Daniel Johnston
Dublin Vicar Street
10th July, 2007

View: centre rear, by the mixing desk

Nervous energy is something Daniel Johnston has in abundance, as well as a determined focus and pent-up frustration. That’s not surprising, given that his guitar playing never advances beyond the third fret and, while he can sing and play, he seems unable to combine the two. His ‘songs’ are more like unfinished thoughts. Still, there are glimpses of great lyrics and, after an endearing first half of stripped-down acoustic numbers, the second half was more like a new American college rock group, with the very self-aware Johnston slipping in numerous jokes between clever lyrics.

Reviewed by James Masterson
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