Playing a heated gig at Houston's International Ballroom, with opening bands Engine Down and Explosions In The Sky, Fugazi sustained their customary level of energy, indefatigable guitar-crunches and much-appreciated seriousness.
After the show, drummer Brendan Canty answered some of our questions while we tried to hunt down singer/guitarist Guy Picciotto. Earlier in the evening, Guy had voiced his disapproval of Attorney General John Ashcroft. "Whenever I hear of him on TV, I do my best to overlook it. When reading his name, I skip over it," he told the crowds, "or replace it," with a word that is delicate to print. The route of that disavowal had to be explored. But first, we had to get down to the bottom of how Fugazi do what they do.
"What do you guys eat or drink that allows you this level energy and for such a long time on stage," I asked Brendan.
"I drink a lot of coffee," he answered almost perplexed. "We visited the salad bar at Whole Foods before the show. The energy comes from playing a lot of shows. We could play three hours." In fact, they played for more than two hours. "We practice for three and a half hours, five days a week, for three weeks, before we tour. When we play live, we play for ourselves" he continued. "Tonight was my favorite show of the tour. The people who organized it, a collective, not only do they do it, but they do a great job. We were still able to charge $6.00 without any added overheads. Security and services were excellent."
When do you sleep with your heavy touring and recording schedule?
"We don't like to drive more than four and a half to five hours at a time. We sleep at night. We don't over-exert ourselves."
Who writes all the music?
"We all write the songs together. Whoever sings writes the lyrics."
I finally managed to ask Guy a questions while stage equipment was being torn down. Fugazi travels light. They don't have a road crew nor a group of attachés. One cannot help but think that they are as professional as their image portrays them; and, they do it for the fun of it more than anything else.
"How political is Fugazi?" I asked Guy.
"Very political. We are in an environment that has stifled their [people's] sense of protest. It is important for us as a band to say these things when we get the chance to."
Before I managed to spell my next question, he was gone. I had posed a similar question to Brendan. "Do you get a sense these days that bands are saying it more like 'the government is killing children' unlike their predecessors who simply yelled 'fuck the government.'"
"Well, we say it both ways. I don't know about others," he chuckled. "There is a lot out there to be unhappy about."
Again, Brendan disappeared as Fugazi and both opening bands packed their gear in vans and prepared to head out. On an average day, any one individual is bound to be met with something to be unhappy about. However, at the end of the day, if you catch a good live show, with enough energy that you go back home and cannot go to sleep for a long while because of your adrenaline overdose, you might find an agreeable solace and a comforting sound.
