“I do a lot of things, but there’s nothing I like as much as the Mekons.” That’s Jon Langford, an original member of the long-running British band. Unfortunately the Mekons won’t be in Austin this weekend, but Langford will. He’s appearing at the Continental Club tonight along with the Carper Family, Deeno & the Purvs, and Walter Salas-Humara.
Saturday night the Silos leader and the head Waco Brother are hosting an opening of their artwork with another performance, one they’re calling “Dogs And Monsters” at the Yard Dog Gallery.
With the Mekons having recently released Ancient and Modern, the time would seem right for a Texas trek, but it wasn’t meant to be.
“I would have liked to bring the Mekons down, but it’s not possible at the moment,” explains Langford. “It’s not the money really. There’s eight people in the band and it’s their time, just trying to get everyone together.”
Instead they’ll be in Europe in November and we get the Walter and Jon show.
“Walter is one of the nicest guy you’ll ever meet,” Langford asserts. “We’ve known each other for a very long time. It’s a good way for me to get away for a week, show some of my latest, and his art with the big-eyed dogs is something people seem to find attractive.”
He claims that a long-in-the-works Mekons documentary, The Revenge of the Mekons, is almost complete.
“It should be finished in time for next year’s South By Southwest,” Langford offers, acknowledging that other than appearing in it, the band has had no input or control over the flick.
With the Mekons one of the original punk bands and their continuing socio-political music making, I couldn’t help but ask how he felt about the current Occupy Wall Street movement. Not surprisingly the 54-year Chicago-based artist was excited but cautious.
“It’s about time, isn’t it?” he asks.
“About time somebody woke up. I’m not sure where they’re headed though and like everyone else I’m curious to see where it’s going next.”
This article appears in October 14 • 2011.