Live Photos: Daniel Johnston at the Highline Ballroom [2.21.08]

Imagine every stereotype of the “indie rock star” that you can. Imagine a tall, malnourished, flannel-wearing, Brooklynite that has spent more time gelling his hair than writing his songs. Now imagine a fat, florescent-sweatshirt wearing man with a voice so honest it can make you cry, bashing the Brooklynites over the head with mini-MIDI guitar. That is what it was like to see the Spanish Prisoners, a band epitomizing the malaise and mediocrity that swathes over New York’s rock scene, open for the marvelous Daniel Johnston.


His first set was unrelenting in its honesty, bringing songs of unrequited love and the beauty of the mundane. However, the slightly marred by a second set where the Spanish Prisoners accompanied Johnston, sucking any sincerity right off the stage.

[Words by James Herron]
[Photos by Adam Schatz. Full gallery can be seen here]