Postcard for an invitation-only Beggars Banquet/Atlantic Records promotional event taking place September 22, 1994, featuring a performance by Grant McLennan of The Go-Betweens.
Fifteen years ago today, Grant McLennan died—too young, too soon—of a heart attack. I feel fortunate to have been able to not only see him perform many times, but to have interviewed the man himself for issue #2 of my fanzine.
That interview had taken place the same day as this event, that afternoon in his record label’s office tower. I was very nervous meeting one of my musical idols, but even so I had the gumption to hand him a copy of my band’s 7″ single along with issue #1 of my zine. He was interested in my opinion of his proper CMJ showcase gig the night before (which I also taped, of course), asking me, ”So, honestly, tell me what you thought of the show?” (Spoiler: I very much enjoyed it!)
So, post-CMJ showcase, at this low-key early evening event for “industry insiders” (that would be me... I guess?), Grant was feeling pretty relaxed. I probably would have been more relaxed had I taken advantage of the open bar (open bar!), but at that point in my life I was still straight-edge. I do recall noshing on the various hors d’ouvres on offer, though.
I probably sat through Mary Karlzen and Chris Sheehan’s sets first, as I am sure Grant’s performance was the finisher. I would have gotten there early to secure a good spot, though I needn’t have worried too much, as in this music biz crowd at this small Irish bar, I was the clear and obvious TOTAL FAN.
So as many times as I got to see Grant perform—solo, as a duo with Robert, with Steve Kilbey in Jack Frost, and finally in the reformed Go-Betweens—this was undoubtably the most intimate and one of the most special performances in that repertoire. Never mind the jaded music industry lifers knocking back whiskeys at the Irish bar. I was mere feet from Grant, still on a post-interview high, and swooning as he played solo acoustic versions of Go-Betweens classics “Bye Bye Pride” and “Right Here.”
