First, rumors that local house-party rockers Compact 56 have disbanded are not entirely true. The group has made a slight line-up change and relocated to Portland, but they are still ready to rock ‘n’ roll.
Now, on to the week, which this time starts on Sunday at Taylor’s Bar and Grille. Although the corner campus watering hole is a prime place to spot some Emerald staff members, Mr. Lang usually doesn’t find the joint to be his cup of Jaeggermeister.
But Sunday, Taylor’s hosted an acoustic storytime session with former Soul Coughing lead singer/songwriter Mike Doughty, who rolled out old hits such as “Is Chicago, Is Not Chicago,” “Soft Serve” and “Circles,” along with some solo work from his new album, “Skittish.” About 60 people sat on the floor and in chairs around the small platform stage to hear Doughty, alone with only an acoustic guitar to protect him, deconstruct the Soul Coughing songs into amazingly crisp, jazzy chords and notes that matched his trademark jumpy, raspy vocals.
Although he graciously indulged the crowd’s desire for the familiar songs, he quickly established that he would take no guff, stopping in the middle of his first song to give a “shhhhh” to two guys talking near the stage, then picking up the song again without missing a beat.
But his multiple profanity-laden cries for silence didn’t stop the crowd from calling out continued requests for his biggest hits, even though his set list was quite evident laying on the stage next to him. This included one girl who whined to hear “Circles” over and over even after Doughty said it was on the list.
If you, dear readers, take anything to heart in this column, let it be this call to reform and become more civilized concertgoers. Practically, the band has a set list for a reason — to play those songs. Philosophically, the people you see on stage have chosen to share their music with you. Sure, you paid your money to get in the door, but that doesn’t mean you can take that money and throw it at the act and demand it dance for you like some monkey in a cage. Be glad when someone like Doughty comes to Eugene at all — and is even willing to play old songs from his former band that doesn’t exist anymore.
Also, a good audience member doesn’t shout out quippy little one-liners at the act. Fight the urge, no matter how funny or poignant you think your comment is. Resist the penis envy of the band being on the stage and you being on the floor. We came to see a rock show, not improv stand-up night at the comedy hole.
Now, less rant, more music.
On Tuesday, Eugene indie acoustic crooner — and stellar photographer — Tom Patterson posted feedback to my last column on the Emerald Web site requesting more Backstreet Boys news in general. Tom, this one is all for you.
In case you missed it, A.J. McLean, the 23-year-old dreamboat with the pencil-thin mustache and sideburns, has checked himself into a 30-day rehab program because of depression and alcohol abuse.
McLean’s bandmates discussed the incident, which will postpone the start of the U.S. tour that was scheduled to hit Portland on Sept. 10, during an MTV interview. A message on their Web site cited the recent death of McLean’s grandmother for the problem.
Fellow BSBer Kevin Richardson told MTV the band didn’t want to try to dodge the issue, but face it head-on.
“We want to be honest with our fans,” Richardson said as bandmate Brian Litrell and the whole freaking TRL audience misted up with grief. “He’s getting help. He’s going to be better.”
All unsurprisingly easy joking aside, the death of a loved one and alcoholism are tough, serious issues and Mr. Lang would wish anyone in that position a quick and full recovery, regardless of how much his or her band has polluted the atmosphere of pop music.
In fact, touring acts are just dropping like flies this week. Weezer, who appear frequently in this column, have canceled some dates of their UK tour because of exhaustion.
Finally, the Wu-Tang Clan never seem to die, but now one fan has. A bus carrying about 20 fans from the Wu show at the Century Club in Los Angeles came under fire from a car driving up L.A.’s Little Santa Monica Boulevard. Tony Lorenzo Galloway, 26, died before the driver could reach UCLA Medical Centre — in part because the driver could not find the entrance to the emergency room.
With all this in mind, it might be best to stay home and not see a show this week. Bad vibes.