I didn't know Lance Hahn personally but it doesn't mean we didn't have a relationship. Prophylaxis and Quetzalcoatl are probably two of the records I cherish the most. I own more J Church records than any other band in my collection. I've made a point to try to buy everything I see in a record store that I don't already own and I by no stretch have anything resembling a complete collection. Dude was prolific, no doubt. An insiring guy who could churn out amazing punk tunes one after another. He lived by his punk ethics and whether he meant to or not, he showed how to live by example. I learned a thing or two from Lance Hahn.

Tomorrow night I'm meeting some friends to have a toast in his honor. To celebrate his life and songs.

I'm trying to recall every time I've seen J Church play... Let's see what I can remember.

1) Red Herring Cafe - Champaign/Urbana - 1994ish. I had been waiting a few years to see J Church. I remember singing along (maybe my first time singing along at a show) to Kathy. I probably ate a fast food hamburger that day. Somewhere I have pictures from that evening. I can't recall who else played the show. Afterwards Lance hung out and was interviewed by me and two other zine dudes at the same time. I think we talked a lot about the normal pop-punk topics of the time. Major labels, etc.
2) Fireside Bowl - Chicago - 1995ish. I think they played with Tetsuo and the Blue Meanies. In the hundreds of times I went to the Fireside after that I never ever saw the venue as packed as it was that night.
3) Congress Theater - Chicago - 2001ish. They toured with Propagandhi and Avail. Shitty venue. Most awesomest lineup ever. Jawbreaker drummer did the tour. I remember being way stoked to hear a few tracks from The Drama of Alienation.
4) Fireside Bowl - Chicago - 2003ish. The lamest turnout ever. Like 25 people there. I remember there being a crusty punk mom with her super tiny baby there. Not too stoked on that. I remember there being lots of friends there. I probably knew 75% of the people there. I bought a live CD from Lance that evening for $5.

Other Lance Hahn related notes:
* "Nostalgic For Nothing" is one of my favorite phrases. The girl on the cover of the album is way cute.
* In college I had a bookshelf made of milkcrates, made of milkcrates.
* I still don't own the "Kittums In A Coma" 7" even though it's most likely the best 7" ever.
* "Tide of Fate" almost made me want to go camping at one point in my life. Fucking hippie.

Thank you Lance Hahn.