213 Green St. honors Daniel Johnston

By Paden Wyatt, A&E Writer

Issue Date: Wednesday July 2, 2008

Last week at 213 Green St., “Never Relaxed,” a Daniel Johnston tribute show, was held to honor the cult classic singer/song writer’s legacy and influence on the world of music.

The show featured a new take on Daniel Johnston classics such as “My Yoke is Heavy,” “Devil Town,” “Danny Don’t Rapp,” “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Your Grievances,” “Tuna Ketchup” and “Bloody Rainbow.”

“It was awesome to have so many people in one place who love Daniel Johnston equally. (It is) cool to have so many West Virginia artists come together to have a new interpretation on his music,” said performer Aaron Williams.

“I think everyone really got into it and it went really well.”

Williams, who performed with multiple acts and put artwork on display, was just one of the many acts that went on, including Trent Porter, Hawley, Post and White, Evan Johns and Aaron Willams, Jay Gonzalez, Baby’s First Stoner Basement, Russian Tombstones, Tyler Grady, J. Marinelli and Bryan Newruck.

Performances ranged from art-noise to acoustic sets letting Johnston songs to take a whole new form.

“My favorite part about the show was how folk such as Hawley, Post and White and Aaron and I formed for the specific reason to cover Johnston songs for this tribute show,” Johns said.

The show raised around $91 from donations and door admissions.

The money will be used in hopes of purchasing a piece of Daniel Johnston’s artwork to be permanently placed in the Monongalia Arts Center.

Local artists such as Desiree Macina, Emily Cumberland, Bryan Richards and Aaron Williams put their art on display and some of which the sales went to the fund for the Johnston painting.

213 Green St.’s next show will be July 9. The show will include Grady, Tusk Lord and Hunted Creatures. Admission is $4 and, as usual, is all-ages.

daa&e@mail.wvu.edu