Alive not dead
"I used to sing about death before but I don't sing that song no more / There are some things in this life like seeing West Side Story / There are some things in this life like eating at Pancho Villa's." - Cringer
The last time I saw my friend Lance Hahn was in June when his band J Church was on tour. Maybe you read the blog entries. The group totally rocked and it was great to see a couple shows and grab some food with them at Happy Family before they drove on to Arizona. Unfortunately, the end of the tour was the beginning of his troubles.
If you've been keeping up with the band's myspace entries, you already know Lance has been going through a lot of shit. His heart has been threatening to cease beating for years, and now one of his kidney needs replacing, too. So he's been in and out of the hospital, getting shaved, probed, sewed, and who knows what else. It's also a financial black hole, too. Yes, being alive is what's important, but money problems are just as real as health ones in this world.
This really sucks. Lance has always been one of my heroes. The music he has written and performed with Cringer and J Church are the perfect mix of working-class revolution, art-school referencing, and awesome riffs--everything I love about the Clash times 1,000, plus DIY ethics. And technically, the songs are bulletproof, with powerful guitars, solid basslines, and melodies that you fall asleep thinking of and wake up with. Very smart, very catchy, and rocking like hell. But it's not tough guy music--it's funny.
Lance also happens to be one of my friends. He's as cordial and humble as he is talented, and as well-versed in Asian cinema and pandas as he is obscure peace punk bands and Situationist writers. I've been lucky enough to host him at my place when he's on vacation (and not on a touring schedule) and debate various Chingmy Yau movies, seek and destroy vegetarian Chinese food joints, or play Super Bomber Man until our eyes bleed.
A lot of bands from the Gilman scene (where the band is most associated with) got pretty big. J Church never did, but kept playing, touring, and releasing shockingly great records that could be appreciated by everyone from big stinky guys with patches on their hoodies or pigtailed girls with stickers on their lunchboxes. Naturally, they'd play huge festival in England and came back here to play backyard shows with 50 people.
I don't expect the group to tour any time soon, but I've told Wendy that if they ever play a gig in Austin, we are flying there. Then she said that we should fly there anyway just to visit. Good point. I'll trying shooting another email over there, but I don't really expect him to answer.
Pesonally, I think he should get one of those Genius Grants or be declared a national treasure or something. But that's unlikely, so friends and fans are taking action. Apparently, there's a tribute album coming up and multiple benefit shows in the works. Most of us aren't in bands and won't live near the shows, but do check out the songs on the group's site. (I suggest "Yellow, Blue, and Green.") If you like what you hear, buy a CD or two. Maybe it'll help shave .50 off his hospital bills.
The last time I saw my friend Lance Hahn was in June when his band J Church was on tour. Maybe you read the blog entries. The group totally rocked and it was great to see a couple shows and grab some food with them at Happy Family before they drove on to Arizona. Unfortunately, the end of the tour was the beginning of his troubles.
If you've been keeping up with the band's myspace entries, you already know Lance has been going through a lot of shit. His heart has been threatening to cease beating for years, and now one of his kidney needs replacing, too. So he's been in and out of the hospital, getting shaved, probed, sewed, and who knows what else. It's also a financial black hole, too. Yes, being alive is what's important, but money problems are just as real as health ones in this world.
This really sucks. Lance has always been one of my heroes. The music he has written and performed with Cringer and J Church are the perfect mix of working-class revolution, art-school referencing, and awesome riffs--everything I love about the Clash times 1,000, plus DIY ethics. And technically, the songs are bulletproof, with powerful guitars, solid basslines, and melodies that you fall asleep thinking of and wake up with. Very smart, very catchy, and rocking like hell. But it's not tough guy music--it's funny.
Lance also happens to be one of my friends. He's as cordial and humble as he is talented, and as well-versed in Asian cinema and pandas as he is obscure peace punk bands and Situationist writers. I've been lucky enough to host him at my place when he's on vacation (and not on a touring schedule) and debate various Chingmy Yau movies, seek and destroy vegetarian Chinese food joints, or play Super Bomber Man until our eyes bleed.
A lot of bands from the Gilman scene (where the band is most associated with) got pretty big. J Church never did, but kept playing, touring, and releasing shockingly great records that could be appreciated by everyone from big stinky guys with patches on their hoodies or pigtailed girls with stickers on their lunchboxes. Naturally, they'd play huge festival in England and came back here to play backyard shows with 50 people.
I don't expect the group to tour any time soon, but I've told Wendy that if they ever play a gig in Austin, we are flying there. Then she said that we should fly there anyway just to visit. Good point. I'll trying shooting another email over there, but I don't really expect him to answer.
Pesonally, I think he should get one of those Genius Grants or be declared a national treasure or something. But that's unlikely, so friends and fans are taking action. Apparently, there's a tribute album coming up and multiple benefit shows in the works. Most of us aren't in bands and won't live near the shows, but do check out the songs on the group's site. (I suggest "Yellow, Blue, and Green.") If you like what you hear, buy a CD or two. Maybe it'll help shave .50 off his hospital bills.
posted by gr at
4:44 PM
came across your blog and this post. brian and i are lance hahn fans for many years. we send him love and positive energy from afar. we are just glad he is; he'll be in our thoughts these days. thanks for posting on him, martin.
-shammy
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