Las Mordidas – “Ex-Voto” LP
The irrepressible force of nature that is and was Chris Thomson – bass player in Lunchmeat, then Ignition, and frontman of Fury, Circus Lupus, Monorchid and Skull Kontrol (etc.) – also sang vocals in this short lived Washington DC band. Joined by other veterans from the DC community, including bass player extraordinaire, Doug E. Bird (Beefeater, Fidelity Jones, Rain Like The Sound Of Trains), plus Jon K. (Rain), and Jerry Busher ( All-Scars and Fidelity Jones). Existing as a band from the Summer of 1993 through to the Spring of 1994. Dischord aficionados will remember their two 7″ released in that year (one was a Dischord half number, the other was a split with Mukilteo Fairies on Honey Bear Records). This 12″ combines ten tracks from sessions recorded by Geoff Turner at WGNS in 1993 and Brendan Canty at Pirate House in 1994. Tapes recovered by Jerry Busher and transferred by Ian Mackaye and Don Godwyn.
Q And Not U – “Different Damage” LP
The second full-length album by the Washington DC post hardcore indie-punks, recorded as a three piece with the help of Ian Mackaye and Don Zientara, and released in 2002. This is the 2023 repress.
Light Beams – “Wild Life” LP
Rhythm lead agitational indie-punk from Washington DC. Front person Justin Moyer is a journalist/protest reporter and member of a Pulitzer Prize-winning team that covered the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol. The quintet distils nine songs into a twenty-five-minute package that voyages through insurrection deep into the bittersweet heart of 21st-century America. Lots of percussion, dance grooves, and samples, on an album that is also a very easy shoe-in amongst the (post 80’s hardcore) Dischord back catalogue.
Their first vinyl full-length release. Previous recordings were released on Don Giovanni Records.
Scream – “DC Special” LP
The DC legends recently invited their extensive music community to help create this unique project. Joining the original line-up (including the late Kent Stax on drums) are these contributing guests: Mark Cisneros, Joe Lally, Derrick Decker, Bob Berberich, Clint Walsh, Dave Grohl, Onam Emmett, John Goetchius, Jerry Busher, Amy Pickering, Ian MacKaye, Amanda MacKaye, Brian Baker, Randy Austin, Martha Hull, Michael Reidy, Nate Bergman, Bobby Madden. Recorded by Don Zientara just weeks before his studio was evicted from its long-time location, the record is rich with both the sounds of Inner Ear and those of friends and musicians who influenced Scream and who shaped DC music over the past six decades.
The LP consists of twelve tracks. Six more tracks are included as a download code.
Corm – “Audio Flame Kit” LP
The first and only full-length from Washington, D.C.’s Corm, which featured John Davis of Q and Not U. This recording was originally released as a split between Dischord and Shute Records in 1996, and then later reissued on CD by Polyvinyl, and now in 2023 pressed on vinyl for the first time. I immediately recognised the name Crom, but with no clear recollection until a quick peek in Discogs reminded me of the split 7″ they shared with Braid from 1997. Its a shame that I’m so late in catching-up with their full-length, back then I would have jumped on this, filing it alongside Frodus, Lincoln, Shake Ray Turbine, The Crownhate Ruin, Current etc. – a point in time when, (pun intended), I was hoovering-up any DC/Fugazi flavoured post-hardcore sounds.
Shouty vocals over dischordant guitars; contrasting with sung vocals over tense, string picking; held together throughout by taught beats and jazzy basslines. Turns to camera, raises finger, “nice”.
Black Eyes – Self-titled LP
Post-hardcore band from Washington, their first-full length was released on Dischord in 2003 following several singles on Ruffian Records and Planaria. Dubby, rhythm based post-punk-funk of the ’80s, with a modern Dischord flair.
The Make-Up – “In Mass Mind” LP
Their second full-length LP, released in 1998. Formed in 1995 out of the ashes of The Nation Of Ulysses with three former band members joined by bassist Michelle of the Frumpies.
The Evens – Self-titled LP
The first album by drum/acoustic guitar duo Ian MacKaye and Amy Farina, 12 songs recorded in 2004 with Don Zientara at inner ear studios. Dual vocal harmonies, baritone guitar, wire brush snare hits and rim shots.
Lungfish – “A.C.R. 1999” CD
These 10-songs were recorded and mixed by Craig Bowen at Baltimore’s A.C.R. Studios but never released. After the session the band decided to continue writing new songs. Six of these songs were re-recorded at Inner Eat Studios and released on Necrophones, while four others remained unreleased. Released in 2012, only available on CD since then, but a vinyl repress is due in the winter of 2023.
Shudder To Think – “Curses, Spells, Voodoo, Mooses ” CD
