Last Saturday night I went to Union Docs in Billyburg for an intimate evening with Don Zientara, Craig Wedren, and Joe Lally. It all went down in a relaxed, warm atmosphere on the cozy first floor of what appears to be some kind of residential film collective. Don began the evening with a set of very soulful acoustic “ditties”. He disclaimed between songs that he was really more of a technical guy than a musician but he was really honored to be doing the little two-borough tour with Joe and Craig. Beautiful stuff.
Craig Wedren was up next and he was supported by a great drummer whose name escapes me. His voice is really mesmerizing; the compositions were sublime. Or was it the other way around? At one point, between songs, he asked if anyone was familiar with His Dark Materials. Having just finished the trilogy this month, I got to wax pedantic and call out, “Phil Pullman!” (I was even wearing a tweed sports coat! Everyone was very impressed.) Some of his songs are inspired by events in the story. So he’s got that going for him. He’s also in this interesting-sounding group called The Citizens Band. I’ll have to dip my beak into some of that action next time they play in town.
Then Joe Lally took the little stage with a percussionist who sat on the floor playing a few exotic-looking drums and bells. It was a thrill just to see the guy in person, away from the mixed, tense crowd that can bunch up like Brillo panties at a Fugazi show.
I have to say, Joe really has a remarkable presence. I noticed him moving about the room before the show and was struck by his lucid countenance. The man’s eyes literally sparkle and he carries himself with some unique fusion of solid, grounded grace. One healthy, talented individual. (I know; "He reads poetry out loud, man!")
His songs were captivating. The set began with Joe singing a series of haunting a cappella lyrics I won't quote because I can't recall them verbatim. Toward the end of the set, there was dulcet whistling. I’m not a music critic, so I can only say that I was transported.
It was also pure delight to be present while one of the musicians from Fugazi played to a silent, respectful room where everyone was actually listening – not the usual percentage of rowdy knuckleheads who think ‘punk’ means ‘license to be an expectorating asshole’.
Between songs the room would fall utterly silent. Joe would crack wise about something or other with his dry humor. He harked back to the days when “Craig’s band” would open for “my band”, and some people in the crowd would yell the most awful things during Craig’s set. Joe added that while he has “not been in a fight since fourth grade”, he really wanted to “kick heads in” when that happened.
Well, it was one sweet night and I wish you could have been there. After the show I hung about and rapped a little with Craig and Joe. I couldn’t help but gush a little to Joe about how much his music has meant to me over the years. But he’s all heart; he thanked me sincerely and gave me a few sharp kicks in the head just for laffs.
It’s so great to meet one of your musical or literary heroes and find them to be as gracious and kind-hearted as you had hoped. Fugazi is one of a handful of musical groups whose every note and lyric, more or less, is tattooed onto my heart. I listen to their albums even more frequently at age 30 than when I was an adolescent. (Which is to say A LOT.) I'd say it's pretty extraordinary that they still exhilarate the daylights out of me, wouldn't you?
"This is Bob Dylan to me."
Joe has an album coming out in September featuring a variety of different musicians on different tracks, including the other three from Fugazi and Amy Farina. He also mentioned that he may be doing a tour with The Melvins soon.
Thanks so much to Rebecca Migdal for the photos.
Finally: Massive titanium respect to these demonstrators braving the frozen elements, imprisonment and torture in Belarus. I'm reminded of something Bertolt said to me as we were waiting to go before the House Un-American Activities Committee: "Wouldn't it be simpler if the government dissolved the people and elected another?"
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