by Flack » Tue Nov 20, 2018 6:05 pm
So, here's my funny story about that show.
In 1995 I was not a Fugazi fan, but I was a Minor Threat fan, which is why I went. The show was at the Diamond Ballroom, which I might as well tell you about now. The Diamond Ballroom is an old country and western dance hall. It has wooden floors and hanging on the walls are all these huge oil paintings of country singers from the 70s, like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. There's a bar off to one side, but if you buy a drink you have to stay in the bar area because they freak out if anyone spills a drink on their pristine wooden floors. (It would ruin the line dancing, apparently.) But the Diamond Ballroom constantly books shows. In the next week alone, they have Cannibal Corpse (11/21), Bone Thugs N' Harmony (11/23), and Good Charlotte (11/27). The Diamond is where I'm going to see Corrosion of Conformity (in January) and Clutch (in March).
Anyway. Right when you walk in, there is (or at least was) a payphone booth. When my friend and I got to the show, we're standing in line, waiting to be frisked, and just past the door you can see the payphone booth. Inside it, this homeless looking guy is standing, obviously searching for a quarter. He's checking his backpack, and his pockets, and everywhere, and can't find a quarter anywhere. A minute or two later after we entered the Diamond, I pulled a quarter out of my pocket, knocked on the glass booth, and handed the guy a quarter. He looked like he needed it, and I'm a nice guy like that. He said thanks.
An hour later, I see the guy again. He's on stage, singing for Fugazi. It's Ian MacKaye.
So, the joke between my friends and I became that Ian MacKaye still owes me a quarter.
So, here's my funny story about that show.
In 1995 I was not a Fugazi fan, but I was a Minor Threat fan, which is why I went. The show was at the Diamond Ballroom, which I might as well tell you about now. The Diamond Ballroom is an old country and western dance hall. It has wooden floors and hanging on the walls are all these huge oil paintings of country singers from the 70s, like Johnny Cash and Dolly Parton. There's a bar off to one side, but if you buy a drink you have to stay in the bar area because they freak out if anyone spills a drink on their pristine wooden floors. (It would ruin the line dancing, apparently.) But the Diamond Ballroom constantly books shows. In the next week alone, they have Cannibal Corpse (11/21), Bone Thugs N' Harmony (11/23), and Good Charlotte (11/27). The Diamond is where I'm going to see Corrosion of Conformity (in January) and Clutch (in March).
Anyway. Right when you walk in, there is (or at least was) a payphone booth. When my friend and I got to the show, we're standing in line, waiting to be frisked, and just past the door you can see the payphone booth. Inside it, this homeless looking guy is standing, obviously searching for a quarter. He's checking his backpack, and his pockets, and everywhere, and can't find a quarter anywhere. A minute or two later after we entered the Diamond, I pulled a quarter out of my pocket, knocked on the glass booth, and handed the guy a quarter. He looked like he needed it, and I'm a nice guy like that. He said thanks.
An hour later, I see the guy again. He's on stage, singing for Fugazi. It's Ian MacKaye.
So, the joke between my friends and I became that Ian MacKaye still owes me a quarter.