Jim Carroll at Lion’s Lair

I just wanted to add a brief comment from someone who knew/knows
little of Mr. Carroll. My friend and I bought tickets and attended
this performance on a whim. The most we really knew of him was
the interviews he’d done for the Rock ‘n’ Roll Heart
bio on Lou Reed.

We had to see this guy talk for more than those brief scenes.
We were certainly glad we did. Front row, right by the
stage. I’d never seen anything like it. His reading
was beyond captivating; it was
enslaving. I couldn’t be bothered to even get up and
walk 10 feet away to buy another drink. I didn’t even
know the material, but it didn’t really matter.

I remember bits and pieces of the readings themselves
and remember the way he delivered them. However, the
real key moment for me that night was when he finished
his set. Everyone began clapping and shouting, “Encore,
encore.” Heading for the back door, with his water
bottle, books and notebooks in hand, he growled, “That
was the fucking encore,” and he left.
No coming back and gleefully succumbing to the crowd’s
request.

He
was done. He was ready to leave and he left. Take that!

I
loved it!