Was in Chicago this weekend and heard the horrible news...
I first met Michael at a Silkworm show that my old college radio station put on in April. Since stage hands were low, I volunteered to help and met Michael and the guys. Even though the venue was admittedly kind of shitty, Michael was very stoked to be playing. We talked more than a few times throughout they day, and he was probably one of the nicest performers I have ever met (along with the others).
Anyway, a week or so later I get a message from Michael on Friendster. The guy recognized me from the show and just wanted to say hi. We ended up talking a few times, what a great guy.
I also know the photographer who took pictures for the university. Tomorrow I am picking up a CD that has all of the images on it. I will post them online and put the link here.
Once again, this is horrible news. My thoughts go out to the three men involved and their families.
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
142rachael wrote:I buried my grandfather this Thursday.
Let me tell you something about Michael Fucking Dahlquist. When I came to Chicago a few months ago for that string of Shellac shows, I posted here asking for advice on accomodations. A few people kicked around hotel names, and then I got a PM from a certain forum member named Spoot. Well this gentleman offered me his apartment for the weekend - having NEVER met me - since it would be a more comfortable stay than a hotel, and Silkworm would be touring at that same time.
In the mail he sent me his apartment key and a map of everyplace I needed to go, with reccomendations of his favorite things that he thought I should do and see.
I slept in his bed, drank his Newcastle and listened to his records. I cleaned his kitchen, straightend his cds and took his advice. On Sunday he returned late in the evening, we planned to meet after the Shellac show at the bar he felt was the best little place in Chicago, The Hungry Brain. Here's what Michael said about the Hungry Brain:
"Skip all other bars and go to the Hungry Brain at Belmont and Western (on the South side of Belmont about 1/2 block East of Western - tiny little sign on the side, hard to spot unless you're looking for it). When I first moved to Chicago I went looking for my favorite bar. I'd driven past this one a few times, and stopped in for a drink on a Tuesday night or something. As soon as I walked in I knew it was my favorite, and it still is. I want to give you other suggestions, but I'm having a hard time thinking of any reasonable competition."
I wish I could go there now.
Here, we met for the first time. We drank and laughed, with his brother and brother-in-law. They kicked us out at closing time, so we all went back to his apartment and drank and laughed some more. I had to fly home the next day, and was very sad to go. But I left behind a pair of shoes by accident. It took him forever to send them back, but we had so much nice conversation in the meantime, that it didn't bother me much. He was so excited about his new loft, and he sent photos of it.
One day, a box arrived from Chicago. Inside were my shoes. He sent them back to me with a present of the Jay Ryan TapeOp 2004 Josephson poster, that had Albini on it, playing a snare, wearing a bear suit.
In the package as well was a note that closed with these words:
"....I feel confident that I'll see you again."
Michael was so special.
i have been reading this thread since i was mildly shocked on friday afternoon. i wanted to say something, but felt rather out of place as i have never heard silkworm, the returnables, or the dials.
i cannot imagine how those of you close to michael, john and doug feel, but this anecdote from rachael was too much for me. it compelled me to throw in my condolences as well.
i know that i am a stranger to all of you, but this tragedy has been on my mind all weekend, especially when i've been driving. my mild shock has since turned into complete awe at the whole situation.
all of you who know who you are, you have my condolences. this has been a terrible and astounding loss.
.....
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
144tonight we played over an hour of Silkworm on Live From the Fallout Shelter and it was nice to play the music on-air for so long. Hopefully we could turn some people onto the band and the genius of the music.
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
145i, like many that have posted before, only met michael once, but that one time left an impression that will last forever.
my band played a show with silkworm back in november. we arrived in chicago and met everyone in person for the first time. just like their reputation proceeded them, they were all the absolute best. later that day after wandering around, we went back to the club and michael was the only one there. he offered for us to go with him to dinner. it was very relaxed, he was such a laid back easy going guy, that it wasnt 4 friends with one stranger, it was like 4 friends with one we had not seen in awhile and are finally getting to catch up with. then the show, he gave me/us the biggest compliment, that still makes me smile the biggest shit eating grin, he said," i went to the bar, got this drink, put a cigarette in my mouth and got out the lighter, then after the third song i realized, i hadnt lit my cigarette, nor drank one drop from my beer. that was great!"
its so nice to meet people that are just genuine in everyway. it so hard to come by, that when i do meet people like that, it leaves me thinking the world is a better place, but when one is taken and taken in such an unfair way, it comes as a loss that is completely heartbreaking. i never got the privilege of meeting the other 2 fellows, but from what i understand they were just like michael...to lose three? my god.
tim and andy, im truly sorry.
my band played a show with silkworm back in november. we arrived in chicago and met everyone in person for the first time. just like their reputation proceeded them, they were all the absolute best. later that day after wandering around, we went back to the club and michael was the only one there. he offered for us to go with him to dinner. it was very relaxed, he was such a laid back easy going guy, that it wasnt 4 friends with one stranger, it was like 4 friends with one we had not seen in awhile and are finally getting to catch up with. then the show, he gave me/us the biggest compliment, that still makes me smile the biggest shit eating grin, he said," i went to the bar, got this drink, put a cigarette in my mouth and got out the lighter, then after the third song i realized, i hadnt lit my cigarette, nor drank one drop from my beer. that was great!"
its so nice to meet people that are just genuine in everyway. it so hard to come by, that when i do meet people like that, it leaves me thinking the world is a better place, but when one is taken and taken in such an unfair way, it comes as a loss that is completely heartbreaking. i never got the privilege of meeting the other 2 fellows, but from what i understand they were just like michael...to lose three? my god.
tim and andy, im truly sorry.
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
146hey
i'm doubleposting from the silkworm.net board, but wtf
it's just as applicable here
i want to place special emphasis on the incredible generosity of the staff of electrical audio. i just love all these dirty creeps more than i can say. all the work they put in to do this....it just makes me proud to know them.
tm
==================
i just want to say a quick 'thank you' to everyone who showed up at michael's wake this evening
i...had fun. what is this "fun?" foreign concept.
i didn't expect it. i expected it to be rewarding, sure. cathartic, sure. and it was those things. but to have fun, after the worst weekend of my life, that was a surprise.
a lot of people thanked me for 'what i did' in relation to the wake. i sent out some emails. that was about it.
the guys at the greatest recording studio in the world, electrical audio, took it upon themselves to create an intimate atmosphere.
we--many of us--put up pictures of this fine man we had occasion to know so well.
and his friends, his family, his coworkers showed up with food and drink and celebrated the life of a guy who had more friends than anyone else would know what to do with. grieved, yeah, but celebrated and laughed in greater amounts.
michael dahlquist was a truly lovely person, and the worm was as much a family as a band by the end. those of us that are left are still a family. and you are among those who are left. you serve as a reminder that, despite the occasional random and vicious craziness that can rend loved ones from us, people are fundamentally not only decent and reasonable but GOOD.
thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts tonight. you have buoyed all of us--the hoffman/dahlquist clan, all of us in the extended worm family--more than you can ever know.
all the love in the world to you
tim midgett
i'm doubleposting from the silkworm.net board, but wtf
it's just as applicable here
i want to place special emphasis on the incredible generosity of the staff of electrical audio. i just love all these dirty creeps more than i can say. all the work they put in to do this....it just makes me proud to know them.
tm
==================
i just want to say a quick 'thank you' to everyone who showed up at michael's wake this evening
i...had fun. what is this "fun?" foreign concept.
i didn't expect it. i expected it to be rewarding, sure. cathartic, sure. and it was those things. but to have fun, after the worst weekend of my life, that was a surprise.
a lot of people thanked me for 'what i did' in relation to the wake. i sent out some emails. that was about it.
the guys at the greatest recording studio in the world, electrical audio, took it upon themselves to create an intimate atmosphere.
we--many of us--put up pictures of this fine man we had occasion to know so well.
and his friends, his family, his coworkers showed up with food and drink and celebrated the life of a guy who had more friends than anyone else would know what to do with. grieved, yeah, but celebrated and laughed in greater amounts.
michael dahlquist was a truly lovely person, and the worm was as much a family as a band by the end. those of us that are left are still a family. and you are among those who are left. you serve as a reminder that, despite the occasional random and vicious craziness that can rend loved ones from us, people are fundamentally not only decent and reasonable but GOOD.
thank you so much for your kind words and thoughts tonight. you have buoyed all of us--the hoffman/dahlquist clan, all of us in the extended worm family--more than you can ever know.
all the love in the world to you
tim midgett
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
147Right on Tim. Last night helped so much. I felt really good to be with so many people who had been touched by Michael's life. I just kept looking around me saying: 'This is great. Look at this -- all these people... this is so nice.' Thanks a million to everyone involved in making it happen. It is really helping me put my next foot forward after spending an entire weekend of being relatively shut down. Most of all, it has inspired me even more to remember and respect the spirit of Michael -- to honor him by striving to live life to the fullest in that giving and dynamic way that he lived... to keep life an adventure.
Thanks again to all the people at Electrical and to everyone else who put together last night's memorial. It really put the pieces in place for me to begin healing.
John W.
Thanks again to all the people at Electrical and to everyone else who put together last night's memorial. It really put the pieces in place for me to begin healing.
John W.
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
148I would also like to express my gratitude to Electrical and it's fine staff. Last night was very nice and it was so great to meet Michael's family.
People have mentioned to me about a webpage or something so they could send me things to put up. I've got something simple started and if anyone would like me to add to it or put a link to something, just email me: sepi at joesepi dot com.
http://www.joesepi.com/3friends
I hope it helps.
People have mentioned to me about a webpage or something so they could send me things to put up. I've got something simple started and if anyone would like me to add to it or put a link to something, just email me: sepi at joesepi dot com.
http://www.joesepi.com/3friends
I hope it helps.
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
149Here are the pictures my friend Brennan Hobart shot of the concert.
I put them online:
http://kcou.missouri.edu/silkworm
I put them online:
http://kcou.missouri.edu/silkworm
Remembering Michael, Doug, and John (was: not again)
150it's kinda funny. Ya know those silly little icons that Friendster has added for birthdays and horoscopes and stuff. Well, they have one for 'what kind of day' this person is having. Each time that I have went to Friendster in the last few days, it has always had Michael listed as having a good day.
Makes me laugh each time. And makes me think he is ok and maybe laughing too.
Makes me laugh each time. And makes me think he is ok and maybe laughing too.