to watch the class while the teacher uses the bathroom. She was dead serious, too.
posted by griphus at 9:47 AM on June 22, 2010
I love her. So much. I have some sort of deeply ingrained reaction to live shows that as soon as they start, my eyes well up and I get a lump in my throat and sometimes there are quiet tears. It has happened at The Lippizaner Stallions, Wicked, Pianosaurus, The Ringling Bros Circus, most recently. But at the Neko Case show, just floods. Constant tears. Even when she talked about eating so much candy that every time she leaned over she thought she might barf.
I think I need an intervention.
posted by bayliss at 9:56 AM on June 22, 2010
I think I need an intervention.
posted by bayliss at 9:56 AM on June 22, 2010
kuujjuarapik - yes and no... I found out after the fact that my roommate was at the same show and even we managed to fail to "meet up"
posted by telegraph at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by telegraph at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2010
The first concert I went to was a Public Enemy show and it opened with the S1W troops running out on stage with Uzis. Nobody threw anything at them.
Fake - everyone knows the Uzi weighs a ton.
posted by jquinby at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Fake - everyone knows the Uzi weighs a ton.
posted by jquinby at 10:00 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
I was hoping it was fucking-fight which is, well, I don't know what it is, but if it involved Neko Case it would probably be really great.
posted by GuyZero at 10:09 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by GuyZero at 10:09 AM on June 22, 2010
A couple of decades ago I went to see some new novelty band called GWAR. After couple of songs some guy near the back of the club started yelling "GWAR sucks! GWAR sucks!" and would. NOT. Stop.
So Oderus drops the mike, jumps off the stage, wades through the crowd, finds the guy, and proceeds to beat the everliving shit out of him.
Then he stalks back to the front of the room, clambers back onstage (quite a feat, considering his get-up), grabs the mike and yells, "Fuck you, asshole! WE'RE MORE THAN A MILLION YEARS OLD!"
And then they launched into the next song.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:10 AM on June 22, 2010 [72 favorites]
So Oderus drops the mike, jumps off the stage, wades through the crowd, finds the guy, and proceeds to beat the everliving shit out of him.
Then he stalks back to the front of the room, clambers back onstage (quite a feat, considering his get-up), grabs the mike and yells, "Fuck you, asshole! WE'RE MORE THAN A MILLION YEARS OLD!"
And then they launched into the next song.
posted by BitterOldPunk at 10:10 AM on June 22, 2010 [72 favorites]
I saw Neko ten or twelve years ago, on a Wednesday night, and there were *maybe* ten people in the audience. She comes out looking like she just gotten laid to cure the hangover from fighting the entire Western Front. Gives us this look and says something like, "What? There's only ten of you." And then she had Kelly Hogan come out and they did soaring harmonies and Augie ran around the stage and...
posted by notsnot at 10:23 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
posted by notsnot at 10:23 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
Some indie pop singing chick getting riled over a CD ( their CD) tossed back onstage strikes me as so much vanity.
But at the Neko Case show, just floods. Constant tears.
Yeah I would cry too, if forced to swallow that pap.
posted by Max Power at 10:26 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
But at the Neko Case show, just floods. Constant tears.
Yeah I would cry too, if forced to swallow that pap.
posted by Max Power at 10:26 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Neko Case will fucking lipsynch a Wanda Jackson song on your children's public access show.
posted by padraigin at 10:34 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by padraigin at 10:34 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
The Three Stages of Infatuation with Neko Case:
1. Fall for her voice. Compare her vocals to that of contemporaries who rely on auto-tuning, or using every possible effing octave in every song – or both – and you will discover that she's got some of the best pipes in pop/country/alt/whatever today.
2. Fall for her songwriting. I don't know what kinds of dreams fuel her music but like all great art it's beautiful and ugly and experimental while somehow being familiar. I love this type of music – like it was just drifting around in the ether waiting for the right person give it a name.
3. Fall for her attitude. I saw Neko perform at the Warfield in SF last year. She struck me as a totally relaxed, authentic and hyper-intelligent lady who was having a great time. I wish I knew more people like this in my day-to-day life. Hell, I wish I was more like this in my day-to-day life.
As if I didn't need another reason to be infatuated now I come to find out she is a bad ass. Neko, if you're reading this, please consider having a drink with me sometime. (not being serious)
posted by quadog at 10:36 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
1. Fall for her voice. Compare her vocals to that of contemporaries who rely on auto-tuning, or using every possible effing octave in every song – or both – and you will discover that she's got some of the best pipes in pop/country/alt/whatever today.
2. Fall for her songwriting. I don't know what kinds of dreams fuel her music but like all great art it's beautiful and ugly and experimental while somehow being familiar. I love this type of music – like it was just drifting around in the ether waiting for the right person give it a name.
3. Fall for her attitude. I saw Neko perform at the Warfield in SF last year. She struck me as a totally relaxed, authentic and hyper-intelligent lady who was having a great time. I wish I knew more people like this in my day-to-day life. Hell, I wish I was more like this in my day-to-day life.
As if I didn't need another reason to be infatuated now I come to find out she is a bad ass. Neko, if you're reading this, please consider having a drink with me sometime. (not being serious)
posted by quadog at 10:36 AM on June 22, 2010 [4 favorites]
YOu know, I would watch NEKO CASE FIGHTS EVERYONE IN THIS ROOM. You know she's hiding some like River Tam shit in there.
posted by The Whelk at 10:38 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by The Whelk at 10:38 AM on June 22, 2010
While tossing stuff is totally not cool, she's always kinda come across as sort of a pompous jerk.
Pompous implies that she's not as cool as she thinks she is.
posted by cmoj at 10:41 AM on June 22, 2010
Pompous implies that she's not as cool as she thinks she is.
posted by cmoj at 10:41 AM on June 22, 2010
I've seen Neko three times live so far (Once with the New Pornos and twice solo) and she seems to have gotten... less personable each time. The first time I saw her she was charming, told stories, hung out with the audience after the show. An all around class act.
The next time it was Halloween and she was drunk off her ass, which I suppose makes sense. She was so drunk, in fact, that she forgot the lyrics to Bones of an Idol and had to get Carl to bail her out.
The last time I saw her, she still delivered a powerhouse performance but ultimately you could tell that she did not want to be there at all. She didn't address the audience once during the whole show. All of this amounts to not much besides the fact that she got fighty at a show doesn't surprise me. I'm not really sure I'd go see her again.
posted by bookwo3107 at 10:50 AM on June 22, 2010
The next time it was Halloween and she was drunk off her ass, which I suppose makes sense. She was so drunk, in fact, that she forgot the lyrics to Bones of an Idol and had to get Carl to bail her out.
The last time I saw her, she still delivered a powerhouse performance but ultimately you could tell that she did not want to be there at all. She didn't address the audience once during the whole show. All of this amounts to not much besides the fact that she got fighty at a show doesn't surprise me. I'm not really sure I'd go see her again.
posted by bookwo3107 at 10:50 AM on June 22, 2010
This is how it's done .
The best part about the clip for me is the fact the Keith had the presence of mind to turn the volume on his guitar down before smacking the guy with it. Then he calmly puts to guitar back on, adjusts the volume, and continues.
posted by vibrotronica at 10:52 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
The best part about the clip for me is the fact the Keith had the presence of mind to turn the volume on his guitar down before smacking the guy with it. Then he calmly puts to guitar back on, adjusts the volume, and continues.
posted by vibrotronica at 10:52 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Surprised how many of us in this thread were at the show. I generally hate the House of Blues, but sitting in my spacious front row swivel captain's chair on the second balcony high above all you riff raff was a pleasant experience, even if the already lacklustre HoB sound was truly terrible up there.
Max Power: Most musicians get riled when anyone throws anything on stage, so I'm not sure how vanity plays into it (even if Neko wouldn't argue she *is* vain). Frankly, while it did drag on a bit, what made it funny in the first place is knowing (by recent reputation at least) Neko quite probably would have made good on her threats if given the opportunity.
And while I've read a few good heckler stories above, I was here (scroll down just a hair to #93) so you can just send me my first place medal (or maybe a nice vegetable platter) now.
posted by jalexei at 10:52 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
Max Power: Most musicians get riled when anyone throws anything on stage, so I'm not sure how vanity plays into it (even if Neko wouldn't argue she *is* vain). Frankly, while it did drag on a bit, what made it funny in the first place is knowing (by recent reputation at least) Neko quite probably would have made good on her threats if given the opportunity.
And while I've read a few good heckler stories above, I was here (scroll down just a hair to #93) so you can just send me my first place medal (or maybe a nice vegetable platter) now.
posted by jalexei at 10:52 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
The person who threw that sure had a lot of nerve.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 10:56 AM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
I have heard of Neko Case.
posted by everichon at 10:57 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by everichon at 10:57 AM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Heh. Neko can do whatever the hell she wants and I will still lick her boots. Vaguely related: often, people in my little backwater 'burg in the hinterlands ask, "Why doesn't this fucking town get any fucking shows, man?" And part of the answer goes back to 2006, when Jeff Tweedy (of all rock stars) was reduced to physically repelling a drunken stage jumper. I was in the audience and was mortified for this town. Basically, if you are not a punk show in someone's basement, stay off the stage. Jeezus.
posted by barrett caulk at 11:11 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by barrett caulk at 11:11 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
(action begins at 1'10")
posted by barrett caulk at 11:12 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by barrett caulk at 11:12 AM on June 22, 2010
Pompous implies that she's not as cool as she thinks she is.
Guh? I meant that while getting pissed off at some jerk who's throwing shit at the performers is totally justified, her spiel was characteristically jerkish and pompous.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:13 AM on June 22, 2010
Guh? I meant that while getting pissed off at some jerk who's throwing shit at the performers is totally justified, her spiel was characteristically jerkish and pompous.
posted by Alvy Ampersand at 11:13 AM on June 22, 2010
Don't forget the dude who beat on Oasis in TO .
Hey, he stopped an Oasis concert. He deserves a medal.
posted by Ratio at 11:22 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Hey, he stopped an Oasis concert. He deserves a medal.
posted by Ratio at 11:22 AM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
If Neko Case doesn't control her temper she just might 'turn up in the dock'.
posted by Flashman at 11:42 AM on June 22, 2010
posted by Flashman at 11:42 AM on June 22, 2010
HR, Bad Brains - he knew crowd control. If the problem was a passed out stage diver, an audience member bugging him, whatever. He'd jump in and solve it. Then they'd all play some 12 minute Dub to alleviate the pressure.
posted by drowsy at 12:02 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by drowsy at 12:02 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
boy those stage lights must be totally blinding because it was fairly obvious from the video that the cd was thrown from the first row.
They are blinding. You basically can't see anything from stage.
ultimately you could tell that she did not want to be there at all.
I saw her in Portsmouth last fall, and walked away with that impression: she's not interested in the road. Her backup singer had a lot more verve and offered more stage presence than she did. She is an amazing singer, but projected boredom and disinterest in the audience. It's pretty hard to connect with a performer like that.
posted by Miko at 12:02 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
They are blinding. You basically can't see anything from stage.
ultimately you could tell that she did not want to be there at all.
I saw her in Portsmouth last fall, and walked away with that impression: she's not interested in the road. Her backup singer had a lot more verve and offered more stage presence than she did. She is an amazing singer, but projected boredom and disinterest in the audience. It's pretty hard to connect with a performer like that.
posted by Miko at 12:02 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
I have, honest-to-god, not seen the word "sheeple" used unironically in years now.
posted by griphus at 12:04 PM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
posted by griphus at 12:04 PM on June 22, 2010 [5 favorites]
My "stuff thrown on stage at a show" story:
Some guy throws a shoe onstage in between songs at a Jane's Addiction show.
Perry:
Do you know what love is, man?
...(spaced out Perry pause) ...
Throwin' your shoe at me
...(another pause)...
that's not love.
...(pause again)...
Let me show you what love is.
Band rawks out.
posted by juv3nal at 12:06 PM on June 22, 2010 [7 favorites]
Some guy throws a shoe onstage in between songs at a Jane's Addiction show.
Perry:
Do you know what love is, man?
...(spaced out Perry pause) ...
Throwin' your shoe at me
...(another pause)...
that's not love.
...(pause again)...
Let me show you what love is.
Band rawks out.
posted by juv3nal at 12:06 PM on June 22, 2010 [7 favorites]
The people in this thread who think her reaction was stupid or inappropriate clearly don't understand the situation. It's not only obnoxious to throw anything on stage, but to throw a musician's work back at them is incredibly insulting and completely uncalled for. You don't like the music, don't go to the show.
If she had stormed off stage and refused to continue performing, that'd be one thing. I'm a fan of her and the New Pornographer's, and without even having been there, this pissed me off. If I had been next to the asshole who threw the cd, I would've punched him myself.
posted by rbf1138 at 12:21 PM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
If she had stormed off stage and refused to continue performing, that'd be one thing. I'm a fan of her and the New Pornographer's, and without even having been there, this pissed me off. If I had been next to the asshole who threw the cd, I would've punched him myself.
posted by rbf1138 at 12:21 PM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Can we put "these are the artists you should know about if you're going to read MeFi" in the FAQ? Yes, I can read a wiki article, but where am I supposed to have heard of her?
posted by desjardins at 12:35 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by desjardins at 12:35 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
She's only been recording for sixteen years, I don't know? As far as I can tell, most people came to her via the New Pornographers. I picked up "The Virginian" after reading about it in No Depression back in the mid 90s.
posted by entropicamericana at 12:44 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by entropicamericana at 12:44 PM on June 22, 2010
A few people have pointed out Neko's shows going a bit downhill. I couldn't agree more. I have seen her 6-7 times now and each time she is less personable, plays a shorter show, talks to the audience less and plays fewer crowd favorites.
If this keeps up I might even skip the next tour.... might.
posted by Cosine at 12:57 PM on June 22, 2010
If this keeps up I might even skip the next tour.... might.
posted by Cosine at 12:57 PM on June 22, 2010
Neko Case could do anything she wants with me.
That's an open invitation, Neko. I'm in the book.
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:07 PM on June 22, 2010
That's an open invitation, Neko. I'm in the book.
posted by Dr. Wu at 1:07 PM on June 22, 2010
I saw her at Trinity-St. Pauls in Toronto last summer, and the show was incredible. Perhaps it was the room (which is gorgeous, by the way), or perhaps it was early enough in the tour, but she and Kelly both sounded amazing and had a really powerful stage presence.
Sure, it's not twenty people at the Hideout, but it was a terrific showcase for Middle Cyclone.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:23 PM on June 22, 2010
Sure, it's not twenty people at the Hideout, but it was a terrific showcase for Middle Cyclone.
posted by TheWhiteSkull at 1:23 PM on June 22, 2010
I saw her in Portsmouth last fall, and walked away with that impression: she's not interested in the road.
I saw her last year at a festival in England, and she seemed pretty happy. A lot of chatting to the crowd, bantering with her band members (mostly about how they were scaring The Hold Steady, who were headlining). I don't know if she played the hits, I'm not familiar enough with her solo material, but I enjoyed it plenty.
At that same festival the year previously, the guy from Low threw his guitar into the audience when someone heckled him. Which wasn't cool.
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:30 PM on June 22, 2010
I saw her last year at a festival in England, and she seemed pretty happy. A lot of chatting to the crowd, bantering with her band members (mostly about how they were scaring The Hold Steady, who were headlining). I don't know if she played the hits, I'm not familiar enough with her solo material, but I enjoyed it plenty.
At that same festival the year previously, the guy from Low threw his guitar into the audience when someone heckled him. Which wasn't cool.
posted by Infinite Jest at 1:30 PM on June 22, 2010
My friend Ruxxell took this video, word. I'm stuck between "awesome, go her, what asshole throws a CD" and "really? her reaction was kind of lame and she could've just ignored it and moved on". I keep bouncing between the two.
posted by kpht at 1:34 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by kpht at 1:34 PM on June 22, 2010
I remember when someone threw a bottle at the stage during the Iron Maiden show in Cleveland, the first tour with Bruce Dickinson back on the mic. It was in the middle of a guitar solo, and they didn't stop playing or anything, but Bruce did tell the guy that if he threw anything else, he (Bruce) would "rip your fucking head off and shit down your throat". Good times.
posted by adamdschneider at 1:57 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by adamdschneider at 1:57 PM on June 22, 2010
Granted, I wasn't at the show and have only seen the video, but I can't be the only person who thought she was just kidding. I saw it as, "yes, she's pissed because it's a shitty thing to do and yes, if it happens again, she'd happily take a swing at the fool," but all the talk of being a white trash piece of shit and fighting everybody in the place seemed like a parody of a certain mindset. Stretching it out was part of the joke. Geez, if you really want to see a diva throw an onstage hissy fit, go check out The Swans. I saw them play years back, and easily 60% of the show was the vocalist Michael Gira shouting at the audience to shut the fuck up so he could play his precious songs in absolute silent adoration.
posted by ga$money at 2:37 PM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
posted by ga$money at 2:37 PM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
While tossing stuff is totally not cool, she's always kinda come across as sort of a pompous jerk.
I want to respond rationally to this, but it just contravenes everything I've seen and heard of her. She was engaging and personable when she played at DC's 9:30 Club...oh, about two years ago? for Middle Cyclone. (That was the show NPR recorded for All Songs Considered.) And she was astoundingly good and hilarious on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.* Part of her shtick is rambling boastery, and really...it's a performance. Getting stuff thrown at you is shitty and unsafe. Talking about it for a minute is probably one of the better reactions one could summon.
posted by kittyprecious at 3:07 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
I want to respond rationally to this, but it just contravenes everything I've seen and heard of her. She was engaging and personable when she played at DC's 9:30 Club...oh, about two years ago? for Middle Cyclone. (That was the show NPR recorded for All Songs Considered.) And she was astoundingly good and hilarious on Wait Wait Don't Tell Me.* Part of her shtick is rambling boastery, and really...it's a performance. Getting stuff thrown at you is shitty and unsafe. Talking about it for a minute is probably one of the better reactions one could summon.
posted by kittyprecious at 3:07 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
*I swear, not an NPR shill.
posted by kittyprecious at 3:08 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by kittyprecious at 3:08 PM on June 22, 2010
"ultimately you could tell that she did not want to be there at all."
I saw her in Portsmouth last fall, and walked away with that impression: she's not interested in the road. Her backup singer had a lot more verve and offered more stage presence than she did. She is an amazing singer, but projected boredom and disinterest in the audience. It's pretty hard to connect with a performer like that.
I love her music, but yeah - when we saw her last year in a largeish venue, there was a stark division of labor between her and Kelly. Kelly did nearly all of the interacting with the audience, and then she and Neko would joke around. The performance was great, and I guess I just presumed that Neko's either shy about audience banter, or it distracts her from the singing, or she doesn't like it, or whatever so they've explicitly decided that Kelly will handle that part.
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:27 PM on June 22, 2010
I saw her in Portsmouth last fall, and walked away with that impression: she's not interested in the road. Her backup singer had a lot more verve and offered more stage presence than she did. She is an amazing singer, but projected boredom and disinterest in the audience. It's pretty hard to connect with a performer like that.
I love her music, but yeah - when we saw her last year in a largeish venue, there was a stark division of labor between her and Kelly. Kelly did nearly all of the interacting with the audience, and then she and Neko would joke around. The performance was great, and I guess I just presumed that Neko's either shy about audience banter, or it distracts her from the singing, or she doesn't like it, or whatever so they've explicitly decided that Kelly will handle that part.
posted by LobsterMitten at 3:27 PM on June 22, 2010
I've seen Neko a whole bunch of times over the last 10+ years with and without the New P's, and you're all right that she is less engaging with the audience than she used to be. The exception was last summers Trinity St. Paul's shows in Toronto, probably because she loves it there.
She has had a lot of trouble with fans in the last few years, and has said that her reasons for moving from Tuscon to an undisclosed Vermont town had to do with people stalking her. Although she says something different in this NYT interview (“The people who have no lives of their own and meet me and know who I am and feel entitled to say negative things", did you hear that Dr. Wu?), it's hard not to understand that after 15 years she's getting a little tired of creeps, catcallers and assholes. Some of them drove her into hiding for fuck's sake.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 3:53 PM on June 22, 2010
She has had a lot of trouble with fans in the last few years, and has said that her reasons for moving from Tuscon to an undisclosed Vermont town had to do with people stalking her. Although she says something different in this NYT interview (“The people who have no lives of their own and meet me and know who I am and feel entitled to say negative things", did you hear that Dr. Wu?), it's hard not to understand that after 15 years she's getting a little tired of creeps, catcallers and assholes. Some of them drove her into hiding for fuck's sake.
posted by kuujjuarapik at 3:53 PM on June 22, 2010
I kinda resent the implication, kuujjuarapik. All I meant was to say that, in a jokey way, I find her extremely attractive. Which, you know, is fine. She is also a fantastic musician whom I admire very much. I've actually met her and exchanged with her pleasant chat, of the fan-to-artist variety, which was nothing less than respectful.
posted by Dr. Wu at 4:48 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by Dr. Wu at 4:48 PM on June 22, 2010
I'm sorry, but every time I see Neko Case I can't help but think of Necco Wafers.
posted by bwg at 5:19 PM on June 22, 2010
posted by bwg at 5:19 PM on June 22, 2010
I was with Miko at the Portsmouth show, and Neko was definitely not in fighting mode that night. Slumber party mode, more like. She even ended the show with a silly little kid's wave to the audience like she'd just finished being a Tree in the school show.
It's definitely an odd moment when someone with the voice she has auto-defaults to her backup singer for crowd talk. Weird night.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 6:55 PM on June 22, 2010
It's definitely an odd moment when someone with the voice she has auto-defaults to her backup singer for crowd talk. Weird night.
posted by Lipstick Thespian at 6:55 PM on June 22, 2010
Here, people throw their children on stage.
Tacoma loves ya, baby.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:35 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Tacoma loves ya, baby.
posted by The Hamms Bear at 7:35 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
Nekko Case vs Chuck Norris
The ultimate internet memefest.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 8:34 PM on June 22, 2010
The ultimate internet memefest.
posted by Poet_Lariat at 8:34 PM on June 22, 2010
I wish people would stop referring to Kelly Hogan as "Neko's backup singer." She has a career in her own right. She was a member of the Rock-a-teens (Merge Records, Kill Rock Stars) has put out two terrific solo albums on Bloodshot since then.
posted by entropicamericana at 9:10 PM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
posted by entropicamericana at 9:10 PM on June 22, 2010 [3 favorites]
Neko's alright, but I still think she's just coasting off Jon Rauhouse's good looks.
posted by stet at 9:27 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
posted by stet at 9:27 PM on June 22, 2010 [1 favorite]
She's got a great voice, but she hasn't grown much as a song-writer. Just goopy impressionism that doesn't add up to much. I prefer the NP's for that reason, but honestly they peaked with their first album.
/hater
posted by bardic at 9:35 PM on June 22, 2010
/hater
posted by bardic at 9:35 PM on June 22, 2010
I prefer the NP's for that reason, but honestly they peaked with their first album.
What you meant to say is that they peaked with Twin Cinema.
posted by rbf1138 at 9:51 PM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
What you meant to say is that they peaked with Twin Cinema.
posted by rbf1138 at 9:51 PM on June 22, 2010 [2 favorites]
lukemeister: We had a thread about that
Never saw that one. Of course now I'm wondering about Necco Wafers by the Case.
posted by bwg at 1:52 AM on June 23, 2010
Never saw that one. Of course now I'm wondering about Necco Wafers by the Case.
posted by bwg at 1:52 AM on June 23, 2010
wish people would stop referring to Kelly Hogan as "Neko's backup singer." She has a career in her own right.
I was aware of that, and she is very good, but in the capacity of touring with Neko Case and her band, she is working as Neko Case's backup singer. It's not a slight, it's a job description.
posted by Miko at 6:58 AM on June 23, 2010
I was aware of that, and she is very good, but in the capacity of touring with Neko Case and her band, she is working as Neko Case's backup singer. It's not a slight, it's a job description.
posted by Miko at 6:58 AM on June 23, 2010
Whoa, finally watched that kids show clip and that most certainly is Sally Timms. Whoa.
posted by desuetude at 4:14 PM on June 25, 2010
posted by desuetude at 4:14 PM on June 25, 2010
*I swear, not an NPR shill.
Carl Kasell, you sneaky bastard.
posted by benzenedream at 9:40 PM on June 26, 2010
Carl Kasell, you sneaky bastard.
posted by benzenedream at 9:40 PM on June 26, 2010
I once threw Liam Gallagher at a big pile of cakes.
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:32 PM on June 27, 2010
posted by turgid dahlia at 8:32 PM on June 27, 2010
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posted by jquinby at 8:39 AM on June 22, 2010