My Blakean Year
| April 20, 2010 | Filled under Blog |
Apparently I went to a different Patti Smith show last night than every one else in this town.
Here’s Culturemap’s review, and 29-95′s recap.
I didn’t give her a negative review, per se. I just said that she seemed a little lost when it came time for her to speak off the cuff. However, she was like Jekell and Hyde (in the best possible way) when she’d switch from ad libbing on stage to performing her music or reading her written work. Her singing voice sounds as good, if not better, than it did 30 years ago.
I still think she’s amazing — but I found it tacky and awkward that she flubbed not once but twice the name of the organization who brought her to Houston, especially since she’s known the founding director since 2003. I was also unmoved by her “spontaneous” group-sing of “Because The Night” since six months ago I posted a video of her doing the exact same thing in London. On one hand, she has been traveling extensively in support of her book, but on the other hand, she’s also a 30-year music veteran who has gone on dozens of tours and played hundreds of concerts, so that excuse doesn’t entirely fly with me. BUT WHATEVER. Apparently it’s a sin to even remotely criticize her, since I’m the only blogger in Houston who did and I’ve gotten railed on my überfans for doing so.
So, in penance to all the fans who couldn’t be there last night, here is my paraphrased version of the heartbreaking story she told about Jeff Buckley:
Smith said Buckley was a die-hard perfectionist, never completely satisfied with his work, which he felt was never complete. Buckley sang on Smith’s album “Gone Again.” They recorded together at Electric Ladyland studios, and when it was Buckley’s time to sing his voice just lifted the entire room. Patti and the others in her band were so moved by his talent and Patti spoke about how she especially was inspired by his performance.
Later, Patti found him in the green room, laying on the couch weeping. She asked him what was wrong and he replied to her, “I just wish I could have done it better.”
I thought your review was totally fine & I liked it – I didn’t think you were unduly harsh. I feel like you wrote a review, while perhaps the CultureMap piece would be more accurately described as an annotated set list. Both styles have their place.
I heard Patty Smith on Pacifica earlier in the day, and thought she sounded zonked out from exhaustion, although still compelling and fascinating. Hope she gets some rest, and perhaps some coffee and brown bread.