Joanna Bolme of the Stephen Malkmus Band 2 – TWO LOUIES, March 2001 John Fahey 1939-2001 ohn Fahey was a giant influence on the cultur- Chants, Breakdowns, and Military Waltzes, I al development of America. He was the first asked, “Who are these two guitar players?” I pic- Jperformer to expand American folk-blues tured a couple of 50-year-old masters whose melodies into a concert style similar to Segovia— vision of music and spatial technique reminded that is, one man, one guitar, and one grand vision me of pianist Glenn Gould. Here was a performer that encompassed the spiritual essence of Delta who carried his genre to a higher level, whose Blues, cosmic folk, and classical music. probes were deeper, whose vision was wider, “Here was a performer who carried his genre to a higher level, whose probes were deeper, whose vision was wider, whose understanding of the universe was more complete and profound than any before him.” Without John Fahey, there may not have whose understanding of the universe was more been a Windham Hill label of acoustic guitar mas- complete and profound than any before him. John ters. There would have been no Takoma label, gave us the same kind of breakthroughs that we which featured John’s first seven albums and got from Debussy and Stravinsky. It may not have more. There may not have been a Music been possible without him. Millennium... certainly not as we know it. It was It’s incredible that so much talent was John Fahey’s music that inspired the Millennium brought out in a guitarist in his twenties from a founders to open their little Portland record shop little town in Maryland. John was very human. He back in 1969. In October of that year, Music had an astonishing humility for someone so gift- Millennium produced the first of many John ed. All of us in the music community will miss Fahey concerts. him... a lot! John Fahey ’97 photo: Tim Knight When I first heard John’s album Death —Dan Lissy LETTERS FINGERED Dion and Paul Barrall, former drummer for So there are plenty of venues and times for That was a pretty heavy story the Jam Age of Rain, Veneer takes on the Portland you to come check out the new and improved Magazine guy told last month in your Letters music scene again. Just fresh from a resound- sound. column. One of his writers getting a broken jaw ing show at the Mt. Tabor Theatre, Veneer For further info about Veneer, visit our for a badrap? (Jam Writer Assaulted). The fin- plays next at Satyricon on Sunday, March 4th. website: www.veneerband.com. To email the gering of Diver Dan was a pretty ballsy Again we will be headlining the show with “ageless one:” [email protected]. Hope to response to demonstrated thugery. I applaud support acts GBHC and the Kilowaves. Who see you there! Chris Gattman for writing it and Two Louies said you can’t go home again? Then on —Arthur Beardsley for printing it. —Dave Stanford “In the beginning, when Audrey VanBuskirk got the whole thing going, there was hope. The first few AGELESS Dear S.P. Clarke, years we all went to Austin and it was actually Your probably remember, (and I’m quot- magical and filled with great fun. But soon after, it ing you here), “the ageless Arthur Beardsley” eh? Well, I’m still alive and kickin’! was clear that planning and inclusion were not on I just got done reading the first three the agenda.” installments of your History of Portland Music. Well done! I’m looking forward to the rest of Wednesday march 7th we return to the Mt. the story. Tabor with Evolver and Switch. The following NORTH WURST Anyway, I’m still at it. The band changed week we will revisit the Ash Street Saloon on Dear Editor, its name from Civilization (a cumbersome, Tuesday march 13th, again with Evolver and It comes as no surprise that NXNW moderately pretentious moniker at best) to Switch. Sorta like a mini Lollapolooza tour Veneer. With ex-45’s/Crow guitarist Michael kinda. continued on next page 3 – TWO LOUIES, March 2001 LETTERS continued from previous page misgivings about the Texans and was com- just a weekly yarn on how to yell at people dur- failed. I’m relieved and have no hard feelings pletely frustrated with the WW for not being ing meetings. Yawn, yawn, and yawn! toward Texas or the WW, but I do like the idea able to get a handle on the festival, or making —Robin Hoffmeister of getting in a few choice words about the good choices that helped the artistic commu- whole ill-fated saga. nity. HEADS UP I believe the main thing wrong with the Texas never made an effort to include Dear Editor, festival was that Texas never cared to under- many Portland people in the planning stages CAUTION: USE PROTECTION IF YOU stand what Portland was about. From the start, and it was obvious that their respect for us was NEED TO WITHDRAW YOUR MEMBER! they had this notion that they were the big boys minimal. In the end, NXNW was hated and This is a letter to inform all new bands and we were something less or smaller than. dismissed by the majority of the music com- out there to be carefull when a member either leaves your band or gets the boot. It is in no “I think the WW and SXSW have a lot in common. way to be intended for trashing a former bandmate and should be a good heads up for They both have superior attitudes, coupled with most of you. non-creative people who don’t have a clue about the A member of the band Barbarella recently left to play in a band called Honey Ryder and music scene in Portland, or take a passionate interest has been nothing but trouble to his old band- mates. First off he left with no notice which in anything more than their own drama.” raised some questions needing to be answered. That’s how all Texans view the rest of the world. munity. The gap between the music scene, the Barbarella reacted by calling everyone affili- Texan’s are raised to believe that they’re better, Willamette Week, and Texas just got wider and ated with helping out the band in the past. The brighter, and the best. They are also taught to wider. I’m not sure about last year, but I knew reason for this was to protect themselves in case celebrate all that’s big. that there were a few big blowouts between the the former bandmate wanted to make up stories I noticed the Willamette Week was kind WW and Texas. The buzz about NXNW had of the band not being together anymore. It was a enough to except some of the blame, but they decreased to a mere whimper. I felt bad for the smart move, a few days after he had left did not except enough. I’m not sure the WW few troupers who invested a lot of energy to Barbarella recieved a threatening call from him will ever cop to the fact that they never got any make it work, but mostly I was gleeful that the for informing Jagermeister of the change, want- part of their commitment out of the gate in a long, tall, Texans and WW were losing money. ing to move the account over to Honey Ryder. timely matter. WW never invested any kind of I think the WW and SXSW have a lot in His next move was deleting Barbarella’s website clear commitment to the festival, or hired any- common. They both have superior attitudes, and blocking off any incoming emails. Barbarella one with brains who was interested in helping. will be getting everything back now that they Everything was done at the last minute and done cheaply. “When someone walks away from the band, they The fact that the music industry has been leave everything behind. Would your job let you in decline and that Texas never understood that Portland’s music scene is completely keep a key to the front door if you were fired or left entwined with the literary and performing without any notice?” arts, was something they refused to acknowl- edge. Portland is an incredibly creative com- coupled with non-creative people who don’t know what really happened with the band. munity. The scene is hard to categorize, have a clue about the music scene in Portland, Overall, my point is to watch out for your- pigeonhole and predict, and although or take a passionate interest in anything more self and make sure to keep only your name on Portland does not have a 6th Street like Austin, than their own drama. Texas and the all of your accounts (sponsors, internet deals, etc.), don’t let someone who joined the band Texas, it does have spirit and massive talent. Willamette Week are guilty of thinking the bot- after it is already established have just as much The Texans never ever took a liking to our fair tom line is hard, cold, cash. responsibility like Barbarella did. When some- city. They just thought we were all weird. I hear that WW is gonna make it up to the one walks away from the band, they leave In the beginning, when Audrey city by heading up a small task force to put on everything behind. Would your job let you VanBuskirk got the whole thing going, there a festival called PDX.