Having played Birmingham, Alabama for the first time as early as 1991, Fugazi would not return until 2002. The recording featured here showcases their 2002 show, which turned out to be their first and last performance at the Sloss Furnace, “said to be one of the country's most haunted sites” (cf. https://www.moderncities.com/article/2017-may-autopsy-of-architecture-birminghams-sloss-furnaces).

With just 19 songs total, this is one of the shorter shows of the US leg of the 2002 tour. However, the band is on point and delivers, with little or no mistakes dotted around. And as per usual by now, Jerry Busher sits in to provide some additional percussion on Ex-Spectator and Burning.

Note that the band comes out swinging and pretty much pummels the audience with the string of songs opening the set. The introductory remarks reveal a bit of an altercation between Ian and a couple of attendees early on and some of their taunts (”don’t bitch about people dancing”) might very well have brought on the musical downpour that was to come.

More issues with some knuckleheads ensue throughout the show, and Ian ends up going off on a lengthy tangent, addressing the issue.

A paced and toned-down, yet very enjoyable encore follows suit, possibly to ease some of the tension, with Strangelight into Long Division into The Kill, before the band concludes the set with a bang by way of Blueprint.

The audio quality of this recording is really good overall (note some small audio cuts in-between songs). However, there do appear to have been some mic issues, eclipsing Guy’s vocals for about half of Nightshop, as well as his first line on Last Chance for a Slow Dance.

It was hot, but what a glorious night!

Apologies for the lunkheads in the crowd that night... But you guys handled it like pros.

Here's hoping you'll get back together and do it again.