66 AMERICANWAY
OCTOBER 1 2008
M U S I C
then tohave this— it’ssuchagift.”Shedrops
a few dollars intoDagmar 2’s case and de-
scends forher train, a little lighter in spirit.
Just as the Muellers do, Dagmar 2
has CDs, a sophisticated website (www
.dagmartheband.com), and aboveground
gigs. Bauer haswrittenmusic for television
andfilm.
Blue Flower
, his song cycle (think
of a series of songs performed together as
a single entity, like theWho’s
Tommy
)with
actors, ran Off Broadway earlier this year
and may get another production through
StephenSchwartz, whowrote thehitmusi-
cal
Wicked
. But like most musicians, Bau-
er and McGeary live on the possibilities.
“Sometimes it only takes one big break,”
saysMcGeary.
Wider exposure gives them a better
chanceat that,which isone reason theyau-
ditioned for the subway program last year.
“We’re so visible here,” says McGeary. “We
reach somanypeople.”
Meanwhile, they hone their act. “You
can learn a huge amount about yourmusic
here,” says Bauer. “You learn how to adjust
the songs to appeal to people immediately
— itcan’tbeaheady intellectual experience.
It’sa true testof themusic, and theresponse
isso immediate. Ifpeopleappreciate it, they
show it.”
It’s been an educational year. Bauer and
writes the duo’s distinctive songs, whichhe
calls art-rockopera. “The other thing toget
used to isplayingandbeing ignored.”
“The three-second drive-by look,” says
MeghanMcGeary,who sings, playsmelodi-
ca andmetallic percussion, and is the duo’s
theatrical focus. She wears high-heeled
boots, silver glitter, a black gypsy skirt fes-
tooned with bangles, a midriff-baring top,
and, over her long blondhair, aWorldWar
I aviator’s helmet, complete with goggles.
Oh, and sparkling diaphanous wings that
seem to sprout from her back because, she
explains, she’s an insect goddess. (She gives
her ageas “immortal.”)
Dagmar2’s lyric-heavy songsmight seem
too fragile for the commotionand cacopho-
nyof the subway, but commuterswhopause
for the spectacle of McGeary often end up
hookedby themusic and theperformances.
Today, asa songendsandcrowds rushby,
a middle-aged woman on a nearby bench
bursts intoapplause. “Ididn’t intend to stay
and listen,” thewoman,RobertaMariaAtti,
says, “but they captivatedme.” A nutrition-
ist, she sees lots of subwaymusicians while
commuting to New Jersey, and she usually
makes a donation, even if she doesn’t stop.
“I’m grateful they’re here,” she says. “They
bring beauty into your life. You deal with
your workday, the subway, the stress, and
GrandCentral
Terminal
SHARETHEPOWEROFAWISH
®
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High School Teacher
Most days, I teachhigh school. But
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Come on board and
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© 2007 Make-A-Wish Foundation of America.
“
I
have the
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