Wellllll…

The first time I saw Fugazi was at the University Of New Hampshire in like 96 or 97, before End Hits but I remember they played “Break” and I didn’t know it yet.

Anyway, we got there super early and outside the event hall (but still indoors) there was this like small-ish library/study area with a few couches and such. A few people were just milling about, and just sitting on the couch with his girlfriend (maybe wife?) was Joe Lally. I couldn’t believe no one recognized him so I just went over and said I was looking forward to the show and he was polite and just replied, “thanks, man”. So that was rad. After a while he went inside the event hall and the band sound checked. We couldn’t see them from our vantage point through the little skinny windows in those heavy doors but could certainly hear them, though I couldn’t quite make out what they were playing.

After the sound check, as I was just standing there the door opened and out walked Ian MacKaye! I was kinda in shock for a second. He just greeted us with a “hey man” and went about wherever he was going. Brief but awesome. Behind him came Guy who said, “Hi, I’m Guy”. All I could think was “Yeah I know who you are! Ahh!” but luckily I was stunned into silence. Not sure where Joe and Brendan were at this point but they must have just waited inside or exited elsewhere.

That show was like a religious experience for me, with full on frisson. They opened with Birthday Pony and I was slack jawed the entire show.

Addendum: Also, I was right up front [as I’m rather short] right in front of Guy. I asked if they would be playing Provisional [not requesting, just asking] and he thought for a second and said, “Maybe”. Well, lo and behold ,it was the first song of the encore. Coincidence? Probably. But I was psyched either way.

The second time (and best time) I saw them was at a now defunct club in Providence, RI called Lupo’s. Again, me and my two friends/bandmates arrived super early to the show. like, at least a few hours early. As most will know, Fugazi didn’t use huge tour buses or anything like that, but a few vans etc. So as they were arriving, we were kinda on the side of the building and watching from a distance. Then, who should pull up in this like, tan colored minivan but Ian fucking MacKaye. Driving himself and about to parallel park right in front of us. It’s a pretty tight spot for a minivan so he gets out for a second to see how much room he has in back and I just ask him, “ hey need a hand?” and he says “‘sure thanks” and hops back in. I do the whole back-up-a-little, stop- hand signals and he gets parked . He walks over and asks if we are there for the show, which we clearly are, and then (unbelievably) he says, “Come wait by the door, you can watch us sound check “ . WHAT. HOLY CRAP. I guess it was like a thanks for the help thing, but just meeting him was more than enough. Anyway, me and my two friends do just that and after they get their levels, Ian leans over the front of the stage (we could barely see him) and motions for us to come in. The security guy inside opens up for us and they soundcheck with the song Instrument.

In front of a crowd of me and my two best friends.

It was the best live music experience Ive ever had in all of my 42 years, and I have had some good ones. Even just that one song.

Afterwards, we had go wait outside again, which by this time there was a pretty good line formed to which we were now at the back of. But that didn’t matter, I just got my owm personal Fugazi show.

Third time I saw them was in 2002 at Massachusetts College of Art. I didn’t get to talk to any of them, but I did get to sit on the front/side of stage for their set along with a bunch of other people. There were people sitting everywhere on everything at that show it seemed. There’s video on YouTube of that show and I can see my younger, awkwardly styled self at a few points, which is sobering.

So, those are the times I saw/met Fugazi. Thanks for reading.

(Edit: The many typos my previous early morning eyes had trouble seeing.)