Inspired By Townes Van Zandt
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Artist:
I just watched the Townes documentary in SF with a bunch of friends, "be here to love me" - it was so sad. Two of my best friends cried all the way through because he reminds us of a friend of ours, a great songwriter/alcoholic.The first song I wrote after hearing Townes for the first time was "I Wanna Die" - I guess Townes set me free to write more hopeless songs, because I could feel how healing his hopeless songs are. Sometimes its hard to understand how my own songs of pain are good for people, because when I play them in front of people, especially a cold audience, sometimes they just feel too bloody, too naked. But I know how much I like other people's blood and guts songs, so I keep trying to present mine truthfully. 
The late, great Townes Van Zandt.When I just played in New Orleans, the sense of catharsis with the audience was so palpable, and I felt grateful that I'd held on to the painful songs, even though I didn't fully understand performing them until then. At worst, I had thought I was being sort of an exhibitionist of pain, because I'm a terribly self-critical performer. That's where I identify with Daniel Johnston, calling himself a "Sorry Entertainer." But on stage in New Orleans I could see how I was telling all our stories of pain. There was a collective blood-letting, and celebration of life. I could understand my connection to the beautiful audience of New Orleanites.
The late, great Townes Van Zandt.When I just played in New Orleans, the sense of catharsis with the audience was so palpable, and I felt grateful that I'd held on to the painful songs, even though I didn't fully understand performing them until then. At worst, I had thought I was being sort of an exhibitionist of pain, because I'm a terribly self-critical performer. That's where I identify with Daniel Johnston, calling himself a "Sorry Entertainer." But on stage in New Orleans I could see how I was telling all our stories of pain. There was a collective blood-letting, and celebration of life. I could understand my connection to the beautiful audience of New Orleanites.
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