Will Schube was a member of Good Brains, a punk rock mathlete ensemble
Fugazi seems like the ideal band to release an album of early demos. Their sound is cleaner than the typical punk band and more approachable than your average hardcore group. Landing themselves somewhere strange between post-hardcore and art-punk, the legendary DC act is almost universally appreciated; maybe this has something to do with Ian MacKaye’s approachability (especially in contrast with his fellow punk brethren; Henry Rollins, anybody?), perhaps it’s the sweet-spot the band has nearly perfected—-that elusive space between too subversive and not rebellious enough. Fugazi is a band that makes their listeners feel important but never at the expense of a good time.
The good times continue with the first taste from the group’s first demos (out 11/18 on Dischord), as “Merchandise” sports a rollicking chorus and MacKaye’s deep, powerful, half growl. MacKaye yelps “A dollar and a dollar spent,” as Joe Lally plays a bassline not as iconic but just as engaging as his riff on “Waiting Room.” The guitar slides itself back into the chorus, as one final, “You are not what you are” takes the band towards a finale. It’s rare to anticipate an early demo in a way even remotely similar to that of a traditional album, but Fugazi aren’t your typical band.
