“Allen always wanted to be a rock star,” said Peter Hale at Little Island where the poet’s centennial year was feted in rock style, his words transformed into music just as he would have wanted. I thought back to a time when at St. Mark’s Church Allen sang his work accompanied by his harmonium while Lou Reed read poems. Now Lou’s widow, the formidable Laurie Anderson accompanying herself on a violin, read. 

The 5-day program, curated by Thomas Bartlett, included Rufus Wainwright, Gina Gershon, Anne Waldman, and Jennifer Charles for girl power, Taylor Mac and many others. Allen’s loving spirit was conjured in this beautiful setting. Little Annie recited his “Father Death,” while novelist Michael Cunningham read a version of “Wichita Vortex Sutra.” Allen was remembered through his poetry with a nod to his politics as Waldman recalled going to jail with him for protesting at a nuclear facility. Gina Gershon rocked out accompanying herself, twanging on mouth harp.

Allen was everywhere, including in a Netflix celebration of Bob Dylan in little known performance footage at the Paris Theater. He’s hanging out in a Paris alley behind Dylan, in D. A. Pennebaker’s Don’t Look Back. Dylan’s greatest hits—the list is long but Isis was particularly great. Guitarist Bill Frisell spoke about Dylan’s influence, and performed. He told me he was brought together with Allen by Hal Willner. 

Elvis Costello was in the room.