Fugazi are living legends. They never charged more than $5 to see their shows so everyone could afford to get in. Their shows were one of the most charged displays of true punk rock ethos you could ever hope to witness in your lifetime.
In the early 90s, I started publishing a bi-monthly zine out of Huntington Beach, called Burnt Toast. As Fugazi was one of my favorite bands, I was influenced by their DIY esthetic and incorporated that into the production of the zine. Long story short, in a gushy fangirl moment, I mailed copies to Fugazi. To my surprise, Ian sent me a postcard in response with a lovely, supportive message. I still have it!
it's so cool how they get so many sounds without pedals. i love pedals, but i respect the hell out of people who can just go right into the amp and master feedback and wrest shit out of a pickup selector. also, Fugazi pretty much did it all right. never sold out. didn't over stay their welcome. stuck to their guns and showed us all how to do it, and do it well.
There were no smoke and mirrors with Fugazi, their live sets either sounded just like the recording or better. They were allowed the energy that's harder to capture in the studio.
This guys had an entire filosophy about live concerts and their conection with the public. And much of them are on sale on the Dischord Records web. Just brilliant...
The fact that we are treated to such a fine document is pure bliss. Clear, unobstructed footage with an audio mix that does the band and their creative musicianship real justice. A Fugazi show was an event. This comes as close as I remember them live from the edge of the stage.
I discovered Fugazi in 1991. I was also listening to Minor Threat, can't remember which came first , but this music is memorable 30 something odd years later. You would never know by looking at me. I'm a quiet badass.
My one chance to see them we drove hours, I forgot what venue we drove to this was back in the 90s, long story short we get there and the fucking show had sold out......soooooo pissed
I look around, and i see the music that is selling millions of streams and downloads, and nothing out there is an authentic creative and talented as those gentlemen on that stage.
@@punt2263 Dynamics in music refers to variance in volume and intensity. This song wouldn't be nearly as powerful if it were loud and pummeling all the way through. It's the soft, tense parts that give all the loud noisy bits power.
@@noesunyoutuber7680 fuck me I was just thinking about this before I began scrolling the comments. It's a brilliant approach to music used at least since classical.
Some of the best fugazi stuff is when it leans into all these moments of tension and contrast. The restraint and slow builds to the release. The way all the piece work separately but also together. It’s just untouchable.
Thats exactly why Minor Threat wasn't as impactful for me as Fugazi was. When a band is 100% aggression and speed the whole time, it kind of just becomes background wall paper after a while. The moments that are supposed to be crushingly heavy are only separated by the silence in-between songs that all sound similar. Fugazi got so much mileage and staying power knowing that heavy music can get 10 times heavier if you have brooding clean sections.
@@migueldasilva487 Underground bands, definitely not, but look at the history of stadium rock frontmen and tell me none of their moves have been thought of in advance.
That was kind of a normal thing for them, as odd as that might seem. I've seen them over a dozen times back in the 90s. Crazy stage movements sometimes came close to dangerous injury. But you can't fault them, it was just that they were so into the music they could get easily carried away by it, same with audiences.
@Sebastian Reilly For all the songs on record, of course they were rehearsed, and rehearsed to perfection. In that time a perfect storm of 4 musicians connecting in a way that their live shows never had a pre-set list. It's one long , improvised experience. So, Ian or Guy would just take the lead into the next jam , and follow as well. They are a gift from whatever God one believes in.
@@spaceghost6713 theyve been on hiatus for almost 20 years, but if they came back i dont doubt theyd still do 5 dollar all ages shows like they always had
Man, I've always felt like few people really appreciate Guy, and when they do it's only for his vocals. But even back in Rites of Spring he was a surprisingly interesting player, especially for hardcore/emo. Always playing more to serve the song than to play cool shit. I'd wager most guitarists wouldn't be willing to essentially play whole note harmonics for half a song for one reason or the next. Then there's Guy, down and ready for it because when he lets loose during the jam, it's like a hurricane of passion. Thank fucking god for D.C.
Fugazi's twin guitar interplay was such a crucial part of what elevated them musically beyond their predecessors. This song would be so much less effective without those harmonics.
3:53 check out his shoe heels have Tuck tape holding them together. This band fought ticketmaster to make there shows all ages and to lower prices and Ian needs new shoes!!! Much respect - true artists.
well i don't think he couldn't afford a new pair of shoes he was just fine with putting some tape on the damaged shoe. anyway i get what you want to say
48 years of my life & love R&R of all kinds ALL KINDS from the Stones to Eddie Money Skynard The Crue Slayer Dead Kennedy's etc & in the 80's & 90's have always heard the name Fugazi & always thought they were some lame English goth band or English early pop/punk JUST UNTIL RECENTLY STROLLING THROUGH RU-vid & seen Fugazi live doing waiting room - can't believe I've lived this long without listening to them - now I'm hooked - freakin' musical geniuses
I broke the surface so I can breathe I close my eyes so I can see I tie my arms to be free Have you ever been free? She's not breathing She's not moving She's not coming back I burn a fire to stay cool I burn myself, I am the fuel I never meant to be cruel Have you ever been cruel? She's not breathing She's not moving She's not coming back Shut the door so I can leave
I seriously rewatch this like every month or two. I'll never forget seeing this video for the first time. Seeing each part of this fucking masterpiece, piece by piece and just being continuously blown away as the song went on. Each section is honestly just perfection. Just seeing the clips of Fugazi you can find on RU-vid is honestly life changing. I cannot fathom what it would have been like to actually be in the room for something like this. Such immense raw talent. Fugazi are honestly peerless in their ability. Thank you so much for this upload, I will honestly treasure it forever.
I really miss punk rock sometimes. These guys were the real deal. I saw a few shows mid 90's. I think every show was a flat fee of something like 10 bucks. I remember seeing Ian getting ticked at some guys agressively moshing. He stopped mid song and told the bouncers to get the guys out or he wouldn't start playing again. They probably took themselves a bit too serious at times but they had some much honesty and integrity in their music it was refreshing.
vista7 yeah I guess I miss it too sometimes I remember being at a show and a skinhead ripped the back of my shirt off and Ian stopped mid song and asked if I was okay and said if we see any more of that shit we're out of here which was awesome it really left an impression on me as a young teenager
I honestly love it whenever Ian digs into some dumbass kid whos just there to mosh and be violent. You go to a show to listen to music, and those people clearly arent there to hear music.
This is the band that changed my life. I had heard the term post hardcore as a term for shitty mallcore, never bands like this. Then my advisory in my senior year of highschool gave me a Fugazi album. Thanks Mr. Robinson.
@@yabadabaducalufas Havent found it myself. There should be an audio somewhere on the website of the record label. Ian pretty much uploaded every show they ever did there.
I got to see fugazi live 8 times and it still wasn't enough.i wish i'd seen them 80 times.they are quite simply the greatest band of all time...............
@@sluggo68 Bigband and Swing drummers from the 40s and 50s used Ship's Bells. Not many drummers use them any more, cool. This live version is fantastic.
Troy Wilkey , that’s really cool. I didn’t know that and I’ve been studying jazz history and theory for about a year now. I’m focusing on bass though not drums. Yes this is a great performance.
This is the same feeling I got from listening to deftones for the first time. This raw visceral feeling of my anger being answered by something so expressive and beautiful.
Love this song and this was an amazing show at the Cap in Oly, WA. Just glad that I was there to see it (and forever be part of it...I was near the front for the show and was stunned the first time I saw the movie to see myself in the crowd...jaded doesn't even begin to describe how i felt.)
this fucking video literally changed my life and you have no idea, thank you so much literally 6 years later after watching this video and it still gives me the same feeling it did when i saw it right out of high school -- i wish i was able to see them during their absolute peak
thing is, their last album was one of their best, so when was their peak? for me it was Repeater. i still remember when i our that tape in my car's cassette player. i didn't know what the hell i was hearing but i knew I'd found what i was looking for
one of the most beautiful live performances by a band ever. for real. so much heart. like. god. damn. it's that powerful. only a punk band can give that kind of energy.
Everytime I watch this scene from the documentary I get goose bumps, I'm still daydreaming that I might see them one day, jeez I fucking hate the word hiatus nowadays
For anyone wondering the instrumental bit after shut the door and that little noise bit when the bass starts playing again is a cover of Sensible by Unwound.
