So I get to meet Ian MacKaye tonight
 

The Evens are playing at like, a 30-person venue tonight and I managed to get a ticket. Ha, it's going to be sweet, let me know if there's anything that NEEDS to be asked to him. I'll report back tonight after the show

Last time I saw Fugazi, the stopped playing and asked that alcohol service be shut off for the show, as well as for people to stop smoking, or else they wouldn't continue the show.

So you can ask him why he's such an asshole.

haha, the reason that he's playing at this venue is because it's one of the only ones that have been completely all ages, and don't tolerate alcohol. It's actually an art gallary and a venue.

ask him if he'll make cute straight edge all-ages-club-attending babies with me.

Why are you so dull?

you're cute, porky.

I wasn't asking you, my darling. It's one of the things that I'd ask him.

i know ;)

ha ha. i must rep you for saying it.

--
ops, apparently i can't

I met him a few months ago at an Evens show. Great show and great guy - he'll make you laugh.

Difficult one. He seems a genuine guy, and Fugazi were a pretty great live band at their peak.

So I suppose I'd ask, in light of the Evens dullness, What happened?

I respect him as a musician and obviously the bands he's been in and sorta as an activist for anti-drugs and alcohol etc etc etc... but ther there comes a point where it becomes old and annoying as to why he insists the following at his Evens shows:

1. No alcohol to be served
2. No smoking
3. No music to be played between sets (this one is the MOST ABSURD!)

The reason i know this is because i'm friends with those who run a local venue and sometimes volunteer at this venue and this week the Evens played. (though I wonder what his Rider actually looks like? with the other weird and ridiilus "requests" he must make)
I know he should and obviously carries a right to have to do this, but doesn't the audience have the right or say to drink or not to drink, especially when they are of legal age... also same goes for smoking (but i live in NYS so smoking is banned indoor public spaces) i just have to say that he is slightly pompous in this regard. its like he's pushing an agenda, and not just the music... and i guess thats the way its always been with him.

the whole i don't want any music being played on the PA just complete silence (other than crowd noise) before or after his sets is just complete BULLSHIT... a venue plays music between sets to keep a mood or atmosphere in place and generally to keep people interested, he obviously is being slightly selfish and arrogant in this regard.

So what's your question?

He was in legendary bands, started a decent movement. Sticks to his guns, not playing places that serve drink. He's done more with his life than 95% on the planet, and is interesting in interviews. Oh and runs dischord records, how does this make him dull?

Who cares? Can people not go one day without drinking or smoking? I personally fuckin hate it when the whole room stinks of fags and alcahol can turn people into twats, so I don't blame him.

So I guess the question here could be: "you were in legendary bands, started a decent movement. Stick to your guns, not playing places that serve drink. You've done more with your life than 95% on the planet, and are interesting in interviews. Oh and run dischord records. So why are you so dull?"

haha

I missed The Evens in Buffalo the other night cause I couldn't get the night off. I wasn't happy.

Because, you see, Pork cannot like any musician that asctually has an ounce of talent or credibility. It would tarnish his reputation as "too cool for school."

And I completely agree with his anti-drugs/alcohol "agenda." People should be able to enjoy a god damn concert without being chemically altered. Besides, if yr going to an Ian MacKaye-related show and you expect to drink or smoke... you must be retarded.

ROB! ASK him to play a show in Sudbury! I could totally get a venue, opening bands, etc, etc!!!!!!

Ask him if he likes ZZ Top.

I would ask him to sign my Repeater vinyl.

Personally, I see his ethics admirable and I would respect them.

Here's a bore.

When I go see a show, I'm there to see the bands, not for the "atmosphere." If you're complaining about the lack of music being played between sets, then stick to the arena rock shows. As for the bands requests for no smoking/drinking, I can respect that. It's happened at shows I've been to because some band members are allergic to smoke. If you can't give them that much, then I don't know what else to tell you other than if you're there for the music, it shouldn't matter.

I don't consider drinking, smoking, and getting high a lifestyle that I need to defend. Nor do I consider the abstinence from them a lifestyle. I'll drink when I want to and not when I don't.

Now I don't have anything against MacKaye that would make me want to do any of these before him out of spite. Again, it isn't a lifestyle that I identify with. So I'll respect his wishes and not act like a childish twat. Part of the experience of seeing MacKaye live, I would say.

EDIT: @ !@#$%!

no no, neither do i--- but-- as a budding music journalist, you might be interested in michael little's article "in on the killjoy" which apeared october 17 2003 on the washington city paper-- it was the cover article and featured a picture of fugazi members dressed as puritans-- hilarious. great article. i actually met the guy & congratulated him on it after someone told him to "eat a bag of dicks" for the article.

but anyway, the thing is hard to find on the internet & mysteriously absent from city paper archives. however-- i am so fond of it i saved it somewhere in my computer. wanna read it?

--
well answer. i gotta go soon.

just get him to talk to you about when he got into punk and when he was doing minor threat, that's what i would do. if i'd ever meet him i would not let him talk about anything else and would make him talk for hours.

It baffles me as to why people complain about his stance on alcohol and smoking at shows? It's his decision, is you don't like it then don't go. It's the same decision that someone who dislikes drinking and smoking has to make when going to a show where the members are getting shit-faced and toking their arses off. No need for complaints people. By also having an alcohol ban you make it an all ages show and it's nice that people of all ages can experience music not just the drunks.
As for the 'no music between sets' thing, I saw the Evens a few months ago and I was glad they didn't have any other bands to support them. I was there to see the Evens not some local band I can see the next night.

People will complain about anything on this board, I tells ya.

YES!

That's kind of weird... a bigger band without openers... I would be bothered by that. One, no support for the local scene??? Two, it would be just getting started, and then it's over. No build-up/anticipation.

That's exactly what it was Norma J! It was pleasurous seeing a band that actually had the time to talk in between songs and even go over their origins a little bit because they didn't have another band playing after. He didn't seem like an asshole at all Bicorn, he was very friendly, and I think that he just wants to stick to his values wih alcohol and drugs. He established a stronger social connection between them and the crowd than any other artist I've seen. It was a 'friendly' atmosphere instead of a crowd of strangers watching people you don't know play music you like.

Steve - You just missed them in HAMELTON actually, but I don't know how close that is to you.

ian is interestingly paradoxical. he doesn't seem bad, just maybe a bit too.. idealistic.

Ok, let's say you have a band. You/your band stands for a movement that is against drinking alcohol, and smoking cigarettes, etc. Why book shows in places that make their money serving alchohol? And then demand that they stop doing just that? What the fuck is that? Play a goddamned VFW hall, play a community center or somebody's basement... I hate preachy straight edgers almost as much as I hate preachy christians.

duh it's cuz he got the edge.

I was in a similar situation. I shook his hand and said "good show." He said "thanks."

oh, i didn't see this in time yesterday. i'll look it up today.

Well actually they made their best efforts to get a venue that didn't serve drinks/alcohol, and so they ended up with playing in a small art gallary called Club SAW. I would imagine they do this wherever they go, and only go to venues that even consider licencing when there's no alternative

Straight edge people are annoying.

Ian MacKaye's a fucking cock-end. If I was in his presence, I would actually start smoking again, simply to ruin his day.

I really love Fugazi, but it would be too hard to resist telling him to:
classic.

I hope to at least be able to try that out on a non-Fugazi soon.

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