Greg Ginn

I would if I was in town.

 

It was a trip.

When I wake up I'll write more.

 

Wake the fuck up.

Did you take the Vespa to Tuckaseegee?

 

I drove the vulva.

Other than being out of the loop and not really up for events that start at midnight, it was fun. The Milestone is a treasure. Hadn't forgot, but it was reinforced.

Tiny crowd. As in maybe 2 dozen at the start. The first incarnation - the Texas Corrugators, played nothing from the albums, rather just started playing a total of 3 entirely improvisational jams for 30 minutes. I learned this b/c at the break we ( band and 'crowd' ) all talked about it. They were total improvisation, they ended when Greg got thirsty and the rest of the band would slowly realize it was time to start.

Ginn is not a paricularly accessible guitar player. It can be dischordant and abrasive, and I think several of the fans ( who were not of drinking age and wearing reagan era punk t shirts ) were not into it. Ginn was still tearing it the ever loving fuck up, and I was stoked to be 3 feet from a legendary guitarist getting it done. He was destroying these crazy scales known only to Ginn, and sweat was rolling off his fingers.

By the time the second set began close to 1 - we were down to about a dozen or a few more. Jambang is not at all improvisational - it's an entirely choreographed 80 minute sraight set. I repeat - an 80 minute straight instrumental dischordant set. At the end - it was really strange because it was so loud, for so long, and then silent. And then the 12 or so left including the band talked about it.

Yesterday I chatted with his booking agent for awhile about it. I was stoked that I was there, and felt sorta bad that here was this 50+ year old guitar legend playing to fucking nobody at 2 AM on a thursday. She was also discouraged, she's a young girl and Ginn gave her a shot, and she also wants better for him.

Basically, she and he and everyone knows how much money he could make if he reformed Black Flag, but he just won't be 'monkey' ( his word ). So he's basically starting over - just like he did in 1976. Getting in a van and playing 200 shows a year to nobody. He hasn't toured in well over a decade - maybe 20 years.

Plus - alot of people - especially the average fans - don't even know who he is. He hired Rollins to be the frontman, and Rollins was. Meanwhile, since Ginn busted up Black Flag - who never made ANY money - the punk thing broke and all these bands that he signed ( Sonic Youth Meat Puppets Soundgarden ) cashed in. HIs brother ( who did the album covers ) is now a HUGELY successful artist. During that period of cashing in he dropped off the scene entirely. And now he's back to rolling across the country in a van playing to empty clubs......

Anyway. I'd do it again. Still recovering from staying up that late, though.

 

There is rarely more than 2 dozen people at Milestone for anybody. I've probably been there 30 times and only the Melvins, High on Fire, and HR from Bad Brains filled it.

 

I like the mojack album 'The Metal Years'.

It's free to download. Or you can listen.

Select 'The Metal Years' on this link:

http://www.sstsuperstore.com/mojack/mp3/mojackmusic.htm