ENCORE OF THE MONTH
April, 2019
Fugazi
Fugazi are an iconic post punk Washington D.C. band that deserves another encore. The band took a hiatus in 2003 but never played again. Between 1987 and 2003 the band did over 1,000 shows and built a large underground following across the country. Fugazi is a band that came from the underground and remained true to its anti-establishment, anti-corporate ethos. Fugazi front man, Ian MacKaye, co-founded Dischord Records. The independent label has continued to support the local music scene in the D.C. area. What makes Fugazi such an interesting band is their seamless fusion between punk and ska. 'Waiting Room' is a Fugazi song that captures this sound. I listen to this song and I just want to rush out and buy a Fugazi t-shirt.
Another Fugazi song that makes me want to dig through my t-shirt collection is 'Promises'.
The other appealing feature of Fugazi is their strong social awareness. It is difficult to believe but 30 years ago they released 'Suggestion' which was an 'anti-rape and anti-harassment' song. The lyrics were inspired by the personal experiences of a friend of the band. At the time they were critized by some for writing from a woman's perspective. The words delivered a strong anti-rape message to their overwhelming male audience. It was a song they played often and it drove home the message that to blame a woman for being in the wrong place was pathetic and downright stupid. The song also makes it clear that it is not okay to sit back and do nothing when things turn south.
Although Fugazi has not played together since 2003 they continue to be active through their 'Live Series'. The series features hundreds of live recordings which are available for download via Dischord Records for a small fee. There are some great shows. My suggestion to get you started is their September 3, 1997 Washington D.C. show at the Wilson Centre.
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