Jay Farrar at Metro

[rgk]

I put it here, because Jay and his fans are intelligent and I figured that they may like hearing a different opinion.

Ok, so if Jay and his fans are so intelligent, then why would we sit around talking about and listening to a guy who has a horrible, droning voice and whose songs just all sound alike. And, of course, whose songs are clear imitations, but also pale in comparison to Wilco/Jeff Tweedy.


A few things:

--most of us on this board like both Jay and Jeff, nobody takes sides, we all wanted them both to do well and are happy they both are doing well.

--Wilco is only considered successful these days because they get more press. Give me a break...............They were right up there with the same coverage Jay received up until this last album came out. That kind of break could have happened to any band. Who says more press = more talent?

--I can listen to Jay's voice, any time, any day......never tire of it. I think I'm not alone here on this board.

[Straightaways]

Well, there's nothing I can say that hasn't already been said. All I'll say is that I strongly disagree with the review and I think (as I know many on this board would agree) that Jay has a beautiful, haunting voice and the haunted quality is what I appreciate most about it. I don't need a break from his voice at any time.

[criminals]

I think Jay's voice is one of the greatest ever. To claim Tweedy's is better seems very far-fetched to me, but to each his own.

I have seen Jay twice with Mark Spencer and once with Canyon. I agree that these are not the greatest concerts ever, but Jay is trying some different things. Listening to the 9-11-99 Son Volt show at Park West really makes me miss that band. That was a great show. I hope and think Son Volt will eventually be together again.

[ChiDavid78]

With UT, I found that Jay was who I could listen to and it was Jeff's voice that got on my nerves at times....

Well, Terrior Blues may not be the greatest album. It takes listens and even seeing him live may do the trick. But after the show, I grew to really like the album. Live, the songs from Sebastapol are great and the same with many on the new one.

I was at that show as well and it was a great show. Canyon aren't much of a band but were strong enough to back Jay up. I just wonder what the shows are like without Canyon. TMS and Jay was growing tired, was good to see him have a band again.

[half-n-half]

hello bhickman,

on be-Half of the Jay Farrar Christian Society, i'd like to welcome you. please accept this fresh batch of cookies from our Welcome Wagon program. see ya in church!


sistah half

[ctfshjohn]

geez did someone drag you to the show kicking,
i took your mom home that night,
she liked the show. ;}

[mzkmm]

You poor guy! You should have asked for your money back! (Or asked the house to pay you for sitting there?) It's too bad you didn't read some of Farrar's previous magazine reviews. Reporters/reviewers say some of the same things you complained about. His songs are sad or introspective and similar in sound or voice. He doesn't talk a lot or smile or seems painfully shy during interviews. That's why there are reviews: to help us concert goers make choices. Lucky for you that Wilco lives in Chicago and probably plays there a lot. They also have a film out there to help you through the "dry spells." Or, if you truly want to catch someone who is "raucous" or "ebullient" and loves to perform, you might try Michael Stipe. The current issue of the ROLLING STONE pictures him performing (screaming?) with chest and hairy belly partially exposed and a hand down the front of his pants. He may have been communicating with his audience-- or possibly only with himself. It also has a number of photos of other musicians giving the camera the middle finger. This might possibly indicate that they are raucous and ebullient and communicate with their audiences. Or maybe the photographers at the ROLLING STONE never tell their subjects to smile; they just insult them pretty badly. Looking back at your review, I see that you hated Farrar in Uncle Tupelo and hated him in Son Volt and hated TERROIR BLUES. Why in the world did you go to the Metro??? You are indeed a glutton for punishment or else there was absolutely no action whatsoever in the city of Chicago on that fateful night.

[Bhickman]

Thanks. Those are good points. I didn't take notice of those apparently, or I just forgot to write them down. I switch off between wanting to write about the crowd or my own perceptions. Again, this often comes down to an editorial thing. My editor likes to keep the audience reaction out of things more often than not.

Again, thank you for the input.

[Willy]

First, your review is poorly written. Poor mechanics and structure make a review less credible. There is only one smooth transition in the review, and it's because you actually started writing about the concert. You should have gone straight to writing about the show after the second paragraph. Moreover, you wasted two paragraphs commenting on your distaste for Jay's voice when you could have told me that in a sentence.

Second, if you're going to write a review that is all negative, at least make it interesting. I only read the whole thing because I'm a fan, otherwise you would have lost me halfway through the second paragraph. Knowing your readers is the key to writing a good article.

Finally, I don't mind a conflicting opinion, in fact I like to hear what people have to say about Jay, but your review lacks any objectivity. Did you ever mention the mood of the crowd or that the everyone sang along to "Tear Stained Eye". Basically, you need give some visual representation to the show.

[Bhickman]

By posting the review here, you've already conveyed to me that you're not a professional or credible journalist

How, exactly? See my above post. Even if you're a fan, a conflicting opinion is good to hear. I love reading critical pieces on my favorite artists.

[Willy]

I was at the Chicago show and have to say that I disagree with the review. Although I wouldn't really call that a review. Granted reviews are essentially editorials, they do have to remain objective at times and this piece is anything but objective. What I really disliked about the review is that it failed to talk about any of Jay's music or give an accurate discription other than saying you didn't like it.

As a fan of Jay I went to the show and saw what I expected, good music. I've seen Jay before and I know his stage manor, so I wasn't expecting Jay to communicate with the crowd or show any emotion. That itself is one reason why I'm such a big fan, he's different. I realize that this is not popular with everyone, and that's fine, but you should exercise a little tact and think first before post a review like that to the fan website. By posting the review here, you've already conveyed to me that you're not a professional or credible journalist

[Bhickman]

....honestly, i love hearing other peoples opinion and jay doesn't give what would ever be called a highly energized show, but i still call it a dick move.

I put it here, because Jay and his fans are intelligent and I figured that they may like hearing a different opinion.

[saratoga jay]

Question: what kind of a guy goes onto a singer/songwriters website message board and greets everyone with a "hi all", and then leaves a link for a review he wrote thats shits all over that given singer/songwriter?

Answer: where i come from the term used most often to describe the guy who pulled a stunt like that would be "ass hole"


....honestly, i love hearing other peoples opinion and jay doesn't give what would ever be called a highly energized show, but i still call it a dick move.


oh well....

[scalzunfield]

Good review. I agree with it almost whole-heartedly. Early Son Volt material was good, but since then it's the same drone as always. As for his concerts, I saw him solo at Park West a few years back and it felt that same as you described in your review of this year. You're sitting there going "Is there gonne be some sort of relief before I cry out of boredom or sadness here?"

Overall, good review, however brutal it may be to hear at times.

[Bhickman]

Grand. I'm a whiner. That's what the tone was.

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