Reflecting on Greg Dillon, and the Celebration of Work & Artists

This week, I was going to write about my next big project or maybe do my second Delightful Things post, but neither seem as loud as the loss of our local singer-songwriter, musician friend, Greg Dillon. 

I’m not an expert on Greg’s life or music and, as is often the way, am learning more about him now on social media, as friends and fans rally around his memory and support each other. I’ve heard him live a bunch of times at open mics, jams and with The Stereo Prophets, who had great energy and the best song selection of covers of any local band I know (imho). I always loved seeing Greg’s wife, Mona, at his shows — the way they looked at each other was nothing short of life (and love) affirming and I got to see them share the best spontaneous kiss I’ve witnessed outside of movies. (And I told them so, because I'm awkward like that.)

When I attended the Celebration of Life in July for Cliff Bernier, poet, musician, friend, I was astounded by so much that I didn’t know about him; learned many things I’d have loved to talk about with him. I believe we must get better at celebrating each other, sharing our brilliance and efforts, and the incredible things we do, including art we make, sometimes at significant personal cost (although a wealth in and of itself). It’s beautiful that there are people sharing talent galore in most of my circles.

I’ve started introducing poets at DiVerse from a personal space of celebration, instead of the standard professional space of reading bios, at least when I know them well enough. It feels to me that we ought to infuse more heart in the way we reference and discuss artists. I mean, it’s kind of neat to know someone’s resume, but it’s usually less central to one’s work than their charm, grit, and influence; and it’s not as though most of us are chasing the money. 

Some of my favorite blog posts have been my poet interviews. I’m bringing them back and going to include singer songwriters. 

Here’s the website to Greg’s band: http://www.dartclubband.com/home.html And here’s a Spotify link to his 2024 album. 

Greg and I had significantly different political leanings. I try to keep my vitriol down on social media, in part with him in mind, and a few others. Greg wouldn’t always show up on my FB feed, so I’d periodically check to see if he was still there. I was always glad he was. It might’ve been more comfortable for us to “unfriend” each other in these horribly divisive days, but there’s so much else to all of us than politics. And he’s a very cool and talented guy.

This post is a nod to a great local musician lost too soon. Rest well, Greg K. Dillon.

This post also reminds me of things I seem to need to learn over and over again, including to say all the things while friends are still with us; to uplift people during their lives, and to promote other’s art as loud and often as possible. Politics touches each of us. But art touches a more profound place of us.

Shine on, friends.