inally.
On Tuesday, Dischord Records finally released the Dischord 20th Anniversary box set. I know what you’re thinking, “Why is Dischord releasing a box set? Box sets are for dead musicians (Hank Williams) and virtually dead musicians (Metallica).” I was thinking the same thing until I heard it, and I have to tell you. . . fucking punk rock.
Simply titled 20 Years of Dischord, the first two discs of the set include songs by each of the fifty bands that Dischord had released in its first twenty years. Along with the big names like Minor Threat, Fugazi, Jawbox, Rites of Spring, and Shudder To Think, the discs also cover short-lived bands like the powerful Red C, the energetic Nation of Ulysess, and the amazing Autoclave. The third disc contains unreleased material including Dag Nasty’s All Ages Show, the last recording by Slant 6 (Are You Human?), and a blistering live version of Fuzagi’s Burning.
It’s two third’s memory lane, one third unfamiliar favorites, and required listenng for anyone interested in the birth of the DC punk scene (harDCore) or evolution of underground (indie, alternative, whatever) music.
On Friday night, I saw a trio of amazing bands at the 9:30 Club. This is notable, because rocknroll shows can be alot like boxing matches, in that the mounting excitement of a superb title bout can often be undercut by a mediocre undercard.
The first band of the evening was NYC’s Stellastar, who sound like The Cure as a punk band. They were entertaining and energetic, which exactly what you expect from an opening band.
The second band was Sahara Hotnights, a Scandinavian all-girl quartet who sound alot like early Joan Jett, or similarly, The Runaways at the height of their power. Sahara Hotnights play powerful, energetic punk rock, and they have gotten a boatload of press lately, so I’ll leave it ot you to find out what you want, if that sounds like your cup of tea, bowl of chili, or other container of food.
The headliners were New York’s The Mooney Suzuki, who played an Americanized version of French yea yea music. You call tell that these guys have listened to alot of Nation of Ulysess and The Make-up albums. (Two Things at Once — see above) In fact, The Mooney Suzuki sounds and feel so much like a Mod version of The Make-Up, that I almost expected Ian Svenonius and Michelle Mae to just on stage and start screaming about “Gospel Yea-Yea”. Mooney Suzuki are so over-the-top, so ebullient, so farcical that you can’t help but beleive that they take themselves very seriously.
Go see any and all of these bands if you have the chance.
That’s it. . . I’m winded.