Over The Weekend: J. Tillman at Haileys -OR- Grab Your Pillows And Blankets, Children

Well… I’ve always longed for naptime since kindergarten, but little did I expect that I would finally have the chance come Saturday night… At Hailey’s… In Denton. J. Tillman, a very talented singer/songwriter, not to mention being the drummer for a little project called Fleet Foxes, came through town promoting his latest solo record, Year In The Kingdom.

Even before the show began, I walked into the bar to find a bunch of young, emo/hipster kids just sitting around on the stage like they were waiting for story time to start. I thought I had just walked into a baptist church lock-in. As the band took the stage, I thought everyone would stand up, but nope... This is what it was going to be. So I take my shot of Jameson and walk in to join the congregation…

Upon the beginning of the very slow, ethereal set of bass and ambient folk melodies coming from the electric and pedal steel guitars, I was not too impressed. I thought that maybe these kids sitting around me knew something I didn’t, but I kept standing anyway… at least until last call came closer. As the set progressed, there was a definite change, as Tillman too switched to an electric guitar, but that was about the only progression. His lyrics were sparse and wispy like the smoke in the room. I really wanted the pedal steel player to take off on those frets, but he seemed reserved.

Every single song made it right to the edge of really going over into melodic awesomeness, but never took enough time to actually get there. The crowd looked bored… Obviously, because they were sitting on the floor to begin with… The band behind Tillman looked bored as well, which makes perfect and sorrowful sense. A band playing live feeds off of the audience. It felt more like a spectacle than an experience, and, honestly it might be an act to really just lounge to… But in a booth. Not the floor. C’mon, people…

MP3: J. Tillman - Though I Have Wronged You

-Cory Coleman [c]