http://www.chunklet.com/images/upload/6 ... Fugazi.mp3



Having Fun With Fugazi On Stage
POSTED MONDAY 11.30.09

Y'know, it's funny. Around 1990, I was convinced that there were no better live bands on the planet than Fugazi and The Jesus Lizard. And here it is almost 20 years later and I spent many a night following the latter across the planet (just like the ol' days) and I got to have my post-teenager sentiments reinforced as I watched four men all hovering around fifty years old fucking sweep the floor with their younger counterparts asses on a nightly basis. No question about it.

One thing I didn't particularly enjoy at these shows were the jag bags that were crowd surfing. I know, I know. I'm a fucking drag for saying that, but when Yow does it, he's a professional. When some yahoo with lumberjack boots does it, people get clobbered in the noggin. Sorry, it's the truth and it's lame. But man, I remember Fugazi. I remember Fugazi telling people not to do it. And looking back on it, I think what a loving request it was. Even when I was 19 or 20, I'd deal with the jocks being violent, but Fugazi stood their ground and defended the majority of a crowd that wanted to enjoy themselves and not get injured in the process.

So it was with great pleasure when James Burns contacted me to tell me he had assembled a 40+ minute montage of Fugazi stage banter. And is it sad that I could name which shows some of the banter came from? That's sad, right? Anyway....

Please enjoy and (if you're old enough) remember how blissfully intense their shows were. God, when will ATP get FUGAZI to reunite?! I'll be there, front and center.

Oh man, such great live shows. When people talk about Animal Collective maybe needing to step things up a notch, Fugazi provides a good mark to shoot for.

I appreciated the idea, but it would drag on and on and was so boring and awkward. I suppose their level of douchiness depended on how douchey the crowd was. And I guess in Delaware where I saw them both times, it was pretty douchey. Also I saw them when "alternative" was at the peak of popularity and everyone wanted in on the fun, so that probably didn't help.

Shows at the Masquerade in Atlanta in 91 and 92 were pretty douchey, but then in Athens 4 years later it was all killer, no filler. Those 2 athens shows are among the most impressive things I've ever seen. Everybody got along, and they sounded fucking incredible.

i saw them once

good, but not remarkable

I saw them way back when in Sacramento. They killed, of course, but the thing I remember best about the show was two guys fighting in the audience. Another guy tried to break it up by pinning one of the combatant's arms behind his back. The guy in the hold snapped his head back, breaking the guy's nose. Broken Nose fell down & struggled back to his feet. The other guy did a flying drop kick on BN as he stood, knocking him down again, then ran out of the club.

He didn't get to see the show, as this happened near the beginning. Serves him right.

I've seen them three times.
The Sioux Falls gig was my first experience, and it featured moderate douchiness, but mostly deserved. The "alternative" comment is fitting, especially when it comes to concert starved cities of the Great Plains.
The Omaha gig in the mid to late 90's was pure ridiculousness. There were all sorts of skinhead groups and straight edge individuals fighting. Shit got real violent and was almost out of hand. I don't think they were nearly as douchy as they could have been. I'm really surprised they just didn't pack it in after the random fights continued to occur near the stage.
The Lincoln gig during my first year of grad school was fantastic. By that point in time, indie etiquette had led to the shoegazer dancing style and they never had to lecture the crowd about violence. It was straight rock and no retards fighting each other.

listening now, and it's pretty solid stuff.

yeah I heard this earlier in the week. friggin hysterical.