Chunklet

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.

ian mackaye is the most humorless fuck in the entire world, ever. the mtv bashing is fucking retarded, its like he completely forgot that music is about fun. shut your fucking mouth and play some songs. god.

Posted by thepulse @ 01/04/2010 03:55 PM

I saw Fugazi on every tour from Repeater onward. Most of the time, they cracked me up with the banter. Occasionally they did a slap down on the audience and it was always, "oooo, Ian's calling someone out" it really worked pretty well at keeping shows from becoming a complete free for all, and I still acted crazy and had a blast. One of the greatest live bands ever. And I agree that Jesus Lizard is up there as well.

Posted by Shaun @ 12/15/2009 03:03 PM

They will never do ATP!!!

Posted by yancy @ 12/10/2009 10:08 AM

What else would you expect from the two guys who co-founded "emo" getting all touchy-feely, having group discussions, and talking about their feelings onstage?
Saw 'em at Gilman, 1990 Repeater tour - top 5 shows ever.

In all the times I saw 'em I never got the extended monologue. But I do like how Ian and Guy trade being the straight man for their comedy routines. The classic, "ice cream" has gotta be my fave, too.

Posted by Mark @ 12/09/2009 05:25 AM

take your five bucks and get the fuck outta here.....genius

Posted by john z @ 12/08/2009 12:12 AM

I hang my head in shame that I saw this band so many times. why, oh why did it take me so long to figure out that they were preachy quasi intellectual bores?
live & learn. thanks for the cringy yuks I got listening to this.

Posted by daniel @ 12/07/2009 11:24 PM

I really really miss this band. alot. Thanks for posting this.

PS.The bonobo chimp rules apparently.

Posted by Demetrius @ 12/05/2009 02:49 AM

henry,
this is great stuff. i just put out a 7" of having fun on stage with danko jones. get in touch and i'll send it to you. i miss fugazi sometimes, this was great as it got me thinking about the shows i did manage to see.
tony / call the office

Posted by tony @ 12/05/2009 02:38 AM

IT'S FIVE FUCKING DOLLARS (okay, $8 in LA) - if you "don't wanna hear it", take yer fiver, buy a Whopper & Big Gulp Mnt. Dew, don't go and shut the hell up. SOME people grow up, get married, have kids, evolve into another endeavor. 16 year asshole kids will always be 16 year old asshole kids.

Posted by Rolo @ 12/04/2009 09:01 PM

Why the fuck should fugazi reform for atp?!? if they were only doing it for the dollars it would be an apathetic shit show with none of their original energyinput anyway. Oh wait, thats what the last tour felt like to them, THATS WHY THEY CALLED A HIATUS!

Posted by corbypunk @ 12/04/2009 07:30 PM

Great stuff. This got Chunklet a link from Harper's.

Posted by I.F. @ 12/03/2009 11:12 PM

Listening to this makes me want to crowd surf at an Evens show. Just to get that dude's blood warmed up again. "You thought you could stop us with the Evens, Ian?"

Posted by Travis @ 12/03/2009 10:13 PM

Josh...you're adorable.

Posted by billy @ 12/03/2009 09:48 PM

I was at The Jesus Lizard show this past Friday when Yow was dropped while crowd surfing, bruised his bibs, and still brought it the next night, though with a little less crowd surfing. I'm with you that the crowd surfing be left to the pros. I don't want to hoist some dbag who's all sweaty and dumb, as there were at the Metro prior to Yow's accident. I blame the dbag crowd surfers for desensitizing the crowd to allow for a 'who cares' approach to crowd surfing. One minor consolation is that most of the lame-o's who crowd surfed also met a gravity-affirming fate.

Posted by Darby @ 12/03/2009 09:29 PM

Fugazi was a great band, but they pulled this same annoying bullsh*t every time I saw them. Stop the show between every song, chastise some guy for pushing somebody (this from some of the same guys who while in Minor Threat used to take pride in beating people up), engage some drunk guy in the politics of Straight Edge, complain about the lighting, complain about the sound. There were (maybe) a few in the crowd who were into it, but most everybody I talked to thought all this chastising the audience business was pretentious and annoying. Hearing it now just confirms my original impression.

Posted by Josh @ 12/03/2009 09:23 PM

beats the Venom stage banter comp by a country mile.

Posted by noize43 @ 12/03/2009 09:22 PM

GAWD when will they reunite indeed!. i never had the pleasure.I was oblivious to them when they were playing all over NYU! and now i live to regret it!. i did get to see and meet joe lally though. so that is something at least

Posted by m 2 da d @ 12/03/2009 07:42 PM

Thanks for the upload, love that picture!

Posted by Whitey @ 12/03/2009 02:19 PM

We just loved supporting these guys in 92 - Wellington New Zealand. Billed as Skinshed... Awesome-est stage band.

Posted by Matt @ 12/03/2009 10:23 AM

"Hold on a second, I'm having a personal conversation." This is an absolutely brilliant idea. I'd suggest compiling stage banter for other bands, but no one could ever match Fugazi in that dept.

I can't place which shows, but I do remember being there for some of these slices of brilliance.

Thank you for this wonderful gift of post-hardcore comedy gold!

Posted by Hal @ 12/03/2009 09:48 AM

It isn't sad. I was there for ice cream eating motherfuckers at Fort Reno. Those guys were assholes and it was great to see someone put them in their place.

Posted by Tim @ 12/03/2009 01:55 AM

What was always characterized as "preachy" and at the time sometimes seemed indulgent at many of the shows (lucky enough as i was to live/play in d.c. from 89-93); is flat out solid gold now. "i AM the manager." that, kids, is how we roll(ed).

Posted by michelleo @ 12/03/2009 12:43 AM

"This is why hatebreed will always be better than fugazi, one encourage us to have fun - and another is chastising us for doing so"

thank you, aside from the example of hatebreed, this is perfect.

Posted by Brian @ 12/03/2009 12:07 AM

one of the nice things about being old is having had the opportunity to see fugazi about a dozen times. they were always amazing live...and the kind of band that could reunite, like, 20 years from now and still be amazing. (we can hope, right?)

Posted by mike @ 12/02/2009 11:30 PM

ATP better lower their buck if they want fugazi.

lets hope that's true.
im sure it is.

Posted by carlo guillermo proto @ 12/02/2009 10:13 PM

This is outstanding. I remember the early part of the MP3 from their three nights at Irving Plaza (the scalper thing and Mat Hoffman's bones). Those and the countless other times I had the luck to see Fugazi are hands-down the best shows I've experienced. I miss them.

Thank you.

Posted by Kevin @ 12/02/2009 09:05 PM

Fugazi is the greatest band ever to take a stage.

Thanks for posting the stage banter.

Posted by Yeah @ 12/02/2009 08:30 PM

Of all the Fugazi shows I ever saw, Guy's "Ice cream-eating motherfucker" tirade in Olympia was maybe the most brain caving. Hilarious and entirely apt to the situation. Excellent people, beautiful band. Thanks for posting this.

Posted by Arlie @ 12/02/2009 07:19 PM

I only got the pleasure to see Fugazi twice and the stage banter was just as enjoyable as the music.
I wish you would have included The Columbus Ohio show where Ian almost had a little skin head in tears after he yelled "Yes She Did!" during "Suggestion" when he sings "She does nothing to deserve it...".
Ian degraded the young boy about being too young to be a skin and if he had a mother or any sisters that would approve of his behavior.
The other time I saw them in Denver they stopped the show to tell people to stop stage diving&told a story about visiting a hospital to see a kid that was in a wheel chair from that kind of behavior. Anyone have any idea or have heard that story before?

Posted by kreg @ 12/02/2009 06:40 PM

@dcoop, yeah you're right. That would make a more accurate Elvis reference for sure, but it sounded better the other way when I said it out loud. Shrug.

Posted by J. Burns @ 12/02/2009 06:37 PM

Shouldn't it be called "Having Fun With Fugazi On Stage"?

Posted by dcoop @ 12/02/2009 05:00 PM

I hate stage diving/crowd surfing- all of it. At a superchunk show in philadelphia in 1993 or 1994 they encouraged up to pry their shoes off and drop them to the floor. Usually clubs boot the offending surfers- when they don't it's ridiculous (Sonar/Jesus Lizard show, I'm lookin' at you!)

Posted by beth @ 12/02/2009 04:42 PM

Props on the mp3. Love a bit of Fugazi chat (I loved the bit on the documentary where they discussed misconceptions like 'I heard they don't use electricity').

But I hope ATP has no say in any Fugazi reunion. I'd like the band to get back together at some point, but not at the behest of Nostalgia Fests R Us.

Posted by throughsilver @ 12/02/2009 02:37 PM

I wasn't at the Shellac ATP but I'm pretty sure it was asked in one of their Q&As why Fugazi weren't invited.

I believe the explanation was that Fugazi always had a no festivals rule and even though they understood ATP wasn't really like other festivals they held firm to that rule. So, yeah, ATP won't make them reform.

Posted by Theo Graham-Brown @ 12/02/2009 06:28 AM

Henry, I agree with you on how what you say about crowd surfing. It's a fucking drag. Yow that night at Variety Playhouse proved he was a pro at it no doubt but, I do hate those fags that just leap and start flailing around slamming me in the head while I try to enjoy the show. I could bitch for hours. Not mention the ones that want you to help them up and most importantly someone who wants to have a conversation with you while the band is playing.

Also, I've always been more prone to older groups. Melvins, Jesus Lizard, Napalm Death, etc because they've been around forever and they are experienced. Real pros. Oldies are goodies but, then again do they ever REALLY get old?

Posted by Jaron @ 12/01/2009 09:46 PM

Fugazi always got a bum wrap as a "un-fun" band hopefully this will put this idea to rest for the kids who never got the see the masters in action.

Posted by YD @ 12/01/2009 08:56 PM

I would welcome a Big Chief reunion. I know that I am in the minority on that one, but fuck it. Hey, wasn't there an earlier post where the author claimed to have his nose bloodied by Yow The Professional?

Posted by kip @ 12/01/2009 06:45 PM

That Birmingham show was fantastic!

The goons were to be expected but, of course, they were handled amiably by the band -- though I seem to recall Guy jumping off stage to confront one of said yahoos.

Posted by james pee fahy @ 12/01/2009 05:38 PM

The only problem with a Necros reunion is it would lead to a Big Chief reunion and, well, no one wants that.

Posted by bennett @ 12/01/2009 05:11 PM

one may as well wish for a Minor Threat reunion,
since that's just about as likely to happen..

what the hell: go for broke, and hope for a Necros reunion!! (so.. you wanna get on that one, Henry?)

Posted by Jerny @ 12/01/2009 09:37 AM

FYI, I recorded that Birmingham show. Sadly it was the last time I saw Fugazi (one of their last dozen gigs) because the crowd was cool except for some douchebags that derailed the show.

Posted by h2o @ 11/30/2009 09:34 PM

As the guy who edited this thing together, I'm glad all of y'all enjoyed it.

You can read a little about the nuts and bolts of it here:

http://www.publiccollectors.org/FugaziLiveBanter.htm

Posted by J. Burns @ 11/30/2009 09:02 PM

haha... why is someone even comparing Hatebreed and Fugazi?

Posted by byrd @ 11/30/2009 09:01 PM

The thought of Fugazi reuniting is painful because it will never happen. Guy touring with Vic Chesnutt is pretty cool. Is anyone else having trouble wrapping their head around the idea of Hatebreed being better than Fugazi?

Posted by kip @ 11/30/2009 06:40 PM

Having seen Fugazi more times than any sonofbitch in the house (yeah, that's right, I said it) and with mackaye, not more than a year or so ago sitting in the passenger side seat of my car saying it, *it* AIN'T gonna happen. Sorry fellas.
Especially at an ATP type thing. Maybe, maybe, maybe, some DC charity gig thing.
That's your only hope. You are not what you own.

Posted by billy @ 11/30/2009 06:39 PM

"the" ice-cream-cone eating show. hahaa, they did that at every show.

Posted by julie @ 11/30/2009 06:01 PM

This is why hatebreed will always be better than fugazi, one encourage us to have fun - and another is chastising us for doing so.

Posted by Jose @ 11/30/2009 05:46 PM

Absolutely brilliant stuff, lovingly and meticulously collected, and from a guy in a band with some pretty killer stage banter themselves I might add.

More of this kind of thing please!
I would suggested Future of the Left for the next batch, who are the new "quip" reigning kings in my opinion.

Posted by Conan Neutron @ 11/30/2009 05:08 PM

hilarious! i was at the "ice-cream-cone eating" show!

Posted by DSTRYA @ 11/30/2009 03:26 PM

I cannot imagine fugazi playing ATP, pitchfork, and the FFF festivals, but who knows. Thanks for the post. Enjoyed the comments on the mummies.

Posted by Eric @ 11/30/2009 03:25 PM

gospel

Posted by sami @ 11/30/2009 01:47 PM

Henry, trust that any youngish bucks who skywayed into my vector at the two shows here received analog-style violence for their digital-age dickfoolery.

Posted by mike wolf @ 11/30/2009 01:46 PM

But which album?

Posted by james pee fahy @ 11/30/2009 12:00 PM

This is great -- thanks for compiling/posting.

Posted by The Caribbean @ 11/30/2009 11:39 AM

That is a great photo. I wish I had gotten to see Fugazi. I hope you are right about ATP, maybe they can make dreams come true again.

Posted by Mike @ 11/30/2009 11:09 AM