The education of Joe Lally
Without any other options, the bassist has forged his solo sound.
Published June 3, 2009
Joe Lally's musical education began with seeing Graham Central Station at his first arena concert and The Jackson 5 perform "Dancing Machine" live.
"It's the most incredible moment of Michael Jackson," said Lally from his home in Rome. "I can't believe I have to say these words, The Robot. Michael Jackson doing the robot is the most amazing thing you've ever seen. He would float across the stage."
Since then, Lally has taken a different route in his tastes and development as a musician. Listening to Fugazi albums or even Lally's solo records, it's hard to hear any of the pop influences of his childhood. Instead, Lally has written some of the most underappreciated bass lines in punk rock for more than two decades. His art is subtle, with lines that focus on a theme over which his bandmates have plenty of space to explore.
This education entered a second stage seven years ago when his long-time band disbanded on "indefinite hiatus." Without any solid idea of how to construct his own songs (he sang on just a handful of Fugazi tracks), he began to teach himself how to go it alone.
"I have to sit down with my bass and play it and this produces some kind of music," Lally said in his slow, gentle voice. "That's not a problem. It's what you do with it on your own. Part of having been in a band for so long is that it's just much more interesting."
It only complicated matters when Lally convinced his wife to move back to her home after living in the U.S. for so long. Without the option to solidify a band lineup, Lally has been forced to take various people on tour when they are available, teaching them the songs and reworking parts as necessary. Recently, Lally has found a partnership with Elisa Abela, another musician in Italy who has been able to become a more permanent addition to his music.
"I guess I see all the flaws really well," Lally said, the sounds of Rome mingling in the background. "My idea was to be able to write a kind of theme in a way that people could come in and play on very easily. I realized that sometimes that works with some songs, but then other songs that doesn't work at all."
Lally has been able to adapt well, taking opportunities as they come. In March he finally found the right time to tour Australia with the band Gallucci, who had e-mailed him after the release of his first album to express interest in supporting him live.
"They're just so serious about what they wanted to do, and they wanted to back up Joe Lally," he said. "They sent me back versions of the first record almost exactly like the record. I realized when there was no singing it wasn't just my record they sent back to me."
At 45, Lally is finally beginning to understand his songwriting.
"I'm happy that, even though it was difficult, I do it 'cause the more you do it the less difficult it is to get over that 'Shit, can I do this on my own?' kind of feeling," he said. "Because I don't really have a choice about it. It must be done is what I learned. No matter what it was doing to me, it must be done."