next_to_normal

So, I seem to have made it through another JM event without serious mishap (although we were sans

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

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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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.

I'm really happy I missed the lollipop and pimp-shirt phases. He may have done less sexy-me performances, but I've only been to two of them in two years, so it's hard to judge except what I've seen.

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.

I think it's probably a little of both. I'd like to think there are enough fans out there who like him for him that he could drop the act and just be himself, but I don't really know him or the fans well enough to say whether it's all in his head (after being objectified plenty on Buffy, I could see how he'd come to assume it's expected of him) or if he'd really lose a lot of fans by dropping the sexy act.

I think it's probably a little of both. I'd like to think there are enough fans out there who like him for him that he could drop the act and just be himself, but I don't really know him or the fans well enough to say whether it's all in his head (after being objectified plenty on Buffy, I could see how he'd come to assume it's expected of him) or if he'd really lose a lot of fans by dropping the sexy act.

I don't think he'd lose many fans at all. Of course, maybe I'm just projecting my own preferences on his live audiences, but my impression is that when they cheer and squeal in response to his sexy act, it's because they know it's what he expects, and they want to please him. He's queuing them and they're playing their part. But if he'd drop the act and just be himself, I bet there's very few fans left who'd be yelling at him to take off his shirt.

my impression is that when they cheer and squeal in response to his sexy act, it's because they know it's what he expects, and they want to please him.

Oh, the self-perpetuating cycle, lol. James gives us what he thinks we want, and we give him what we think he wants, and no one gets to be themselves...

self-perpetuating cycle

That's it! That's the expression that was alluding me. But yes - you understand exactly what I meant.

::head-slap::

...the expression that was eluding me was what I meant, even if it wasn't what my fingers typed.

::stupid fingers::

James!

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