Jon Brion - 2005-04-27 - Tonic, New York City (Both Sets)

Jon Brion
2005-04-27
Live at Tonic (both sets, 8PM and 11PM shows)
Tonic, New York, NY
Audience recording, good quality
mp3 @ 192 kbps

Here's more live Jon Brion, from a few year's later, in 2005, and by this time he has perfected his 'one man band' shtick of laying down multiple instrumental tracks using live 'looping' technology to build full band arrangements in which he plays all the instruments, creating a fantastic full sound from a single musician. Admittedly, this is far less impressive when listening on a recording than when seeing it done live. The problem with it as a recording is that it takes around 3-4 minutes just to 'build' the tracks before the song really even begins, which results in each song taking 8-10 minutes to complete, and while it is fascinating to watch as he constructs these tracks live, on a recording, it can be a bit tedious (at least until he gets it fully loaded and rockin', then it is quite impressive, as he really cuts loose). In this special show, for which I have presented both of his extended sets, he has traveled away from his home base club of Largo in L.A., to New York. He was in town for the TriBeca Film Festival that year, and performed these sets at Tonic, a club in NYC. And here we are treated to his typically eclectic mix of original songs and offbeat covers, spurred by audience requests. The late set is particularly intriguing, as he OPENS with a nearly 12 minute rendition of 'Stairway to Heaven' (which starts with a piano instrumental played in various styles from classical to honky-tonk, then he 'builds' a rockin' finish complete with blazing guitar solos, and that's just his opener!). After running through some of his own tracks, he goes to even stranger sets of covers, that includes everything from George Gershwin to the the Velvet Underground, with Prince melding into Eurythmics, then David Bowie, Brian Eno, and more. So, check this out. Afterwards, if you want to actually SEE Brion's multi-tracking wizardry in action, there are several videos available on youtube you can check out. Also available and worth checking out is some video of a pilot for "The Jon Brion Show" made for VH1 in 1999. VH-1 passed on the show, but Brion's filmmaking friend Paul Thomas Anderson liked the idea and made a few episodes of the show on his own, done in the way they wanted it to be made. One of these episodes has recently been made available by Anderson (who claims to have only recently found the tape) and posted to youtube. Of special interest is that the episode posted features Elliot Smith as the special guest, and there are numerous great moments of Brion and Smith performing together, so check that out, too.      

Tracklist
8PM set
1. You Don’t Know What Love Is (8:56)
2. Love Of My Life So Far (4:08)
3. I Was Happy With You (12:29)
4. Ruin My Day (5:38)
5. Same Thing (8:52)
6. Why Do You Do This To Yourself (3:29)
7. (requests) (1:12)
8. And Your Bird Can Sing (5:03)
9. I’m Further On (8:41)
10. Trouble (8:40)
11. Waterloo Sunset (9:58)
12. Controversy (7:21)
13. Punch-Drunk Love / Here We Go (6:23)
14. Just Fooling Myself / So I Fell In Love With You (10:12)

Jon_Brion_2005-04-27_8pm_Tonic.rar

11PM set
1. Stairway to Heaven
2. You're Someone Else's Problem Now
3. I Believe She's Lying
4. Trial and Error
5. The Girl I Knew (Would Make Fun of You)
6. Knock Yourself Out
7. Requests - Theme
8. I'm On a Roll With You
9. Someone to Watch Over Me
10. When Doves Cry - Sweet Dreams
11. Baby's On Fire
12. Life On Mars
13. Walking Through Walls
14. Her Ghost
15. Femme Fatale - Ashes to Ashes
16. I'm Gonna Lock My Heart and Throw Away the Key

Jon_Brion_2005-04-27_11PM_Tonic.rar
Links updated 04/11/25

Jon Brion - 2000 - Largo, Los Angeles, CA

Jon Brion
2000-07-07
(plus tracks from 2000-03-31)
Live at Largo
Largo, Los Angeles, CA
Audience recording, average sound quality
mp3 @ 160-192 kbps

As previously mentioned, Jon Brion began performing every Friday night at Largo, a supper club in Los Angeles, in 1996, where his remarkably eclectic and entertaining shows, in which he presents a very unique mix of his own songs and unbelievably diverse covers played in mostly unusual ways, developed an enthusiastic following. His shows are entirely spontaneous and unscripted, meaning no setlist, with Jon himself not knowing what he will play at any show, and the musical direction often shaped by the audience. He has become known for being able to play virtually anything at a moment's notice with audiences determinedly trying to 'stump' him, but rarely succeeding. He might start out just with just some noodling on the guitar or piano, playing riffs or licks from 3 or 4 different songs before settling in and deciding just where to go and what to play, but once he locks into a song, he nails it, although he often throws some kind of curve into it. No two shows are even remotely similar, and you just never know quite what will happen. In addition to his own multi-instrumental versatility and original approach, the shows also became known for the semi-regular appearance of surprise guests that tended to show up, which started with Jon's friends like Aimee Mann, Fiona Apple, or Rufus Wainwright, but then grew to an increasing list of musical celebrities of whoever happened to be in town, that would drop by (one week might be Jackson Browne, next Michael Stipe, Neil Finn, Ian Hunter, or who knows).  Thus, very soon, his shows always sold out. Based on the strength of his live shows, he signed a recording contract with Lava/Atlantic in 1997 and began work on a solo album. However, when he finally finished recording his album, Meaningless (after completely recording the whole thing twice due to record company conflicts), the record company didn't think it was commercial enough and refused to release it. Eventually, Jon had to buy back the Master, and he released it himself in 2001 (on his own 'Straight to Cut-out' record label). Not surprisingly, the album was a little-heard pop gem, and it still remains as Jon's only solo album (but as mentioned previously Jon pays the bills by producing other artists and scoring films, which he has been quite successful at, so he's doing OK). Anyway, he continued doing his shows at Largo, and he still performs there to this day (although not every Friday anymore, but still regularly), which has been for an almost unbelievable 16 years now.  Another feature of his live shows that he has become known for over the years, is his live 'one man band' song construction, where through the use of live 'looping' technology he is able to 'build' a multi-layered, multi-instrumental performance in which he plays all the parts. For example, he starts by laying down a drum beat for several measures, then 'loops' it, moves over to the bass, and adds a bass line, then moves to piano, adds the piano chords, then goes to guitar and adds a live guitar lead and vocals to create a stunning musical concoction. But again, more about that later. For the Largo show(s) I am presenting today, we go back to some earlier days, before most of the 'looping' type sets, but where we can hear his versatility at full bloom. Here is a show from 2000, where he starts off with a meandering jazz piano number, then features an unusually large string of his own songs from the Meaningless album, followed by a dizzying array of off the cuff covers (who else but Brion would feature a selection of Beatles songs that includes 'Being For the Benefit of Mr. Kite', 'You Know My Name', 'The Inner Light', and 'Tomorrow Never Knows'). Unfortunately, this recording cuts abruptly at the end of each song, so we can't hear what goes on between songs, and most likely there has been some editing of tracks (as this is shorter than most of his shows), but this is how I received these files. So, to fill this out, I have added some selections from another 2000 Largo show, which also features a few Brion (unreleased) originals and a strange mix of cover renditions (ranging from the Themes from 'Gone with the Wind' and 'Mister Roger's Neighborhood' to pop classics from The Beatles & Elvis Presley all the way to The Go-Go's and Jimi Hendrix). It's not that great of a recording, but it is worth checking out to hear Brion's eclectic show and style.

Tracklist
1. Out of My Mind ('Round Midnight)
2. I Believe She was Lying
3. Meaningless
4. I'll Take You Any Day
5. Walking Through Walls
6. Ruin My Day
7. Don't Dream It's Over (Crowded House)
8. Time of the Season (Zombies)
9. Mr Kite - You Know My Name (Beatles)
10. The Inner Light (Beatles)
11. Sex Pistols Medley
12. Same Thing (The Grays)
13. Tomorrow Never Knows (Beatles)
Bonus Tracks (2000-03-31 - Largo)
14. Citgo Sign
15. Stop the World
16. keyboard noodling/Mister Rogers
17. Gone with the Wind/Trial and Error
18. MTV Medley (Joe Jackson, Naked Eyes, others)
19. Between song weirdness
20. The Wind Cries Mary (Hendrix)
21. Hello Goodbye/My Baby Left Me (Beatles/Presley)
22. Our Lips Are Sealed (Go-Gos)
23. Into the Atlantic

Link Updated 08/04/23
Jon_Brion_2000_Live_at_Largo.rar

Aimee Mann (w/Jon Brion) - 1996-08-24 - Largo, L.A., CA

Aimee Mann
(with Jon Brion and Dan McCarroll)
1996-08-24
Largo, Los Angeles, CA
"A Blonde and Two Grays"
Audience recording, average sound quality
mps @ 256 kbps

OK, so now we've heard what became of Jason Falkner after his brief stints with Jellyfish and The Grays, but what about Jon Brion, another very talented singer-songwriter-multi-instrumentalist who also was a part of both Jellyfish and The Grays? Well, after The Grays, Jon returned to doing some session work, and also started producing other artists, starting with his good friend Aimee Mann (whom he'd known since their 'Til Tuesday days, producing her first 3 albums, Whatever, I'm with Stupid, and Bachelor No.2), and then an ever-expanding list of artists (including Rufus Wainwright, Robyn Hitchcock, Elliott Smith, Fiona Apple, Rhett Miller, The Crystal Method, and in recent years, Spoon, Keane, Dido, Of Montreal, and even Kanye West). In the late '90's, he also began doing film scores and soundtracks, first for Paul Thomas Anderson (Hard Eight, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love), and then many others (including Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and I Heart Huckabees), and most recently ParaNorman and Judd Apatow's This is 40 (2012). As for performing, in 1996, he started a sort of residency at Largo, a club in L.A., performing every Friday night. His shows soon became legendary and sold-out every week, as he performed a mix of his own songs and a remarkable array of covers, usually from audience requests. He displays an encyclopedic knowledge of pop tunes (and standards and TV themes, etc.) and an uncanny ability to play and sing virtually any song called out. But more about Jon and his amazing solo shows and career later. As part of his regular shows at Largo, he began bringing by his musical friends and contacts as surprise guests, and also several of his friends began playing their own shows there. And that is what I have here today, A show from Aimee Mann at the Largo, in which she is ably backed-up by Jon Brion (on bass, guitar, piano, and backing vocals, as needed) and Dan McCarroll (also from The Grays) on drums. Thus, this show has been dubbed, A Blonde and Two Grays. Jon starts the show with one of his own songs, then Aimee takes over from there, featuring selections from her early albums, and even a preview of a couple that would not be released for a few more years ('Deathly', 'How Am I Different', on Bachelor). As I mentioned, I will have some more from Jon's solo shows coming up, but for now, here is Aimee Mann with a substantial portion of The Grays. The recording is not that great, but certainly listenable and worth checking out.    

Tracklist
1. You Can Still Ruin My Day (Jon Brion)
2. Banter
3. Time For You To Go
4. The Other End (of the Telescope)
5. Amateur
6. You’re With Stupid Now
7. Deathly
8. Jon’s Ragtime Bit
9. It’s Not Safe
10. Fourth of July
11. I Don’t Even Know You
12. You Could Make A Killing
13. I’ve Had It
14. Old Guys (Mr. Harris)
15. That’s Just What You Are
16. Choice In The Matter
17. How Am I Different

Aimee_Mann_1996-Largo_blonde_and_2_grays.rar
Link updated 08/03/23

The Grays - 1993 - Pre Sham Bo Gig

The Grays
1993
Pre Sham Bo Gig (unknown venue and location)
Audience recording, good quality
mp3 @ 320 kbps

Here's some more from The Grays, a very short-lived Power Pop supergroup, this time with a rare live recording from before the release of their only album (Ro Sham Bo, 1994). Not only does this include songs that were not on their album, such as 'Strings' and 'I Go Astray', as well as 'Oh Nevermind' and 'Blessed' (which were featured on the previously posted rehearsal boot), but this also represents one of the only decent-quality live concert recordings of The Grays known to exist. Unfortunately, I do not have any further info regarding where or when this show took place (but much thanks again to Willard's Wormholes for making this available, and Jay Strange, who originally sent it to Willard). So, once again, here's a chance to hear more from the brief but enticing musical legacy of The Grays. 

Tracklist:
Everybody’s World (7:13)
Same Thing (4:03)
Spooky (5:17)
Oh Nevermind (3:19)
Blessed (4:52)
Strings (3:18)
Both Belong (4:31)
I Go Astray (4:28)
All You Wanted (4:20)
No One Can Hurt Me (10:11)

The_Grays_1993_Live_Pre_Sham_Bo.rar
Link updated (08/03/2023)

The Grays - 1994 - Companion (rehearsals and radio sessions)

The Grays
1994
Companion: Rehearsals and Radio Sessions
Studio and radio recordings, very good quality
mp3 @ 256 kbps

OK, while we're in the realm of quality Power Pop, and in particular, delving into short-lived, neglected, and underappreciated bands, let's move from the 'eighties up to the 'nineties now, and feature a somewhat legendary (in Power Pop circles) but little-known temporary assemblage that was known as The Grays. This very brief, but productive union of three talented singer-songwriters and multi-instrumentalists, Jason Falkner (previously with The Three O'Clock, Jellyfish, and later to go on to an impressive solo career), Jon Brion (worked with Aimee Mann, the eels, and others), and Buddy Judge (?), along with drummer Dan McCarroll, only produced one released album, the highly acclaimed, but sales-challenged and now out of print Ro Sham Bo (1994). Nonetheless, the high quality of their only album together is mind-boggling, it is just a sensational pop-rock album, with all three songwriters sharing, combining, and contributing great songs, wonderful melodies, a great sound, and shimmering pop production. It is quite possibly better than anything else any of them have been associated with (and since that includes Jellyfish and Jason's solo work, that's saying quite alot). Now, I have to admit that I had never heard of them before either (I had previously heard some Jellyfish and Jason Falkner solo (and liked them), but had never heard of The Grays, until just recently, when they were featured at Willard's Wormholes (much thanks, Willard!), and let's just say that I was mightily impressed and wanted to pass them along to you here. Although I can't post their official album release here (but perhaps Willard can help you there), I can post these unofficial recordings, which consist of some studio rehearsals, covers, acoustic takes, and radio sessions, to give you a taste of what they sounded like, and what such a shame it was that they couldn't have stayed together long enough to make more of this music. Still not convinced to give them a listen? Well, how about this enticing description of their music (from their Wikipedia page) as being Beatlesque, but with a harder edge. Yeah, sounds pretty good to me (and the all acoustic takes are wonderful, too).    

Tracklist:
1. Complicated (Rolling Stones cover) (3:13)
2. He’s Frank (Monochrome Set cover) (2:49)
3. Blessed (Simon & Garfunkel cover) (4:27)
4. Both Sides Now (Joni Mitchell cover) (2:53)
5. Oh Nevermind (3:44)
6. Outdoor Miner (Wire cover) (2:25)
7. Very Best Years (acoustic) (3:28)
8. Same Thing (acoustic) (3:42)
9. Nothing (acoustic) (3:05)
10. Both Belong (acoustic) (4:20)
11. KFOG Acoustic Session 1 ('Same Thing', talk, 'Nothing') (13:49)
12. KFOG Acoustic Session 2 (tuning, 'Both Belong', talk) (12:38)

The Grays were:
Jason Falkner
Jon Brion
Buddy Judge
Dan McCarroll

The_Grays_-_Companion_(1994).rar
Link updated (08/03/23)