Neko Case / Joey & John of Calexico @ Wellmont Theatre: Shocking

I've had a busy weekend of shows and socializing, and I figured I should top it off with a little Neko Case in my neighborhood. It should have a relaxing, easy time -- some great tunes from one of the best in music. It started off with her saying, "Hello, Montclair. I have walked your streets, I approve of your little town." Yeah, Neko Case likes Montclair! YEAAAAHHHH

Then 40 minutes later during "Polar Nettles", Neko screamed in pain because she got a little electrocuted or majorly shocked from her microphone ... twice. After that, she made the best of an awkward situation and finished the show like a pro. She didn't come out for an encore, so her show was still a decent 75 minutes. Yup, come to Montclair and have electricity run through your lips. That's should be our new motto.

The setlist, I think: 

• Things That Scare Me
• Maybe Sparrow
• I'm An Animal
• People Got A Lot of Nerve
  
• Fever
• Hold On, Hold On
• Middle Cyclone
• The Pharaohs
• Polar Nettles
• Deep Red Bells
• A Widow's Toast
• Prison Girls
• The Tigers Have Spoken
• Favorite
• That Teenage Feeling
• This Tornado Loves You

I'm not entirely sure what happen from a technical stand point or if her getting shocked led to her not coming for an encore, but it did feel that after Polar Nettles she shied away a bit. She can be an outgoing figure on stage, always chatting up with her partner Kelly Hogan. During the first part of the show, Neko was cracking herself and having a good time. The first time she got shocked, she backed away and took a minute to collect herself. Then during the song, she got hit by some bolts and had to stop.

Now here's where her professionalism comes through. She had her crew come on stage and work the problem -- never leaving the stage. When things looked okay, she joked that this is her most dangerous song and went on with it. This is in stark contrast to Hope Sandoval, who left the stage for 20 minutes while people booed.

Back to Neko, after Polar Nettles, she went on with the show, breezing through new and old songs. She even told off some guy in the audience who yelled to her to not put on her sweater. That was weird. Neko ended the exchange, "And this is where the show gets ugly." And laughed it off. Eventually towards the end, she was motioning to her band before "This Tornado Loves You". She said good night and never came back. The crowds tried encouraging her to go back on even when the lights came up. No luck.

Not really sure what to make of the no encore thing. Encores to begin with are cliche and are done out of tradition. In the end, if she didn't feel safe on stage, then so be it. I'm not going to feel differently about her or her music. She still performed a solid show. Whether she plays on her own or with the New Pornographers, she doesn't phone it in. I remember when she played at Bowery with NPs and her monitors failed. She did what she could and cracked a few jokes.

Now to her music. I was thinking between sets that it's spectacular that she's playing large venues and is as popular as ever. She did it by sticking to her sound and not altering it to make it more commercial. If you remember, Middle Cyclone debuted at No. 3 on the U.S. album charts. Sometimes, a veteran artist finds their groove after years of recording and playing. On Middle Cyclone, she at the height of her creativity. This is her Car Wheels on a Gravel Roads, the album that will define her solo career and will enjoyed for years to come. On the album, she taps into her animalistic side where she can be tender and then fierce and defiant. She always comes up with the ride lyrics and imagery to express her feelings on songs like This Tornado Loves You and People Got A Lotta Nerve.

Neko plays the Beacon Theatre tomorrow, hopefully she'll survive it. As for New Pornographers, new album should be out in the spring.

Previously:

• Photo was from her set at All Points West

Joey Burns and John Convertino of Calexico opened the show. They played a sweet set of Mexican inspired country rock. As you know, they are from Tucson, Arizona with it's influences come from the south and west of the state. For two people, they did light up the stage with a lot interesting tunes. Calexico is known for having a lively set, almost lie the coolest mariachi band in town without the funny hats. Their opening slot from the two main dudes in the band is a little more stripped down, but still very much in Calexico vein.

As a few side notes, this is the first time I've been to the Wellmont when there are seats. It's basically padded chairs with the seat numbers written on masking tape tapped to it. 

Then, I talked to Joey after the show and found out that his foot pedals setup was designed by Academy Award-winner Glen Hansard when he was leading The Frames. Not many people can claim that. Calexico played with the Frames and New Pornographers at Central Park Summer Stage. I was there. I remember it fondly.

Comments

[CB in NJ]

I thought the show was rather strange and strained. I've never seen her before, but I'm not used to the headliner having a band member do the intros and being the liaison with the audience. Neko is a witty and sharp individual, but no of that came through on stage. And of course once you get shocked by electricity you get shakened up and are very leary of your surroundings, but a little explaination about the no encore would be helpful. I left feeling somewhat unsatisfied by her show.

[CB in NJ]

Was there a bit of irony with the photo you posted of Neko- her guitar strap has a lightning bolt on it.

[PD]

I echo CB's comment. Some explanation was in order, even if it came from another band member. Without an explanation Neko left a passionate audience dumbfounded. And if it was related to the shocks she sustained, all the more reason to say so. We would have respected her professionalism and grit to continue another 45 minutes or so. Instead, we're wondering if she just didn't want to waste any more of her talent on this audience.

[Suzy]

I was also a bit shocked by the early exit. I timed it closer to 60 minutes, not 75.

[PM]

I think it was all related to the comment when she was putting on her sweater. It sounded like the person said no, but she heard it as GO (meaning hurry up and play something). She told him something like get your own band and then you can GO! She was joking around about the shocks before the sweater thing. After the exchange with the person in the crowd, she didn't say another thing, quickly went through a few more songs and left. Professionalism.... that's a joke, learn how to deal with a heckler and don't punish the rest of the crowd.

[PD]

PM -- I thought that may have been the case as well. I guess we'll never know. I'd like to believe otherwise (as in my previous post), but her demeanor from that point on was much different. I thought maybe the effects from the shocks may have taken their toll, but she certainly overreacted to that comment (whether it was No or GO). And leaving the stage with just a flip little wave (I did not hear her say goodnight) was somewhat telling.

[Charlie Brownfield]

Case is tremendously talented as singer and a songwriter (and even has talent as a visual artist). But given her lyrcis and how she presents herself in interviews and on her website, I'd hardly expect her to be "nice" person in the Montclair way, and I can't imagine she gives a @#$^@$ whether people thought her show was too short. I saw the show, and to paraphrase Morrissey I love her only slightly, only slightly less than I did before.

[Laura in NJ]

I wasn't at the Wellmont show, but she hit a home run at last night's Beacon show. Played from 9:15 til nearly 11:00, and not only did an encore, but it consisted of FOUR songs. She looked positively smashing in a (new, she said) ruby red jewel-toned silk dress and strappy mary jane pumps for grownup girls. And yes, she was in a great mood.

I am still a fan.

[PD]

Figures. She vamps it up for the big time NYC gig but rolls out of bed with curlers for the NJ show. She ain't no Joe DiMaggio, who gave 100 percent effort every game because he believed someone in the stands might be watching him play for the first time. We are measured by the way we treat those who can do little or nothing for us. She comes up short.

[SB]

It isn't the fault of the rest of the people who paid to see her, but if I had been shocked and heckled in front of a theater full of people I might be inclined to get the hell out too. I've been to several shows where there was no encore and I only felt cheated once (and by a band who obviously phoned in the entire performance).

Not to rub it in, but Laura is right: Neko kicked ass at the Beacon. The voice, the hair, that dress... Still buzzing here.

[PD]

No excuse for leaving the stage without even a good night and thanks for coming. None.

[laslo]

I was really really sad after the show, and hurt that she'd left so abruptly. I understood the mic thing, but things didn't really seem to go downhill after the heckler. why punish a room full of breathlessly devoted fans because of one stupid jerk?