For years, Daniel Johnston has been an underground folk hero, producing homemade cassette tapes with his painfully raw
but beautifully worded pop songs. He told stories about being in love and being unable to cope with emotionthe latter in
particular being a result of the mental illness that would plague Johnston throughout his life. Now he's back on tour, and
you can't afford to miss him.
Throughout the '80s and '90s, Daniel Johnston was name-dropped by Kurt Cobain, Sonic Youth, Yo La Tengo and the Butthole
Surfers. He was highly regarded in the alternative scene, and especially in Austin, where he moved, but perhaps not fully
understood. Even today, his earnest songwriting inspires singer-songwriters looking for something that breaks convention.
In 2005, a documentary about Johnston, entitled The Devil and Daniel Johnston, was released and became an underground
hit. It's highly recommended viewing if you're unfamiliar with this compelling but troubled artist. You don't seem him touring
often, so if concert tickets are available, you'd better pounce on them. Get Daniel
Johnston tickets up above.