@nonoise: I really liked Jeff in Crazy Heart, and have the soundtrack. I’ve been meaning to pick up his subsequent album. I didn’t know about the Old Man series, I’ll check it out, thanks.
@bwguy: Is your screen name Brian Wilson Guy abbreviated?! I saw Brian last at The Universal Theater, and his piano was pumped only into the onstage monitors, not into the house sound system. I found that out when his band (who were excellent) stopped mid-song, leaving Brian "plonking" away on his electric piano unaccompanied. They apparently didn’t want his playing to be heard by the audience; I agree with their decision.
At one point between songs, Brian requested the audience stand up, which we did. He then instructed us to sit down, only to then ask that everyone again stand up. Oh dear. He speaks as if he’s had a stroke, out of one side of his mouth and kinda garbled. He sings the lyrics (reading them off a teleprompter) as if he’s seeing them for the first time, varying between being on pitch and off. Just awful.
I found myself standing behind him in the Tower Records on Ventura Blvd. in Sherman Oaks one afternoon, and softly called out his name. He spun around, kinda ducking his head, his eyes filled with terror. He was scared to death, as paranoid a look as I’ve ever seen. I’m surprised they let him walk around alone.
