People who know me know a few things: that I'm insanely passionate about music, I don't like big cities, and that I hate to fly. It's true, I haven't flown since around 2001. It's really weird how my reactions to flight have changed over the years. The huge surge of acceleration, the beautiful views, the short-range time-travel aspects...all of these things I looked forward to. Now, my inner self boils over into a mass of nerves and adrenaline. It's terrible.
There appears to be one thing that may force me deal with my city and airline issues: Largo. I swear, if I read one more article about the magical groups and shows that occur at that club, I'm gonna book the next flight to L.A. I mean, on one night not too long ago, you had regulars like Sara Watkins (Nickel Creek), Benmont Tench (Tom Petty), and musician/producer/evil genius Jon Brion...who were joined onstage by Jim Keltner and John Paul Jones. Yow!
What I'd really like to do is witness one of Brion's solo shows. There has been so much written about these things that my cynical side (admittedly, a very small part of me) thinks that it just has to be hype. On the other hand, they're always sold out. It just doesn't seem that you can go wrong listening to a musician who goes in with no preconceived notions and who is likely to play anything from a ukulele to a Chamberlin. Some folks might think that Brion's act, which includes things like rendering one artist's tune in the style of another, is a kind of musical parlor trick. All I know is that anybody who thinks of playing "I've Got You Under My Skin" over the melody to "Strawberry Fields Forever" — and pulls it off — just has to share my passion.
Article comments
1 - Josh Hathaway
Glen Phillips released a live album from Largo and plays there often. In the interview with Glen, I think he said that Largo is where Sean and Sara have been doing the Watkins' Family Hour. They seem to get some really cool things going on at that place. We absolutely need to go.
I think Elliott Smith played there a number of times over the years, too.
2 - Tom Johnson
Not to mention my favorite Brad Mehldau album was inspired by work with Jon Brion at Largo and obviously takes its name from the venue. I'll never understand why this album gets such low marks from fans. (But then again, maybe it's because I'm listening, as I do with pretty much everything, from a perspective of it being simply "music" and not "jazz" - it might fail to fully register as the latter, but it hits the mark 100%, and satisfyingly so, for the former.)
3 - El Bicho
That sort of thing happens all over LA. It helps to have so many musicians living in and visiting the area. In regards to his appearance at The Nightwatchman benefit in West Hollywood, Dave Navarro wrote on his blog that he wasn't planning on attending, but he got a text message about 8 o'clock that night from Perry Farrell stating Flea wanted to jam together, so Dave grabbed his guitar and headed over. Does that kind of thing not happen in the clubs in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire?
4 - Mary K. Williams
Does that kind of thing not happen in the clubs in the Monadnock region of New Hampshire?
Hehehe..Part of me wants to defend my greater New England neighbor - There are some very cool places that cool people go to all around this area.
And part of me is snorting imaginary beverage out of my nose cuz that was so f-ing funny.
5 - uke-alyptus
Music fanatics. #1 thing to do before you die: see Jon Brion at Largo. Seriously. During my first JB show I thought, "This must be what it was like to witness Mozart pound it out." The old Largo is closed (boo-hoo -- and it was BEYOND magical and no not every club in LA is like this, trust me) but a newer bigger venue opens in June. Sure, it's great to sit inches away from Benmont Tench on the piano or join Fiona Apple as she leads the crowd in singing background vocals, but even when Jon's special guests are few he will still blow your mind! Or at least expand it. (And YES, Sara, Sean and Benmont's Watkins Family Hour shows...also gorgeous. Travel to LA and do a Largo week!)
6 - Josh Hathaway
I love what Brion did with "Extraordinary Machines" on the Fiona Apple record from a couple years ago. I don't know that I've ever heard anything like it. Brilliant.
7 - dianne
I made the pilgrimage to LA to catch a show at Largo before it moved. I caught Glen Phillips with Sean and Sara Watkins, Greg Leisz, and Pete Thomas. It was quite incredible. I don't know how much it will change going to a larger venue, but it will certainly be less intimate.
8 - JANK
Silly me. I have no idea what this is all about. Cryptic to a fault. My bad, I guess....
9 - Pico
Interesting how the prior seven comments knew what this is all about. It's really not that hard to figure out.