Daniel Johnston @ The Prince,Melbourne (3/1/10)

Sat 6th Feb, 2010 in Gig Reviews

It’s clear that Daniel Johnston has many health issues. He’s a manic depressive, soon to be 50 year old artist who has lost his teeth and stacked on more weight than he should of. To many he’s a talentless hack. A shocking guitarist and vocalist who pens the most absurd narratives. I love him. Not for the cult status and the Elephant Man exhibit nature that his shows take on, but for his honest and raw approach to storytelling.

He is always battling with his illness and will do so until the day he dies but for now he’s having a whale of a time recording and touring his latest record Is And Always Was. Johnston’s first record in six years and his first ever Australian tour has the great man feeling quite chipper about things.

Tonight it’s evident that the Jason Falkner (Beck, Air and Paul McCartney) produced new record has also sparked and elevated Johnston’s playing – from the lo-fi meandering of his younger days to now, a fully realised indie rock, pop and surf beast. Still uniquely Daniel Johnston. Supported by guitarist and friend Brett Hartenbach and support act Old Man River’s band the show is a hit with fans who are mesmerised at the innate child-like innocence and incredible songs we hear this evening.

Rushing out onto stage in his trakkie daks and oversized sweater, four bottles of water are waiting for Johnston along with his patented sheet music stand. Powering through a three song entree with his muddied guitar stylings, Johnston hits us up with There is a Sense of Humor Way Beyond Friendship, Mask and Freedom. In between all songs he shuffles the papers at his music stand and grimaces. He continually sips at his water and sneaks sly glances out into the crowd.

Regurgitating a dream parable that he pulls out at almost every gig where a man was sentenced to death for attempting to commit suicide, and the man was him, Johnston tells us that he was sitting in the back of the court room and reacted by screaming, “NOOOOO!” Hartenbach takes over on guitar as Johnston concentrates on his wiry, disaffected vocals delivering Life In Vain, a song that mirrors his very existence. “Don’t want to be free of hope/And I’m at the end of my rope/It’s so tough just to be alive/When I feel like the living dead/I’m giving it up so plain/I’m living my life in vain/And where am I going to?/I got to really try/Try so hard to get by/And where am I going to?”

Living Life takes the show to another level of sad, fragile humility as Johnston eases into his set – a set that on many occasions previously would have been over now thanks to the severe stage fright he suffers from. Silly Love and -Hey Joe_ recall Neil Young with head trauma in the gummy Johnston vocal style – his hands now shaking uncontrollably before exiting for a short break.

Returning after ten minutes with the band, the temperature rises on the Beach Boys inspired Man Obsessed, Johnston in rare form, his confidence building exponentially. Fake Records Of Rock And Roll keeps the – œSurf’s Up’ theme chugging along until the old cult favourite Speeding Motorcycle cuts in with the crowd now in raptures. More back catalogue belters arrive with To Go Home, John Lennon’s Isolation, the burst of power pop on the Beatles’ Revolution and then the stomping anthem that is Rock N Roll EGA.

Ducking off for another short break, Johnston reappears to close the show with the heartstrings opus True Love Will Find You In The End. The enigmatic Texan’s ode raising hairs on the backs of our necks – his words ringing out throughout every inch of the Prince Bandroom and long into the hot, steamy night.

CHECK OUT THE PHOTOS FROM THE SHOW