For the first blog entry we have special guest blogging by Amber because Gaydau –the professional writer- can't think of anything profound enough to say…..
Formed by some of my favorite people, Da Willys right off the bat became my favorite local band of all time. It pretty quickly became mandatory in my life to go to every show, things like high school and work moved into the optional column. I don't regret sacrificing my HS diploma to Da Willys one bit.
Fronting goddess Lynne howled bluesy, angst driven lyrics like she was never going to need to use that voice again. She left everything on the stage, every song, while dousing us with beer, cracking jokes, occasionally giving soft punches to her band members when they made mistakes. She kneeled and pounded on the floor, flailed with us in the audience, she was always in an unpredictable state, sometimes bordering on anger, and you felt that something fucked up could happen. Need I bring up the time she peed on stage in one of the back rooms of the Limelight?
Leon always filled the room with a wiry, grinding Thunders-esque guitar sound. He transmitted so much bouncy, raw, rock'n'roll energy. I'm not a musician so I'm not good with these descriptors. Words fail me when I think about him for a lot of reasons. Leon absolutely rocked and he's not replaceable, as a human being or a guitar player. We miss you Mang.
Peter's drums always sounded like they were backing some kind of strip tease act. Not quite the usual punk sound, it's part of what made Da Willys music so danceable and romantic. Also known by the name he was tortured with as a youngster "Gaydau", was often the subject of Lynne's annoyance when he made mistakes. He frequently laughed when shit happened in front of him, like he was in the audience too.
As for Willy, what can you say about a sex god like that? Throbbing his bass firmly but almost shyly. He never wanted any attention and really was most unassuming member of the band. Seriously is anyone more authentic than Willy Kerr? If you think you might be cool and maybe you know some stuff about music, then just humble yourself by asking Willy what he was doing in 1976 and thereafter.
Of course Jenna was wonderful too, but when Willy quit the band something was missing. People always asked "How can you have Da Willys without Willy?" and they did have a point. Still Da Willys continued on, and thank god because if you cut off junkies like me cold turkey something very bad can happen. They played many Senders Things, were in the Hard'n' Heavy video on MTV all during the Jenna days.
It's Nov 5th 2006, and I'm at Otto's. A Da Willys reunion of sorts is underway. Despite the unfortunate absence of Leon, Lynne and Willy are there, and Steve Pang is subbing on drums for Peter who is living on the west coast. Lynne is playing guitar and singing now instead of just being a front woman, Al from Hammerbrain pops in for a few songs on guitar. I'm back in my usual spot by the front of the stage, familiar faces everywhere, all dancing and singing along. In certain moments my sense of time blurs and I connect with a feeling that I haven't experienced in almost two decades. I remember the person I was once and who we all used to be and a chill runs up my spine. I love you guys and I've missed seeing you all these years. Please come back to stay.
(to see more of my comments on Da Willys flyers and photos visit my page of Da Willys memorabilia on Flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenfuzz/sets/72157594364048351/ )
Comments by Lynne Von: Amber, reading this made me verklempt, thanks so much. But I have to add something...when I "peed onstage in one of the back rooms at the Limelight" I was not actually peeing ON the stage but INTO a grate in the floor that went down who knows where...and may I add that I did not do this simply to relieve myself, but as a statement of protest against the club for taking microphones away from the previous band WHILE THEY WERE PLAYING in order to give them to the headliners in the main room. For those who are interested in trivia, the band who got the mics taken from them was Sloth, and the 'headlining' act was Phoebe Legere. So never let it be said that Da Willys were never political! We were!
Also just want to say that our reunion show was a blast, thanks to everyone who came out, and thanks to Al who ROCKED.