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Kristin Hersh
Boston Globe Article
ROCK NOTES
Muses invite public to family reunion
By Steve Morse, Globe Staff, 5/5/2000
Call this dedication-plus. Fans of the Throwing Muses are coming from as far away as New
Zealand, Scotland, and Sweden for tomorrow's reunion of the Muses at the Middle East
Downstairs in Cambridge. It will be the first time the band has played in three years - and singer
Kristin Hersh is scrambling to get ready for it.
''This week I'm trying to learn all these songs again,'' she said from her home in Providence. Then
she added with a laugh, ''I don't remember anything! It's like doing covers of my own material. I
think, why did we make so many records?''
The Throwing Muses made seven albums, dating back to the early '80s, and won
renown as
alternative-pop pioneers.
''We started when we were 14,'' said Hersh. ''But as soon as we hit 30, it became inappropriate to
tour in a van and drink beer for breakfast. People start wanting other things - like rent money and
food.''
Now 33, Hersh has a solo career when she's not tending to her three sons, Dylan, 14, Ryder, 8,
and Wyatt, 3. But she admits that she misses the Muses. ''We never actually broke up. We just
can't afford to make records or tour anymore,'' she said. ''I'm lucky to make records myself now,
but it's not as much fun as having a band.''
For that reason, and all kidding aside, Hersh has been ''giddy'' about reuniting with Muses mates
David Narcizo, Bernard Georges, and Robert Rust. ''It has just felt so good. Maybe we'll do more
of these things if we can arrange it.''
The last Throwing Muses show was three years ago in Los Angeles. As Hersh recalled, ''Exene
[from the band X] was there. We played a song, `Two Step,' about the band ending. We were just
one big mess and we walked offstage and fell into Exene's arms. She was like a mother to us.''
The Muses were never your usual band, so it figures that tomorrow's ''Gut Pageant'' (named for a
Hersh song) is not your usual reunion. For starters, it's an all-day affair - from 1 to 9 p.m. - and
includes a picnic with fans in the afternoon. ''The Middle East is not a place most people would
have a picnic, but we spend our time in clubs, so it works for us,'' said Hersh.
The day also includes a meet-and-greet session with fans, a sound check that fans can observe, a
solo acoustic set by Hersh, videos made by Narcizo (based on his solo instrumental record,
''Lakuna''), then onward with a ''special guest opener'' (Hersh won't divulge who it is), climaxed by
a long set by the Muses that will include obscure B sides, as requested by fans.
''The requests on the Web site have been for all kinds of songs,'' said Hersh. ''So we've been
e-mailing each other in the band with versions of songs that we expect to do.
''Hopefully it will all work out,'' she added. ''I'm planning on being a little bit tipsy if it doesn't.''
Tickets are available through the Web site http://www.virtuous.com.
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