Spence Wilder Live at Galveston Island
Today my friend Spence Wilder played a very impromptu set at Galveston Island. I popped by to hear some of his wonderful songs. The Cult unplugged, a Lyle Lovett cover (that Melvin Took also plays), NIN's Closer (which I cover as well, but not as nicely) and so many more of his coverages and originalages. Oh, I'll note that Spence does the video/extended version of Closer and I perform the short/cut version from the single - I know you don't care but I'm stating the fact anyway!
Spence's live stage setup is really very nice. All the props are very artistic and tasteful. It's modeled after a comfortable living room including a little flickering television, standing lamp and comfy looking easy chair. The television screen rotates through black and white pics of Dave in real life.
I've enjoyed watching him perform with that stage setup for quite a while and have always eyed the chair and its visible pose ball labelled "sit". This time I could not help myself! I grabbed a seat on stage behind Spence.
It was after I sat down that I realized what a complete freak Spence really is. He has situated his set such that his adoring fan sitting in the best seat in the house is facing his butt. He even moved his avatar to stand pointing exactly away from the chair instead of facing the audience.
I took some (ok, a bunch, it was too funny) mouselook snapshots for you to prove my point.
While I was sitting in the chair and clearly getting a bit of Spencester's attention he said "What I like about Dolmere, my bony friend here, is that he's really three people in one. He's a big bony man, he's a little bony man and he's a bird of prey. That's with an 'e', not an 'a'." Haha, that made me crack up - right down to being sure to point out the correct spelling for the bird's "occupation".
Now here's something funny, IMHO: while sitting in the chair and interacting with Spence I got an IM from a Galveston Island security staffer. I was asked to step off the stage because it's for performers only. I asked if that was the case then why did he put a chair on his stage setup? The response was that it was stage decoration only and would I please get down.
I know she was just doing her job - do not read animosity or negativity into these comments - instead read the humor that is intended, please.
My final obeservation on this matter, my friends (and Spence can post here as to his intention for the cute stage materials), is that there is a BIG pose ball in the middle of the chair that says "Sit". Perhaps, if it was just decoration, one might not put an enticing pose ball dead center? Huh? :)
One other fun exchange came when Spence was getting ready to wrap up. He asked if anyone was coming up after him so he could "pimp them out" for Galveston prior to them taking the stage.
In regular old chat the word came from on high: "NO one... Coming up"
Being me I could not let it go at that, could I?
[14:27] Dolmere Talamasca pimps out "NO one" for Spence. Don't worry, bro, I've got it covered.
[14:28] You: Check out Spence online at http://myspace.com/spencewilder - and then check out myplace.com/NO%20one where you'll learn more about the next artist up - Mz. NO one of the loons.
Most amusing was Spence's rendition of "Just Like Heaven" by the Cure. That's another song that I cover as well. He commented on how he doesn't create backing tracks on his computer like I do so he ran off and grabbed his cell phone. He played the song OVER top of a cell phone ring tone! HAhahaa. It was a total blast. Even funnier was when his phone either gave up looping and went on to another ring tone or someone called him in the middle of the song. This guy is always a hoot and he was in fine form for this show indeed.
I've been meaning to try my hand at Second Life related web comics. Spence's show and actual amusing interactions from the show gave me the inspiration to give it a try. Below is issue 1 and 2 of "Dolmere's Webix" - Second Life flavored web comics for the lazy.
Dolmere's Webix - Issue #1
Dolmere's Webix - Issue #2
Comments
Lol! Nice one Dolmere. Love the comic :)
Posted by: Claudia Mantis | August 14, 2007 07:00 PM
*stills wants to see Dolmere getting kicked off stage*
Posted by: Vint | August 14, 2007 07:42 PM
The Untied States of Dolmerica! Excellent work! And folks, he had this done before I could get my virtual guitar back in its virtual case!
As for the chair, hehe, I'm such a troublemaker. It is indeed an invite to come sit. Good for a souvenir snapshot (or 12). I guess I should brief the venues.
And NO one was impressed with my show. in fact, NO one has asked me to do more shows with them. Thanks for the laughs!
Posted by: Spence Wilder | August 15, 2007 09:00 AM