Me and my brothers got into punk rock in the early 2000s shortly after moving to Ireland, I was in third year (9th Grade) and i didnt know anyone, had a different accent and felt completely alien to everyone and everything.
I didnt like any of the music that was popular there and my skate board and blink-182 t shirts were no longer cool. I hated the sports, I hated the dance music and I missed the hell out of all my friends in michigan. not to say there was some amazing people in galway, ireland. there was I just didnt know it yet and feeling different and completely homesick wasnt helping the situation.
When i left michigan in the summer of 2000, Green Day, Blink-182 and The Offspring were the big thing, they were not very popular in Ireland so when I got over there it became kind of my thing, wich i kind of digged. and as time went on I met more and more cool people through listening to this kind of music and turned some irish school kids into fans, we quickly passed the pop punk stuff and got into bands like Rancid, Minor Threat, Nofx, The Casualties, Bad Religion and stuff like that. I was really hooked on it, I felt different and was known as the American Kid so this was my thing, I would come home from school and just plug in. I would read over lyrics and magazines and there was posters all over me and brother Mikes room. Most of my fav bands were american too soo it was kind of a keeping some America in my life i think. Little of no one even knew who Rancid were and thats how I liked it. Me and My brothers would find new bands through our small circle of friends or Kerrang magazine and burn cds, well try too, computers sucked back than and ordering cds online was super
expensive.
Anyway, after all that, my two true Loves were always RANCID and MINOR THREAT, i loved those two bands soo much and still do. another thing about Ireland is shows, here in America, theres shows all the time. not the case there. Bands like Nofx, Bad Religion and all them only come every few years so when they did come in was a huge event. Luckily, my parents were always very very supportive and would make the long drive to Dublin to see bands like The Vandals, Rancid, Nofx, Dropkick Murphys, Green Day and lots of others, they were amazing and still are. This was before internet really took off so we would see show ads in magazines and i remember seeing Rancids show ad in a Kerrang back in 2003, whoo that was one amazing day and an incredible show.
after school I moved to the city because I was going to college, the city is were I found lots of like minded people and really found myself, i seen there was a great punk scene the entire time right under my nose and it was just a matter of finding it. and that i did. made lots of friends and seen lots of great bands. times I will never forget, i moved to galway city in 2003. One of the highlights of those years that sprawled between 2003 and 2011 was the day i met one of my all time favorite musicians and total idol IAN MACKAYE.
So the year was 2005, my brother told me about the show, I think he read about it online, THE EVENS were playing THE TOWN HALL, right in Galway city, were i lived. The EVENS were a newer group that included Ian on guitar and vocals and Amy Farina on drums and vocals, at this point they had one record out wich I adored so I was very excited. I had been a Minor threat fan for a few years and i was even straight edge at that point. I remember telling everyone about the show and updating my then myspace account with photos and videos etc. Everyone I knew knew I was going and I was soo stoked. me, my brother and my girlfriend (now my wife) Jeannette rushed to The Town Hall right after college and waited outside with minor threat and evens stuff and lots of sharpie markers.
The show was at like 7:30 but we were there at like 5 or earlier, just in case. as some time went by my other two brothers and my parents showed up, so it was my whole family and maybe two other people there. were always first for everything when it comes to punk rock and i dont care if im a punk dork, it's something im pretty fucking proud of.
as were waiting outside talking about Minor threat and wondering if THE EVENS are walking around our city etc we all come to stand still as Ian and Amy walk up the steps on the venue and say hi to us. I remember just standing completely still and saying "hi" ha ha. it was pretty cool. A few minutes went by and me, my brothers and some friends were talking "Why didnt you stop him", "Why didnt you ask for a photo", "Why didnt you" etc. haaa. We were so nervous. But not even ten minutes later Ian came back out and talked with us, posed for photos, singed everything and was one of the cooliest and nicest people I've ever come across.
At this point it was nearly 7 and they had to sound check so Ian told us he had to go and he'd see us inside, as we got inside we noticed how small and personal the venue was, a tiny little room with everyone sitting. it was amazing. there was no support but with a band like the evens a support band isnt needed. Ian and Amy talked in between songs and it was amazing, They played all over Ireland that year and picked small venues and made tickets and cheap as possible. They rule hard.
I didnt know but it was also Amys birthday and someone in the crowd brought down a cake towards the end of the night. The whole place was full of about every punk in galway and it was a great moment i know everyone there will never forget. After the show, Ian and Amy posed for more photos and were super cool and super nice. signing everything and listening and interacting with the fans.
A few days after the show i send Dischord Records (Ians Record Label) an email thanking him for an amazing show, a day after that he replyed and eight years later (today, 2013) we still email every few months and keep in touch. When my band CARRY NO BANNERS released a cd in 2007, I sent it too him and He went as far to hand write me a letter back. such an inspiration and amazing person.
I recently missed my chance to met Ian again, last year in San Francisco but I know it wont be long again till our paths met and I cant wait. IAN MACKAYE RULES.
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BRIAN MCCANN JR.
