Pranks, Punk and Industrial Culture from V. Vale

Acoustic Country Dude Todd Snider played at the Great American Music hall on Wednesday night, and I went, and it was good.

I’ve been a fan of his since my coolest teacher in high-school turned me on to him, but this was my first time seeing him. The show was about how I expected it to be, which was both satisfying and frustrating. Satisfying, because the sound was impeccable, he played almost all of my favorite songs, and he was in good spirits. Frustrating, because he sounded just like he did on his live album, with a few carefully replaced joke lines. Also frustrating was the audience; mostly 35-50 year-old women with crushes on Snider, husbands in tow, passionately singing along to each line from the newest record, screaming in between songs. That tends to be the case, though, with most folk shows I go to. It’s rare that I see anyone within 10 years of my (20-year-old) age.

One good surprise was a new song about Dock Ellis, the Pirates pitcher who threw a no-hitter while high on LSD. The song was about trees growing out of home plate, and the ball leaving a rainbow trail and whatnot. Good stuff.

Anyway, I’m glad I went to the show; it was nice to finally see someone in person whose songs and humor I’d been familiar with for so long , but I don’t know if it was something I’d want to do again, because I don’t know how different it would be. But maybe that’s a good thing.

-Nate the Intern.