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Jason Falkner at The Troubadour in West Hollywood, CA - 4/18/04
"I feel like I'm in Vegas already," quipped Jason Falkner, having played several old songs at this point during his packed solo show in West Hollywood the week before. With an array of instruments at his disposal (iPod, anyone?), Falkner debuted new material alongside old numbers from his first two records. From the wonderfully weird opening act, Kennedy, to the obligatory celebrity sightings (Ben Lee, Mark Lane), to a Michael McDonald impersonation for the ages (courtesy of Falkner himself), it was a night that featured a little of everything. Never one to shy away from offbeat opening acts, Falkner chose local man, Kennedy to do the honors (last year, Japanese duo, Sesku Roba opened the first-ever TV Eyes gig). Kennedy, a shaggy-haired, self-described anarchist from the Hollywood Hills, nearly succeeded in uniting the sparse crowd with a handful of blues/rock-inspired numbers, but surprised everyone with a bizarre set of George Michael cover songs, aided by his partner-in-crime, DJ BJ (I shit you not). Working in a few lines from Olivia Newton-John's "Physical," the somewhat drunken singer began to remove his clothing and wander the floor of the venue, drawing cheers and nervous laughter from those in attendance. It was shameless, but funny...and somehow a brilliant amalgamation of Prince-style sex appeal and Pee Wee Herman theatrics. (I bought his 7" after the show.) In between sets the PA featured an interesting mix of (mostly) obscure 70s pop. Someone referred to it as "Polyester Pop," but all I could pick out was Elvis Costello (I was humbled to say the least). When Falkner finally did appear, he was greeted with the type of adulation reserved for junior high recitals. Falkner fans seem to champion him as the undiscovered boy genius, and rightfully so. Most will contend (certainly I would) that it's rare to find such sophistication and accessibility in pop music today; yet for better or worse, he's never quite broken through (see also Brendan Benson). Regardless, by the middle of the show, I stopped wondering why radio didn't know about this guy and focused on having a good time. He opened with "Very Best Years," a song he wrote while a member of The Grays (with Jon Brion) and made slightly famous by its appearance on Beavis & Butthead. "I think they said I sounded like Nelson," recollected the singer, showcasing a typically self-deprecating sense of humor. Eventually, he sat down at the keys and surprised a number of people with the above-mentioned rendition of "Taking It to the Streets." When it was over, he waxed poetic with a little-known song, "Ode to Lethargy" that seemed oddly suited to his current situation in the music industry. Sample lyrics: "You feel like you've missed a chance/ So alter your circumstance/ You were the one professing the importance of the dance/ But lounging 'round in the underground's my favorite thing to do." All in all, it was a rather "complete" night, with Falkner keeping it fresh via different instruments and a shuffled set list featuring songs both old and new. Highlights included the iPod-backed performances of songs off the new E.P. ("Bliss Descending") and selections from his first album, "Presents Author Unknown" ("Miracle Medicine" still thrills with its spiraling guitar lines). It rocked, and it rolled, but it was (dare I say) a little sad. While he certainly brings the goods, there's always the hope that someone "important" is watching who will help bring his music to the masses. I looked around and didn't see any suits, but then again, if the masses don't want him, then do they even deserve him? (Let them have their Vines and their Jessica Simpsons.) And who knows, if Falkner had become famous years ago, an intimate night like this might not have been possible.
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