Ian MacKaye lays out his own legacy

ILLUSTRATION by LUKE MCGARRY

Meaning has always been a motivator for Ian MacKaye, a purpose-driven push that still steers his career as D.C.’s premier punk figure. But it’s more fundamental than just blanket statements of DIY dedication—even fellow Fugazian Guy Picciotto (as documented by Michael Azerrad’s Our Band Could Be Your Life) said early on that he wanted his projects to be “meaningful to me and a lot of other people.” And Azerrad and the like have more than made sure of that, anointing MacKaye and others to saintly stations in music mythology. But when MacKaye hits the deck at San Pedro’s Sunken City Skates for a Q&A (and an introductory spiel served up by Mike Watt), there won’t be any signs of sainthood. Instead, expect the same old MacKaye, shot back down to earth in a skullcap and a sweatshirt for a chance to tell his own story. MacKaye, after all, hasn’t broken the spine on any of those histories—hollow hunks of academia too eager to impose their own metaphors and meanings. MacKaye said it best on the set of psychic Soviet Ian Svenonius’ Soft Focus: “To read someone else’s idea about what I’ve done may interfere with what I’m doing. I don’t feel like I’m finished.”

IAN MACKAYE WITH A SPECIAL INTRODUCTION BY MIKE WATT SUNKEN CITY SKATES | 619 MESA ST | SAN PEDRO 90731 | 310.833.6678 | MYSPACE.COM/RISEANDFALL | THURS 7:30PM | $5 ALL AGES

Tags: dischord, ian mackaye, mike watt, Music, San Pedro