In 2009, when Vic Chestnutt was interviewed by Terry Gross on Fresh Air, he explained the sentiment lurking within “Flirted With You All My Life,” a heartbreaker from his penultimate album At The Cut: “You know, I’ve attempted suicide three or four times. It didn’t take.” It did take last Christmas when Chestnutt died in an Athens hospital after going into a coma from an overdose of muscle relaxants. Covering a song this heavy is a tough task, but David Bazan, who seemingly likes to tackle complex sadness, gave it a go last weekend at Le Poisson Rouge as part of Radio Happy Hour. Only not so happy.
As far as the rest of the day, it went like so:
Musician David Bazan, actor Jesse Eisenberg, and comedian Max Silvestri joined the Radio Happy Hour crew for “Bobbledead” the tale of Junior Executive VPs David Bazan and Max Silvestri, and their consultant/demon Jesse Eisenberg, and the frightened staff of the company, Sam, Wendy, and Aodh McKenzie, who find the CEO dead in the break room under a mysterious collection of bobblehead dolls. Hitchcock only wishes.
One of these things does not belong? We’re told the cover took place during a setbreak for the crowd, which was rightly “leveled” by the performance. You can hear the sunnier stuff via a podcast at radiohappyhour.com.
At The Cut is out via Constellation.
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Beautiful. Saw Bazan perform with Vic on the undertow orchestra tour (Bazan, Vic, Will Johnson, Mark Eitzel playing songs and backing each other up) in Atlanta. One of the best shows I’ve ever seen. Still sad about Vic’s passing. This is an amazing cover of an amazing song.
I can’t think of anyone better suited to cover this song. Well done.
Bazan played this at a Chestnutt tribute show in Seattle in February and I’ve been listening to it ever since.
I think this version suck. He took all the fuckin’ joy out of it. Bazan is missing the smirk that was almost always on Vic’s face.
Considering the two were friends and former collaborators and Vic has since changed his mind about being ready for death perhaps it’s difficult for him to find the joy in it.
Still, I don’t think it’s right to change the meaning of the song. I still manage to find joy in the song.