The Cat's Cradle was full of fans recently - mainly
over the age of 30 – to hear The Brian Jonestown Massacre, the legendary
60's revivalist band, and to witness front man Anton Newcombe, "go crazy”.
Over the years I’ve heard accounts from friends who saw
the band in the late 1990's in NYC. One witness was in
attendance when Newcombe made a spectacle of himself for an hour
and a half on a tirade sparked by the theft of the band’s equipment
the night before. After someone from their record label jumped
onstage to stabilize him, the band performed for three hours
straight without a glitch.
Outbursts like this used to be common during their
shows, sometimes instigated by attendees who still go out of
their way to provoke the volatile lead man.
Histrionics aside, The Brian Jonestown Massacre
delivers an overwhelming Phil Spector- esque wall of sound powered
by 4, yes 4, guitars - a bass, drums,, keyboard / organ and one hell of a
tambourine player with modern nuances, recreating a 1960's rock act not unlike
Jefferson Airplane or The Strawberry Alarm Clock. Only once did I
see the brilliant guitarist and lead singer Newcombe upset by the cruelty of
audience members.
Someone shouted something (inaudible to the rest of us, but
loud enough for the front man to react) about politics. And react he did with a
seemingly defensive and incoherent rant. At this point it became
evident that Newcombe, no doubt sedated and under the strictures of the band’s
record company to get through a two hour set without a major episode, was not
going to careen out of control. He continued on with the set that
included recognizable popular tracks, including the fuzzy, declarative
anthem "Anenome". The chorus chants " you should be picking me up/ 'cept you're
dragging me down" with full audience participation. Among the
favorites, rarities from their vast 20-year plus catalog popped up
pleasing and wowing the hard core fans in attendance.
Dig!, a 2004 film documenting seven years in the
lives of The Brian Jonestown Massacre and
The Dandy Warhols ,brought out droves of indie / alternative fans to witness the amazement of their music
and rumored stage antics. But Anton pays a price for his fame playing night after
night, always at risk of having a meltdown brought on by his
instability and egotism, or being provoked by agitators in the audience. In the
film, Newcombe is documented exuding flashes of genius through his uncanny
ability to write heavily thoughtful and musically intricate songs - and
apply his brute magnetism and power over those around him. His
fellow band mates, other musicians on the scene and fans testify to this in the
film. In contrast, signs of a serious mental illness are also quite
obvious. And while his genius is declared by many, his manic behavior and drug abuse is
cited just as often.
