DC Rock History

4d ago

In this episode, we revisit Fugazi and take a deep dive into In On The Kill Taker , the band’s explosive 1993 follow-up to Steady Diet of Nothing and Repeater . Released on Dischord Records, In On The Kill Taker captures Fugazi at a moment of creative tension and expansion, pushing their sound toward greater complexity, aggression, and emotional intensity. The album reflects a band refining its identity while challenging both punk orthodoxy and the expectations placed on them as one of the most visible groups to emerge from DC's post-hardcore scene. By the early 1990s, Fugazi had already become a defining force in independent music, known as much for their ethics and live performances as their records. With In On The Kill Taker , Ian MacKaye, Guy Picciotto, Joe Lally, and Brendan Canty embraced sharper contrasts, darker lyrical themes, and more intricate arrangements. Songs like “Smallpox Champion,” “Rend It,” and “Cassavetes” reveal a band willing to be confrontational, vulnerable, and musically restless, mirroring the broader cultural unease of the era while remaining firmly rooted in the DC DIY tradition. For this Season 3 finale, we’re joined by Chris Ryan, journalist, author, and host of The Watch . Together, we discuss why In On The Kill Taker stands as one of Fugazi’s most exciting and enduring records, how it fits into the band’s larger arc, and why it continues to resonate decades later. While we’ve already explored Fugazi’s origins earlier in the series, this conversation serves as a bonus chapter, focusing on a pivotal album that crystallized the band’s uncompromising vision and lasting influence. Go Further: Chris Ryan – The Ringer Dischord Records – Fugazi Pitchfork Sunday Review - In On The Kill Taker Wikipedia – In On The Kill Taker Follow Us: Social media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Dec 8

In this episode, we explore the history and impact of Shudder to Think and their groundbreaking 1994 album Pony Express Record , a release that pushed the boundaries of what DC post-hardcore could become in the era of alternative music. Formed in 1986, Shudder to Think developed a distinctive sound across early Sammich and Dischord releases before leaning fully into the angular, theatrical, and experimental approach that defined Pony Express Record . Released on Epic Records, the album stood apart from its major-label contemporaries and became one of the most inventive records to emerge from the DC underground. Shudder to Think came out of the same community that produced Fugazi and Jawbox, yet their music challenged the expectations of the scene from the start. The band’s lineup, featuring Craig Wedren, Chris Matthews, Stuart Hill, and Mike Russell, shifted in 1992 when Nathan Larson and Adam Wade joined, setting the stage for a new phase of songwriting and national touring. Their move from Dischord to a major label was rare for a DC band and created a unique moment where the intensity of post-hardcore intersected with the wider alternative rock boom of the 1990s. In this conversation, we are joined by Nabil Ayers, label executive, author of My Life in the Sunshine , drummer, and host of the Identified podcast. We talk about the evolution of Shudder to Think, the creative leap represented by Pony Express Record , the challenges and opportunities of the early 90s music industry, and the album’s lasting influence. Nabil also shares valuable insights from his work in music, writing, and independent publishing, offering a wide-angle view of how this record fits within both DC history and the broader landscape of alternative rock. Go Further: Bandcamp – Shudder to Think Wikipedia – Shudder to Think Nabil Ayers – Website Follow Us: Social media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Dec 1

In this episode, we explore the history and impact of Soulside, the influential late-80s DC post-hardcore band whose music bridged the energy of the original hardcore scene with the more groove-driven, politically minded sound that would define the next decade. Formed in 1986, Soulside crafted a bold and evolving style heard on records like Trigger and Hot Bodi-Gram , and became one of the most internationally recognized bands of the DC underground through extensive U.S. and European touring. Emerging from the same community that produced Rites of Spring, Scream, and Fire Party, Soulside brought together Bobby Sullivan, Scott McCloud, Johnny Temple, and Alexis Fleisig at an explosive moment in the scene’s evolution. Following Soulside’s breakup, McCloud, Temple, and Fleisig teamed up with Eli Janney and Brendan Canty to form Girls Against Boys, a project that evolved into one of the defining post-hardcore bands of the 1990s. In this conversation, we’re joined by Johnny Temple, bassist of both Soulside and Girls Against Boys, and the publisher behind Brooklyn-based Akashic Books. We talk about the late-80s DC punk landscape, Soulside’s musical progression, the band’s European tours, and the transition into GVSB’s dual-bass, groove-heavy sound. Johnny also shares insights into the creative and cultural shifts happening in the scene at the time, and how the same DIY principles that shaped DC punk informed his later work in independent publishing. Go Further: Bandcamp - Soulside Wikipedia – Soulside Akashic Books – Website Follow Us: Social media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Nov 24

In this episode, we explore Copacetic , the 1993 full-length debut from Velocity Girl, a band that helped expand the definition of what Washington, DC-area indie rock could sound like in the early ’90s. Released on Sub Pop at a time when the national spotlight was widening around alternative music, Copacetic blended restless guitar textures, melodic clarity, and a confident sense of atmosphere into one of the era’s most enduring records. Formed at the turn of the decade, Velocity Girl grew out of the College Park and Silver Spring music communities, releasing early singles on Slumberland Records and steadily gaining visibility through college radio, touring, and compilation appearances. By the time they entered the studio for Copacetic , the band’s lineup — Sarah Shannon, Archie Moore, Brian Nelson, Kelly Riles, and Jim Spellman — had developed a clear artistic identity rooted in texture, harmony, and a uniquely East Coast take on shoegaze-influenced guitar music. In this conversation, we’re joined by Jeffery Everett, the award-winning designer behind Rockets Are Red. We talk about the visual culture surrounding early-’90s indie rock, the importance of design and identity in an era shaped by DIY aesthetics, and how bands like Velocity Girl balanced local roots with growing national attention. Jeffery offers insights into the intersection of music and graphic design, how posters and album art shaped the perception of scenes like D.C.’s, and why Copacetic remains a defining example of the moment when independent music and broader industry forces briefly overlapped. Go Further: Sub Pop – Copacetic Wikipedia – Velocity Girl (Copacetic) AllMusic – Velocity Girl Biography Rockets Are Red - Website Follow Us: Social media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Nov 17

In this episode, we explore Perfect Teeth , the 1993 swan song from Unrest, a band that redefined what DC and Northern Virginia indie rock could be. Released on the legendary UK label 4AD, the album blended minimalist pop, rhythmic precision, and clean-toned experimentation into a concise, stylish statement that still resonates three decades later. Formed in 1983 by Mark Robinson, Philip Krauth, and Tim Moran, Unrest began as a suburban basement band in Arlington, Virginia. Over the next ten years, they evolved into one of the most distinctive voices in American indie music. Alongside their own recordings, Robinson founded Teen-Beat Records, a label that combined DIY punk values with graphic design, eccentric curation, and a numbered catalog system that became iconic in its own right. In this conversation, we’re joined by Mark Robinson, Unrest’s guitarist, co-vocalist, and Teen-Beat founder. We talk about the band’s formation in the early ’80s, the lo-fi cassette years, the arrival of bassist Bridget Cross, the band’s art-pop sensibility, and the bold recording decisions that led to Perfect Teeth including a 7-inch box set and a faux Simon Le Bon production credit. We also discuss how Unrest carved a lane completely their own within the broader DC scene. Go Further: 4AD Records – Perfect Teeth Teen-Beat Records Wikipedia – Unrest (band) Pitchfork – Perfect Teeth 30th Anniversary Review Teen-Beat Archive – Perfect Teeth Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Nov 10

In this episode, we explore 13-Point Program to Destroy America , the 1991 debut album from Nation of Ulysses that turned DC’s post-hardcore scene on its head. Released by Dischord Records and recorded at Inner Ear Studios with Ian MacKaye and Don Zientara, the album fused punk, free jazz, and radical politics into a chaotic and satirical critique of American conformity. Formed in 1988 by Ian Svenonius, James Canty, Steve Kroner, Steve Gamboa, and Tim Green, Nation of Ulysses presented themselves not just as a band, but as a “political party” advocating for youth liberation and creative revolution. With their sharp suits, manifesto-style lyrics, and explosive performances, they pushed the boundaries of what DC punk could sound and look like. In this conversation, we’re joined by John R. Davis, musician, curator, and author of Keep Your Ear to the Ground: A History of Punk Fanzines in Washington, D.C. (Georgetown University Press). We discuss how Nation of Ulysses reflected and redefined the DC underground at the dawn of the 1990s bridging music, politics, and performance in a way that continues to influence artists today. Go Further: Dischord Records – 13-Point Program to Destroy America Georgetown University Press – "Keep Your Ear To The Ground" Wikipedia – Nation of Ulysees Dance of Days by Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins – Akashic Books Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Nov 3

In this episode, we explore 13 Songs , the seminal compilation that introduced Fugazi’s raw urgency and experimental edge to a wider audience. Originally released in 1989 by Dischord Records, 13 Songs combines the band’s first two EPs Fugazi (1988) and Margin Walker (1989) and stands as a defining document of the post–Revolution Summer era in Washington, D.C. Formed by Ian MacKaye, Joe Lally, Brendan Canty, and later joined by Guy Picciotto, Fugazi built on the intensity of their hardcore roots while incorporating dub, minimalism, and socio-political critique into their sound. Recorded at Inner Ear Studios in Virginia and Southern Studios in London, the two EPs captured a band coming into their power, forging a sound that was at once confrontational and disciplined, spacious and relentless. In this conversation, we’re joined by Jim Saah, the D.C.-based photographer and filmmaker whose iconic live shots helped define DC hardcore's visual legacy. We talk about the band’s early shows, the scene that gave rise to their sound, and how 13 Songs became a blueprint for the future of independent music. Go Further: Dischord Records – 13 Songs Wikipedia – 13 Songs Fugazi Live Series Dance of Days by Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins – Akashic Books Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

Oct 27

In this episode, we explore Fire Party , the self-titled debut from one of the most groundbreaking bands to emerge from Washington, D.C.’s post–Revolution Summer punk scene. Formed in 1986 by Amy Pickering (vocals), Natalie Avery (guitar), Kate Samworth (bass), and Nicky Thomas (drums), Fire Party brought a new perspective to D.C. punk — politically charged, emotionally direct, and unapologetically their own. Recorded at Inner Ear Studios with Don Zientara engineering and Ian MacKaye producing, the album captures the raw energy of late ’80s Dischord Records while pushing its sound into more melodic and introspective territory. The band’s 1988 European tour with Scream marked one of the first international tours for a Dischord act and solidified Fire Party’s reputation as both trailblazers and torchbearers of a more inclusive punk movement. In this conversation, all four founding members reflect on the scene that shaped them, their first shows at D.C. Space, and how their music helped open the door for future generations of feminist and alternative punk artists. Go Further: Dischord Records – Fire Party Wikipedia – Fire Party (band) Dance of Days by Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins – Akashic Books Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: dcrockpod@gmail.com Hosts: Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight