James!

Feb. 16th, 2009 12:38 pm
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[personal profile] next_to_normal
So, I seem to have made it through another JM event without serious mishap (although we were sans [livejournal.com profile] slaymesoftly). I was pretty much an idiot right off the bat when I left my ticket at home, and had to backtrack 20 minutes to get it, but I still managed to get there in time for dinner with [livejournal.com profile] seductivembrace (I've never gone 90 before!). It was a lot of fun, and mucho thanks to her for letting me crash in her hotel room.

James has definitely improved since I saw him a year and a half ago. And he played "All That She Wanted," "Fall of Night," and "Button Down Vandals," which are the three songs I love and don't have on a CD, so I'm satisfied. :) I was on the left, pretty close to the front - I think most of the people in front of me were the full day event people - so I had an excellent view. (The place was a lot smaller than it looked from the seating chart, though, so there probably weren't many bad seats.) I didn't bother to take any pictures because a.) my camera sucks, and b.) I know there were plenty of people there who take much, much better pictures than me anyway. The right front section looked like the paparazzi, with all the equipment they had.

James was teh pretty, of course, but I have to admit - I don't know if he's just gotten too old for my tastes or if I'm just ready to move on, but he doesn't do it for me the way he used to. I did not swoon when he came on, not even a tingle.

Which is why I'm probably the only person in the world to say this, but I wish he wouldn't rely on the sex fiend act when he's singing. It's like he feels he has to titillate the audience because his music isn't enough of a show on its own. And maybe that's true - I'm sure there's plenty of people there who wouldn't give a fig about his music if not for who he is and how he looks - but I'm sure he didn't get into music to turn on his female fans, so I kind of wish he could be more confident in his ability.

That aside, he does put on a pretty good show - when he's not trying to make us swoon, he's funny and self-effacing. He accidentally stepped on the lead and yanked it out of the guitar in the middle of "Layabout;" after making fun of himself, he plugged it back in and went on because "The third verse is the best! I'm playing it anyway!" I love how he felt the need to explain that that song was about filming "Torchwood," because the lyrics could possibly be taken another way. Well, I never thought about it like that before, but I certainly am now, James. Ahem. And dear heavens, the "Moonshot" song that he wanted to name after Buzz Aldrin? Could not stop giggling the entire time. It's a shame, because it's a very sweet, lovely song, but all I could think about was him singing a love song to Buzz.

Hmm, what else? He had a set list, but told people to shout out songs they wanted to hear. And then someone called one out and he was like, "No!" (It was apparently the one song he didn't practice.) His son is learning how to play the guitar and is already better than James is. He says writing "Don't Worry Son" was the worst idea, because now his niece is all, "Where's my song?" He admitted that "Dangerous" was written about Michelle Trachtenberg and "Too Fast" was about Eliza Dushku, and it's really cute that he thinks we didn't know that already.

And one last thing - the clapping. Now, I've seen accounts of this, and I always thought to myself, "It can't really be that bad, can it?" Oh, yes. Bless their little hearts, but James fans have no rhythm.

So that's my account - surely not as detailed as others, and probably not as fangirly as it ought to be, but I did have a lot of fun.
 

Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 05:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] gabrielleabelle.livejournal.com
Sounds like fun! Can't wait to see piccies from some of the other attendees.

JM's too old for me now to really get me tingly, so I feel you there. Love his music, though (And him. I think he's fab).

Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 05:57 pm (UTC)
silverusagi: (Spuffy manip (chair))
From: [personal profile] silverusagi
Sounds like you had a good time!

The right front section looked like the paparazzi LOL. I can imagine. But I'm looking forward to seeing some of their pictures.

Yeah, James, I think everyone guessed about "Dangerous" a long time ago. :) I'm really not a fan of his music so much; it's just not the style I listen to. Not that I'd say no to a concert if he did one close to me. But I'd more be going to see him, than to see him sing.

Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 06:12 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] bendy1.livejournal.com
Now, I've seen accounts of this, and I always thought to myself, "It can't really be that bad, can it?" Oh, yes. Bless their little hearts, but James fans have no rhythm.

SEE! OMg I am so right. No-one believes me, but it's AWFUL. EVERY. TIME.

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Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 06:15 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kimrae1977.livejournal.com
Still does it for me, at 31. :D

Yep, they can't clap....at the standing gigs, I'm front as possible, though, because I'm short, so I don't hear it much, thankfully. :P

He's a bit of a natural flirt, but yeah, I think there are some tendencies left over from GOTR. And he'd probably have more confidence to just be himself if he was performing more often, but alas, not his day job....I do love seeing his improvement over the years, though!

Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 06:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] empresspatti.livejournal.com
I've never met him in person and don't think I find the concerts anything but cringe-worthy. I absolutely loved the Spike personna, and do find him attractive.

All that being said - I wish I could see more of him on tv - but I think my original crush/object of fantasy is pretty much gone forever. Which is ok - he took too much space in my head.

Still - It is fun to look at the pix and hear the reports. Y'all are a fun bunch to know....

Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 07:16 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] slaymesoftly.livejournal.com
I'm so sorry I wasn't there! And not just because of the four hundred bucks I just spent on two new tires...
It's nice to see a review that isn't all fangirly and silly. He's an appealing man (as you noticed, more so when he's being self-effacing and humble than when he's trying to be sexy), but not the hottest thing on the planet (that would be Spike). And, he may be improving his singing all the time, but it's still not his strong suit. I suspect he knows that, though. I find the songs he writes for and about (very) young girls more than a bit "ewwww". That may be the mother in me, but even when I was young, older men (of 25 or so lol) hitting on me made me go "ewwww", so maybe not. I suppose he does it for his younger fans, but even they are getting older now, I suspect. I think it's time to stop implying or reminding people that he likes much younger women. Especially jailbait.

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Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 09:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] molliemole.livejournal.com
I bought both of his albums, and they were enough to convince me I'd never want to go to one of his concerts. I'm strictly a fan of JM the actor, not JM the singer. I'm glad that he's improving, and I'm glad that he enjoys singing, but I consider his singing ability a pale shadow of his acting talent.
I do think he's a remarkably talented actor, but nothing he's done since Spike has been on that plane. I still have high hopes for his future, though.

Date: Feb. 16th, 2009 10:59 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kimrae1977.livejournal.com
I honestly have to say, and this comes from a music major, that the albums are the worst you're gonna get him and so not even close to what he's capable of live. And the producers really put too much crap over the songs....he shines when it's just him and the guitar. Lyrics are to everyone's taste, but many of us keep nudging him to go acoustic or record live for the singing's sake.

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Date: Feb. 17th, 2009 12:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] deborahc.livejournal.com
Which is why I'm probably the only person in the world to say this, but I wish he wouldn't rely on the sex fiend act when he's singing.

Not hardly. JM overtly playing the sexy card has always been a total turn-off for me. That whole lollipop phase and the pimp-shirt phase are two examples that made me cringe. The tongue thing too - I loved it when Spike did it - occasionally - but even from Spike it was sometimes too much - could seem contrived when he did it in a close-up.

James is at his most attractive and appealing to me when he's being natural and unassuming, not hitting me over the head with a metaphorical I'm-so-sexy mallet. I think you made a very astute observation when you suggested that his sexy affectations are compensation for a lack of self confidence and a sense that his music is less than it should be. Also, maybe a confusion about fan expectations. Or not. Maybe there's still plenty of fans who expect and want to see that, and he's playing to them.

Of course, my comments are all based on second hand information - concert reports, photos and online video clips. I've never been to one of his solo shows (not counting the one GOTR show I saw). I'm fairly certain I can recall reports that have given me an impression of much more thoughtful and understated, much less overt sexy-me, performances in recent years, which is all to the good, as far as I'm concerned.

I've only seen JM in person twice - both at conventions - one in 2003 and one in 2005?? (whenever Oakland was). I'd probably go see him if he came to Chicago or fairly close to it, but I'd much rather see him in a play than in concert. I too, am far more of a fan of his acting than his music, and it's frustrating that opportunities to see him act have been so few and far between since Spike. Nothing he's done since has given him much scope to stretch his acting muscles and show the world what he can do.

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Date: Feb. 17th, 2009 12:32 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] seductivembrace.livejournal.com
Agreed with your assessment of his improvement and his apparent need to cater to the masses with the sexy persona. Personally, I'd like it if he just sang. (I can't believe we both thought the same thing about the piano accompaniment to the CD version of "Smile".) But a good majority of the crowd get into it, it seems.

And, the clapping! Oh. Em. Gee! I thought I was the only one that thought that. Hee! Please, for the love of Mike, just STOP already. (Did you catch his smirk when they started? All I could think was that he was probably thinking, "Don't listen to the clapping, or it's gonna throw me off!")

Oh! And I made it home in 5 1/2 hours. I think I set a new record! ^_^

Date: Feb. 17th, 2009 08:09 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] missus-grace.livejournal.com
Thanks for the report and the honesty :)

Date: Feb. 17th, 2009 06:11 pm (UTC)
lynnenne: (jm bw closeup by bendy1)
From: [personal profile] lynnenne
I don't think it's just James fans. I've never in my life been to a concert where people clapped in time with the music.

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Date: Feb. 18th, 2009 08:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] james-translate.livejournal.com
Which is why I'm probably the only person in the world to say this, but I wish he wouldn't rely on the sex fiend act when he's singing.

Not quite, I spent a lot of my time in his fandom complaining about it. I even tried to clue him in on the fact that hello, not all fans are deaf and only there for a cheap Chippendale show, in case it was solely caused by thinking that's what the fans want.

The fact that it never got any better (while the music got rather worse) is why I gave up entirely on his cons / gigs.

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Date: Feb. 18th, 2009 11:08 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] jamalov29.livejournal.com
wish he wouldn't rely on the sex fiend act when he's singing. I don't like it very much either and I appreciated that he mostly had given up doing it while singing ( I've been following his music since the beginning. I can assure you that watching him on stage playing Spike!rock! god with Gotr was a sight to behold and definitely tingles -inspiring )
For example he didn't play the sexy card at all during all his UK concerts last year . But if it happens on three or four songs, I may forgive him.;-)
It's nice to have been able to hear All that she wanted , Fall of the night or Finer than gold live- they're lovely songs and James sings them usually in a heartfelt way.
Thank you for sharing your impressions .Glad you had fun.:D

Date: Feb. 20th, 2009 01:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] seapealsh.livejournal.com
The sex thing with James is a pet peeve of mine. I especially hate it when he goads the audience during a Q & A session to ask "anything", getting fans to ask the most personal sex-related questions they can. I just want James to be himself and not try to be what he thinks the fans want. Although, in my experience, most of the fans I deal with love the "sexy" James. That being said, the concert itself wasn't bad for James - I've seen him improve a lot.

Date: Feb. 23rd, 2009 11:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] idlesloth.livejournal.com
Thank you for posting/sharing. And, no, you are definitely not the only person in the world to wish James wouldn't rely on the sex fiend act. Especially as, like everyone, he's sexier when he's not trying.
I kind of wish he could be more confident in his ability - absolutely! The best of his music is so good. Wish he'd put some more of his stuff - old and new - onto a CD.

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