Sufjan Stevens @ Bowery Ballroom (show 4/5), NYC | pics
I didn’t go to Movable Hype last night (Monday, August 22, 2005). I had a ticket to see the Kid Dynamite reunion at CBGB which I figured would be over by 9:00. Then someone out of the blue offered me a free ticket to see Sufjan Stevens & Bunky at Bowery Ballroom again. I accepted. Unfortunately CB’s added unannounced openers. The reunion show ran later than expected. That meant I missed Bunky :(, but I did make it to Bowery in time to catch Sufjan’s entire performance. It was the fourth of five sold out NYC shows. It was fake tattoo night.
This time I got the chance to see the show from the back of the room. Sunday night I was up front. I can’t say if one was better than the other. I can summarize the criticisms I’ve read in the comments and heard people say (both in actual conversation and while eavesdropping):
* It’s hard to tell when and if Sufjan is being ironic
* Too many pauses between songs, too unrehearsed, instrument changes take too long, trying too hard, etc…
It would of been nice to see Bunky perform again. Next time.
Previously
Sufjan is really just like John Wayne Gacy, Jr.
Sufjan Stevens @ Bowery Ballroom (show 3/5), NYC | pics