Concert Review: David J 6/1/12

Last night (and early evening), I saw one fourth of Bauhaus - Mr. David J! He was in town (randomly, apparently) and decided to promote his new album, "Not Long For This World." I saw him first around 7pm at Cheapo Records where he did an in-store performance (to like ten people) and then stayed after for autographs and pictures. Later that night, he was at Elysium playing a slightly longer set and breaking out some classic favorites.

David J playing bass for Bauhaus during the band's last round of reunion

David J was one of the founding members of post-punk band Bauhaus in 1978. The band went on to release several albums and singles and garner a deep, albeit underground, following. The band originally disbanded in 1983, presumably over tensions of David J, Daniel Ash, and Kevin Haskins recording most of "Burning From the Inside" without singer Peter Murphy (he had pneumonia at the time). Bauhaus would later return in 1998 for the Resurrection reunion tour, only to disband again. Finally, Bauhaus returned with 2006's "Go Away White" and some marginal touring with Nine Inch Nails over the next couple of years before disbanding for seems like the final time.

In the interim periods of Bauhaus's rises and falls, David J went on to form bands such as the highly experimental Tones on Tail with Bauhaus guitarist Daniel Ash and roadie Bauhaus roadie Glenn Camping. Once that fell through, J and Ash rejoined with Bauhaus drummer (and David's younger brother), Kevin Haskins to form the fairly popular Love and Rockets. Both David J and Daniel Ash released solo material over time as well.

Love and Rockets (left to right: Kevin Haskins, David J, Daniel Ash)

At Cheapo Records, David J only played a handful of songs, most from his solo work. He did play "Sweet FA" and "No New Tale to Tell" from Love and Rockets. It was very clear that all of us watching him were there because he was David J of Bauhaus. None of us knew the lyrics to his solo material. Heck, most of us didn't know the words to his Love and Rocket's material either! (I know the lyrics to "No New Tale to Tell," but not "Sweet FA" as I don't listen to Love and Rockets often). However, he was in good spirits and having fun with things. Because David J doesn't perform often, he himself doesn't have all the lyrics memorized well (even those of his own songs) and needs a lyric book (which he forgot over at Elysium). This prompted lots of joking about his age and his admitting to have skipped different lines and added in others (not like any of us would have known otherwise, haha!). Afterwards, David J talked with us, signed autographs, and took pictures. I got my "On Glass" 12" signed and a couple of his solo albums on CD (they're hard to find, which doesn't help matters any with trying to follow his solo work).

At Elysium, the story continued. He had his song book this time with the lyrics (only removing it to play "No New Tale to Tell" again and both Bauhaus songs). He was much quieter this time, not talking to the audience as much (then again, many people were being very rude and talking loudly as he performed). Overall, the performance was great. He did a new version of "No New Tale to Tell" with Adrian H and the Wounds that I wasn't terribly crazy about and the version of "Bela Lugosi's Dead" that he ended the night with was odd. He had great atmosphere for that one (took the lamp from his lyric book stand and put it under his face to imitate Peter Murphy's putting his face in a white light and also draped his jacket like a cloak). However, David J commonly likes to add random lyrics at the end of the song which don't necessarily go with it. Additionally, the drawn out "Ooooooohhhhhhh Bellllllllllaaaaaaaaa" parts were completely removed, which are my favorite parts of the song. Good effort, but I'd much rather listen to Peter Murphy's mash-up of "A Strange Kind of Love" and "Bela Lugosi's Dead" that he commonly does at shows.

On the whole, David J is a very humble, funny, delightful man. This set of performances has actually perked my interest in his solo work (I tend to not listen to it as the little things I had heard I didn't much care for). I now believe a second listen is in order. This also puts me at seeing one half of Bauhaus in some form or another. I wish I could have seen them during the last reunion. May not have been anything like they were back in their heyday, but I'm sure it was great.


Setlist from Elysium:

Dagger in the Well
Crocodile Tears and the Velvet Cosh
Shelf Life
Rain Bird
If You Could Read My Mine
Spalding Gray
Who Killed Mr. Moonlight?
Silver for Gold
Not Long For This World
Dog-End of a Day Gone By

ENCORE

No New Tale to Tell
Alabama Song
Bela Lugosi's Dead