Badly Drawn Boy At The Troubadour Last Night

In the states there are two words you don't ever use: The "N" word and the "C" word, and there are socio-historical reasons for that. If Brits don't get it, fine...stay out of the US or risk getting your last 2 or 3 rotten teeth knocked out.  This Badly Drawn Boy fool has been on the international scene for years and should have known not to say that stuff -- and yet he behaved like some suburban crack fiend from Liverpool aching for a 3am fix.  I was at the show, and I can say without doubt it was the worst gig I have ever witnessed. This guy sucks. The only job he should be allowed to do is be an in-flight missile repair technician.  There were some youngsters at the gig too.  It was sad to see their bewildered faces as their parents dragged them out -- watching what had previously been their idol behave like a disgusting gift-less fool.

MANY artists have behavior that is worse than this. Go easy on him! He is such a nice person! Compared to any 'mainstream' artist, this guy is a saint!

Statement from Damon:

http://www.facebook.com/notes/...

There. Now shut up.

lol at butthurt L.A. twats

Here's the apology letter I received from the Troubadour. No refund. Is this an adequate response from the venue? I guess that 90 minutes of freak-out technically qualifies as a "performance"...

"We here at The Troubadour wanted to send something out to you, attendees of the Badly Drawn Boy concert on Thursday December 16th, acknowledging that some of you were offended by the �quality� of the performance and by some things that were said by the artist during the show. Although the artist temporarily left the stage early in the night, he returned a few minutes later to perform a full 90 minute concert thus upholding his contractual obligations and received the contracted compensation for his performance therefore making us unable to issue any refunds for this show.

While we support an artists right to free speech and their artistic expression, we do not always agree with what they have to say, sometimes even fiercely disagreeing. We are proud of our programming and have been presenting high quality concerts for over 50 years and as is the nature of live performances, sometimes the unexpected happens�We genuinely apologize to anyone who was offended.

Happy Holidays and Happy New Year

Sincerely,

The Troubadour Family"

I have tertiary syphilis.

And while their were a dozen or so assholes in the audience, most of the audience stuck with BDB, supporting him and helping him get through the show. And he thanked those fans profusely and often in the last 20 minutes of the show. All this talk about bad LA audiences is inane and besides the point. There are assholes in every city. There are also supportive, kind people, and the audience was filled with them. Just ask Damon Gough.

I was also there. He had a tantrum. It was embarrassing for him and everyone in the audience. Just as embarrassing were the idiots who heckled him. The fans who yelled out supportive words and were criticized by BDB were badly mistreated (my memory is that his response to the woman who called out "you sound great" was something to effect of "you don't know what you're fucking talking about. For you it's great, but for me, on the stage, it's fucking miserable." Not a nice response for a fan trying to get him through the show).

In the end, he pulled it together and apologized copiously. He admitted he had had an emotional day dealing with missing his family and trying to keep his sister and brother-in-law together. And he finished by shaking the hand of every fan he could reach. On top of it all, he sounded beautiful, when he wasn't stopping and starting.

It was unprofessional and awkward. You have to call it what it was, no matter how big of a fan you are (and I am a big fan). But I'm glad I was there. I saw an amazing artist perform, and saw a historic meltdown on stage -- and make no mistake, it was a meltdown. Hopefully he will see it for what it was -- a mistake and a bad night -- and avoid doing it again.

...you are adorable too!!! 8')ok, im gonna go listen to my little bitch's album. TTYL!!!

Awwwww, thanks Geoff!!! <3 <3 <3 You are adorable too. Ok, time to go listen to my little bitch's album. TTYL!!!

Man I REALLY wish I had gone to this show! But it never crossed my mind because BDB kind of sucks. I'd have never guessed he had so many fans quick to get butt-hurt in a comment thread after their idol got caught acting like a little bitch at a performance. You guys are adorable!

Holy Crap!!! What a difference a night makes. Saw him Wednesday night and he was really good. I've seen him three times and every time it was memorable.

I saw him at the Avalon in 2004 and he was an ass then too. He referred to Bewilderbeast as the "bane of my fucking existence" and threw his drink at a particularly mouthy girl in the audience. Touring can be rough. Some people shouldn't do it.

boooooo, go home little BDB boy to your mammy. come back to Los Angeles when you learn how to be a professional. oh, and learn how to write some songs too.

i was there and have never seen a more pathetic display of narcissism and disrespect for all the fans who came out to see his show.

the video that surfaced isn't even the worst part of the "show" -- imagine that kind of crap before, after, and during every single song.

lame.

Molly is just trying to be some sort of cheesy tabloid journo. Please fuck off now.

A lot of this story is false - I stayed the entire show and while he had some definite "moments" on stage it was because:

a) The sound was shitty - they had an off night on a non-local show, so THAT sucks!

b) The crowd was filled with pissy, self-serving, entitled assholes who were constantly taunting him.

I'm bored already with the story. LA has done a remarkable job of sounding like spoiled haters.

You don't call walking OFF THE STAGE 4 songs into a set a meltdown? Seriously? What DO you call it? Performance art? Even if you think he had great reason -- the fact is that still happened. And then you have the amazing insight to say "God forbid when someone onstage calls you on your shit."

Hello? Walking OFF STAGE IN THE MIDDLE OF A SHOW is shit. And the writer called him on it. Either you are a fan of calling people on their shit, or you're just pulling gibberish out your ass to defend some hero who you adore.

Irrational hero worship is so powerful. I wonder if the commenter Nietzsche recognizes how aprons his/her handle is. Perhaps not if the tertiary syphilis has already wreaked its havoc.

right Nietzsche. The sound was fucked up, he was trying to get through it. A lot of people do not understand that what the audience hears is not what the artist on stage hears. He was understandably pissed but trying to get through it..and all the while he was having to listen to hecklers. What was he supposed to do? Suck it up? put up with them? WHY? If he were an artist that was hopped up on drugs and alcohol and just didn't give a fuck, then maybe he would've gone on with the show without a care in the world. But this was Damon. It was an acoustic show, an intimate show and the last show of the tour. It was a big deal, but yet people are ready to crucify the man. I give up.

Mick O is a real twat.

Molly doesn't understand. Everyone frpm Scotland and the North, we call everyone "a cunt" even are best friends. All our friends are cunts. I doubt that Damon was calling a specific girl "a cunt."

Badly Drawn Ally reaches new heights of hero-worship. Breathtaking.

But in reality, of course, thousands (!) of artists have gone on much tougher tours than B.D.B. without such infantile histrionics.

Ally doesn't even deny that most of it happened -- then blames the writer for recounting the facts.

Ally writes without a hint of irony: "Let's hope that when you have a shitty day - there isn't some bratty snob gossiping about it, detail-by-detail to the world of LA."

Umm, Ally? That's what you just became. The bratty snob, I mean. If you think a proper review of this show should omit what actually happened, then write it yourself and stop insulting people for writing what they saw actually happen.

@Ally Finally some person with some sense speaks. LA audiences are self-indulgent and narcissistic. God forbid when someone onstage calls you on your shit. If you are not there to hear music, go fuck off. It's like when people at Brian Jonestown Massacre show try to bait Anton all night. Will they ever shut up? People need to grow up. Shame on you Molly calling something a "meltdown" when they are not feeling it.

Molly, you definately misheard, but I suppose you can go on believing what you want to believe...and "L.A. Twott" although it does matter to a certain extent, it doesn't take millions of album sales to be loved and respected.

Was the sound guy on the Troub staff? Or was he with BDB? I personally love the sound at the Troubadour. Maybe it was just an off night.

HA!

Are you serious, Molly?

He did NOT yell out abusive woman who said "You sounded great." I was there.

Most of this is BS.

This Molly is an IDIOT!

Give the man a break:

He's touring (I'm sure your tours have included shops on Melrose, discount Ed Hardy and every version of "Dummies Guide To Journalism" you could find) - so there's jet lag, uncomfortable hotels, late nights, etc.

He is singing / sharing / baring on stage to a crowd LA walled-up stone-faced hipsters who (and I live in LA) rarely dance, sing, smile like the rest of the world - so that is an uncomfortable situation already.

Plus, the sound was awful. Awful - I was there.

Let's hope that when you have a shitty day - there isn't some bratty snob gossiping about it, detail-by-detail to the world of LA.

LA Weekly, you need to shave off some of these childish "writers" and get some quality back on your blogs.

@Bob: That might be true, but Badly Drawn Boy Damon is NOT a Beatle. Just look at his album sales! (Oooh, what?... Too soon?)

He was a dick in Chicago too He called a crowd member a "fucking idiot".

We don't need people at shows saying "You're not a Beatle." Those people will rot in hell.

That's what I heard, Astrid. It's possible that I may have misheard, but until I see evidence to the contrary, I'm sticking with my notes.

1. Mic test 1-2-3 is right about the sound. It was easier to understand what Damon was complaining about if you were up front. All the sound people had to do was lower the bass on his voice...and at one point the bass in the guitar was so horrible it hurt my ears. 2. Damon did not say "shut up you stupid bitch" to a woman who said he sounded great. That is a lie. There was on the other hand a woman who shouted "it's a shame" and that is the person Damon told to shut the fuck up. Stop making things up. Also, there was a time when Justin did look up at the sound people...on both nights.

Really, Jarvis? Do you have any supporting evidence?

Molly Bergen is a cunt.

@mic test 1-2-3: oh, right. someone should invent something where musicians go in the afternoon to a venue and then they play a couple of songs and then they make sure sound is to their liking. oh, wait, ITS CALLED A FUCKING SOUNDCHECK, BADLY DRAWN ARSEHOLE!

The sound engineering was bad.

Nobody else notice - that anyone backing Damon up, on stage, would be constantly on their knees, trying to fix the boards, and shaking their head "no" at the sound technicians?

I think they spent more time on their knees then actually standing up.

And no, I didn't think the sound was good either. The electric guitar sounded horribly muffled; I get that kind of sound on a cheap $20 carry-size amp (that I would buy at the swapmeet). Certainly not a professional grade, you put out on a venue.

Our Evening with a Badly Drawn Wanker1st, let me say I am a big fan of Damon Gough (aka Badly Drawn Boy). I think he is a great songwriter and I love his work. So do my kids (ages 16, 20). We were excited to finallly get a chance to hear him live.Here's how I remember the evening. I am sure I am off on a few details but I think it captures the gist of what went down:1st song: Damon solo with guitar & harmonica. Sounds great. Witty banter with crowd after.2nd song: still sounds good but audience senses something is amiss as BDB angrily shakes his head a few times while glowering up at the sound guy. After the song, he complains that sound is "worse than last night", but not "Steve's fault..it's this building...I'm never fucking playing the Troubadour again". If Damon had checked the photos in the front bar he would have seen a host of future Hall of Famers who, early in their careers, somehow managed to get by at The Troub. Crowd is supportive. Someone shouts "It sounds great to us".3rd song (Is There Nothing We Could Do): more angry shaking of head and complains after that "it's all muffled, I can't hear myself". female shouts out: "you sound great". BDB:"Stop fucking saying that. I have different speakers I'm listening to".4th Song (Journey From A to B): I love this song but BDB doesn't, at least not tonight. Slams his harmonca down at the end. Bitches about the sound and missing his kids. Says "maybe I should leave". Women calls out "maybe we should all leave". Damon responds: "Shut up you stupid cunt". BDB says "I am ready to fight and will take on anyone that wants to have a go with me". This from a guy that looked to be about 5' 8", pudgy, a smoker. Most people in there would have handed him his ass on a platter. 5th song (Once Around the Block): as he starts to play, some people are walking out. He is giving them the British version of the finger. Maybe they flipped him off first? I couldn't see them. He stops playing after a minute, says "cunts" at least once more. says he is going to have a smoke and may or may not come back. Walks off stage.

At that point we headed for the exit. Did not care whether or not he came back because he was being such a douche-bag.I understand that's it's really annoying to him that his sound was off and I certainly understand missing his kids after 5 months of touring. But we were fans/supporters of his. Be a professional and not a whiny bitch.My take- he managed to turn much of a very supportive audience against him by being such an asshole. I hope he straightens out because he is a great talent. P.S. the opening act- Justin Jones- played at the same spot, with guitar and harmonica. Not a peep about sound problems.

Oh dear - you totally went to the wrong night. Damon was an angel at the first Troubadour show and was in fine form!