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Banter is scarce, aside from Guy’s “lay our lives on the line” rap into No Surprise or Ian’s “I hope someday” rebuke (which is actually quite funny) into Long Distance Runner.
While a lot, if not most versions of Glueman build up to a blistering and complete sonic breakdown, this one does not. Instead, Brendan, Joe and Ian carry it through, until the proverbial chugging train grinds to a halt, Brendan’s kick drum a throbbing heart.
Presented are 24 live cuts, mainly off of End Hits (9) with some additional tracks off of Red Medicine (2), In on the Kill Taker (4), Steady Diet of Nothing (2), Repeater (3), 3 Songs seven-inch (1), Margin Walker EP (2), 7 Songs debut EP (1). This includes rare to very rare 1998 live renderings of Exit Only, Last Chance for a Slow Dance, Long Distance Runner, Break-In, Glueman and Brendan #1.
The sound quality of the recording is pretty much phenomenal, the drums in particular. However, there are some volume shifts during And The Same and the audience is low in the mix overall.
Still, I consider this an all-round strong show and a Fugazi Live Series entry I can easily recommend.
Quite a fun listen with one of the funniest interludes from any show. I felt like this whole show told a story in a way that few others have.
1. | Opening Remarks | |
2. | Break | |
3. | Exit Only | |
4. | Merchandise | |
5. | Public Witness Program | |
6. | And The Same | |
7. | Interlude 1 | |
8. | Place Position | |
9. | Back To Base | |
10. | Sieve-Fisted Find | |
11. | Interlude 2 | |
12. | Recap Modotti | |
13. | Promises | |
14. | No Surprise | |
15. | Interlude 3 | |
16. | Long Distance Runner | |
17. | Last Chance for a Slow Dance | |
18. | Facet Squared | |
19. | Break-In | |
20. | Interlude 4 | |
21. | Closed Captioned | |
22. | Arpeggiator | |
23. | Reclamation | |
24. | Encore | |
25. | Brendan #1 | |
26. | Walken's Syndrome | |
27. | Interlude 5 | |
28. | Five Corporations | |
29. | FD | |
30. | Pink Frosty | |
31. | Glueman | |
32. | Outro |
Please Note: Available recordings have been mastered to correct for volume shifts, drop outs, etc. but some sonic anomalies will still exist, especially early in the set when the mix is being settled. The band has rated each show for sound quality and set the general price of a download at $5 per show. If you have a different price in mind feel free to utilize the alternative pricing option.
The only show Fugazi performed in the city of Fairfax, Virginia, a Rock for Choice benefit for the Clinic Defense Fund, capping off the 1998 tour itinerary which added up to a total of 42 shows that year.
The recording documents a tight and highly enjoyable performance, which has a great and organic flow to it. After some introductory remarks by a number of speakers, providing some background to the benefit, a high-energy string of songs opens a varied set (note that the first five songs draw from as many albums).
There are some interesting set list choices, such as an early Promises (with a remarkably restrained bridge) or Break-In (by special request) and Reclamation (to close out the main set) catering to the theme of the benefit. Also, Joe teases a slice of Lusty Scripps on bass into Closed Captioned, and the song combination FD into Pink Frosty into Glueman to close out the show is quite unique and works really well.
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