Patti Smith in Austin, TX--SXSW. Photo by Jon Schappell
"Well, it looks like the Lord has given us a beautiful evening here in Austin!" Surprising words from Patti Smith, some might say. Is this the same Patti Smith who defiantly sneers on "Gloria": "Jesus died for somebody's sins / but not mine"? Well, of course it is. And as the evening progressed, we'd also find that, while this may be a more mature Patti Smith (and one who seems to believe a lot more in the American political system than she did even just ten years ago), she can still raise some hell and, in the words of her late husband, Fred Sonic Smith, and the MC5, "kick out the jams"!
The day before the concert, tornadoes had touched down not far from Austin, and the day itself had been cold, wet, and dreary, all of which seemed to dampen the spirits of those record industry execs who look forward to Austin's South by Southwest (SXSW) every year, not just for the music, but also for the city's sunshine. Braving the inclement weather (and mud), the faithful (final counts had us numbered around 6,000) made our way to Waterloo Park, where the Alejandro Escavedo Orchestra prepared us for Patti Smith with an edgy rendition of the Stooges' "I Wanna Be Your Dog." Escavedo recalled seeing Smith years ago, and the band's inclusion a punk classic in their playlist certainly set the stage for one of punk's most venerable figures.
Having last been in Austin twenty years ago, Smith seemed to be enjoying her stint in the city. A few months before SXSW, word on the street was that this year's festival (which, frankly, has become so commercialized that it's pretty disgusting) might actually include Patti Smith. Adding to the excitement, the show was rumored to be part of the SXSW's no-charge showcase (which, indeed, it turned out to be). Weeks before the concert, local papers ran stories about Smith's last appearance in Austin, which included an impromptu concert at The Hole in the Wall with Smith wearing the dress that she'd eventually wear for the cover of Wave, the last album she would release before taking an extended sabbatical from recording and performing.
Patti Smith did not disappoint. Joined on stage by long-time cohorts from the Patti Smith Group, Lenny Kaye (guitar) and Jay Dee Daugherty (bass), the line-up this time around also included Oliver Ray (guitar) and Tony Shannahan (drums). Smith cracked a few jokes: "What's Irish and sits out in the sun all day?" Answer: "Patti O'Furniture!" And, as she was waiting for Lenny Kaye to tune his guitar ("What's takin' you so long, man? You goin' to the bathroom or somethin'?"), she couldn't resist the opportunity to tell another: "So, this hipster walks into a luncheonette and asks the waitress, 'How's the pie?' The waitress answers, 'The pie is gone, man.' The hipster says, 'Cool....Then I'll have the pie!'"
Patti Smith was, indeed, in rare form--smiling and laughing, joking with the audience and band members, talking to individuals in the audience, reminiscing about her trip to Austin twenty years ago, and checking in with the audience every now and then to make sure that no one paid to get in: "Now, I just need to check again to make sure I've not been lied to. . . . This is a free show, right?" The crowd, of course, assured her that it was, which seemed to make her more comfortable talking about her new album, Gung Ho and how it would be available for purchase in a few days.
Smith performed songs off the new album, including the title track. Indeed, "Gung Ho" (which means "working together") became the mantra for the evening, as Smith encouraged the audience to "Get out and vote! Make sure your voice is heard! Do not give up, people! We can change things!" Since this concert occurred right next to the capitol building in downtown Austin, I can't help but hope that George W. got an earful that night! Even though I'm sure he wasn't in the building during the show, the irony certainly wasn't lost here--a Patti Smith show right next door to you-know-who. The segue from "Gung Ho" to "People Have the Power" raised the energy-level of the band and audience even higher.
For me, though, the concert's highlight came at the encore, where the band performed "Rock 'n' Roll Nigger." Smith picked up her Fender Duo Sonic and ripped through this one with an intensity I've never before experienced. "You want guns, motherfuckers!" screamed Smith, raising her guitar above her head and shaking it at the audience, "This is the only gun you need! With this, you can change the motherfucking world!!"
One by one, Smith then broke off each guitar string, and ended by pulling off a broken string with her teeth. Spitting out the string and bridge (which had come off with the string), Smith threw down the guitar, and walked off the stage with the rest of the band, as we all stood there listening to distortion and feedback for several minutes, trying to get our bearings.
What a rush! I left this concert very hyped-up on the energy that the performance had generated. This was a concert that I experienced on a variety of levels: physical, psychological, spiritual, emotional. It was pretty amazing. Has Patti Smith mellowed with age? Certainly she has, as most people do (and this isn't necessarily a bad thing). She appeared very centered, happy, and calm at moments. However, I don't think you'll find Patti Smith retiring to a rocking chair any time soon. This woman can still rock, and it's the kind of in-your-face, high-on-rebellion, distortion-noise-loud music that makes you think that maybe rock 'n' roll can, indeed, change the world.
