One of my favorite things about seeing live shows (well, after the music) are the crazy comments that you hear along the way. Here are a few choice selections from winter/spring 2019.
I was dating a girl for a long time and she wondered why she didn’t have any songs about her. We broke up. Now she has songs. Garrett Owen
She did not like the song but hopefully you do. Andrew Duhon introducing his song “Let You Down”
There are 2 things you should never do in life. The first is methamphetamines, obviously. The second is to play a song written by the guy you’re opening for. J.S. Ondara about playing a Neil Young song when opening for Neil Young
The Clash saved me from going to bad hair metal concerts in the 80s. Jesse Dayton
Thank you music lovers of Houston. (pause) To tell you the truth, the Houston audience sucked. Joe Jackson pulling a Spinal Tap at a show in Dallas
It’s nice to see some young faces here. Most of my fan base is dying. The rest of you get busy. Jeff Tweedy
There are things in life you can’t predict. One of them is having your name on a tote bag. Joshua Ray Walker at the release show celebrating his debut album
My manager told me people love tote bags. In my anecdotal experience on the road, people hate tote bags. Joe Pug
I used to get beat up because I had long hair and cowboy boots. And then Willie Nelson moved to Texas. Steve Earle on his Texas childhood
The only thing cool about La Grange is the ZZ Top song. Jesse Dayton
I feel you dog, it’s emotional. I get it. Leighton Fields when a dog started barking as he began a ballad
It’s pretty crazy, with a band you don’t sound like such a sad bastard. Bartender to anonymous performer who usually performs solo
This is worse than a fucking medley. Random guy in audience when a 1980’s pop star played a “2.0” version of one of his hits.
You’d be such a beast if you played it again. Bassist Ed Valaskaus encouraging Todd Thibaud to play his new song “Restless Heart” two times in a row. He did.
I heard the person who said 1 more. I’m gonna play about 9 more. That was my first song but I’m glad that you liked it. John Moreland
It’s a little sadistic to make us follow John Moreland and then make us play songs we wrote 20 years ago. Ben Nichols of Lucero before his band played their first album start to finish
This is what I do on my day off. Jeff Tweedy stopping by Good Records for a solo set
It’s nice to come back here and play to people who are actually listening. David Ramirez playing a sold out show at a small coffee shop where he launched his career
Every time you talk during a quiet song, a kitten dies. Tallest Man on Earth
One night I spent a month with Scott Biram in New Orleans. Jesse Dayton
I consider myself a folk singer. But I’m mostly a beer drinker. Vincent Neil Emerson
Because that doesn’t sell Dodge trucks. BJ Barham on why there are no songs about sobriety
It’s been a lot of laundry and paper work. Glenn Phillips on Toad the Wet Sprocket’s career longevity
I put out a record in November and another in April. Is that not enough? Settle down. You think records grow on trees? Jeff Tweedy responding to an audience question about when Wilco would release a new album
My father still refers to this as a hobby. BJ Barham
Let me get this straight, people pay money to hear you complain about your life. BJ Barham, quoting his father
I’d like to thank this people who put up with my shit. Well, I put up with their shit too. Nate Leavitt
About the author: Mild-mannered corporate executive by day, excitable Twangville denizen by night.