The positive side: Eitzel,in full hearted moan and howl,got to his emotional
core at will and often.He had ample opportunity to prove he's in a league of one as he poured out rich,sustained vocal phrases as thick with modern emotion as say,Hank Williams Sr did with his lonesome wail.Chilling,tingling,
awesome.
Somehow,despite a pretty sloppy band and an inebriated state,Eitzel's fantastic talent for words shone through time and again,in Cleopatra Jones,Mission Rock and so much from his stupendous 60 Watt Silver Lining solo album.
Hearing his work live emphasized verses perhaps a little differently than on disc.A revelation.
OK,now for the dark side of Mr Sir Mark Eitzel,Knight of the Mahogany Bar Stool: He was very,very drunk and constantly referring to his alcoholism.Sad that he's so friendly with his disease 'cause we don't want to lose this guy,now do we?
But only a drunk can spit on the ceiling above the stage - twice - and then stand below his hanging phlem with his mouth open as if to swallow it back in,
which this country's best writer of depressed lyrics did that unusual night at Stache's.
Gross? You bet.Funny? In a repulsive way,but wow,we're talking about the guy who bled his heart out on song after song on 60 Watt like a cardiac confession for all of us to share.And there he was,acting like Billy Joe of Green Day onstage.
Oh well,that's Mark.To know him is to love him.To love him is to accept him for the obnoxious,soulful,funny,human gay genius singer/songwriter he is.
If you've got a yen for yearning lyrics awash with wounds as deep as Billy Holiday's,backed by soft lounge jazz,then my darling,you're perfect for Eitzel and 60 Watt Silver Lining.
