The Huntridge Theater in Las Vegas, Nevada is another venue to be added to the list of remarkable places Fugazi played over the years.

In fact, Fugazi played Las Vegas only two times, once in 1993 and then again as part of the 1999 West Coast tour, with both shows taking place at the 1000 cap Huntridge, also known as the Huntridge Performing Arts Theater, reportedly “a Streamline Moderne building located in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Huntridge opened October 10, 1944. The theater is said to have been the first non-segregated theater in Las Vegas. The building was designed by S. Charles Lee and is listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places. The Huntridge Theater closed on July 31, 2004.”

According to Las Vegas Weekly, on July 28, 1995,

“[j]ust hours before the Circle Jerks are to play, the roof of the building collapses. Although a few employees were inside, there were no serious injuries. Despite this, the Circle Jerks contributed one of the most cherished memories to the Huntridge folklore when they play to a group of onlookers still hanging around. As lead singer Keith Morris would relate years later: ‘As soon as we got there, we were told that the roof had collapsed and the show was canceled. We didn’t have anywhere else to go, so we just set up our equipment in the parking lot and played for the 30 or 40 people who were still there.’ The result was an impromptu mosh pit that showed endlessly gyrating kids thrashing frantically on the outdoor pavement.”

Footage related to the event can be found here (http://news3lv.com/archive/video-vault--huntridge-theater-roof-collapse-of-1995).

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As to the Fugazi recording presented here, let me cut right to it. While this show is a fucking rush for the most part, there are a couple of reasons curbing the experience for me personally.

First off, Birthday Pony is one of few songs I never managed to get into. To see it pop up in any set list, and here even as set opener, kind of puts me off.

Also, while I love the song Instrument, and I think it actually can serve as a most suitable set closer because of its ominous build-up and cathartic qualities, it doesn’t quite pack the necessary punch this time, and leaves me a bit hanging.

Further, while the sound quality of the recording basically is top-notch in my book, the vocals and instrumentation crisp, clear and overall well-balanced, the mix only settles about a minute and a half into Cassavetes, which leaves the introductory remarks and first two songs somewhat flawed. Plus, later on in the set, most of the Arpeggiator instrumental is missing.

As such, I consider this particular recording really good, but not truly great. Also, as unfortunately is the case with the other 1999 recordings I have been listening to, the audience is hardly discernible other than in-between songs, which I generally consider a significant drawback compared to early Fugazi live recordings.

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Still, aside from all of the above, this recording still offers a lot to enjoy once Break takes off. The band is firing on all cylinders, and delivers a flawless execution from beginning to end (note that Ian’s guitar play is off going into Waiting Room, but he recovers gracefully).

The order of the songs works really well in my opinion, at least as far as the main set is concerned. I feel the sense of direction falters somewhat after this, while the songs are still performed to a T in their own right.

Counting a total of 28 songs, this is one of the longest gigs of the 1999 West Coast leg of the tour, topped only by the stellar DV8 show in Seattle (29 songs).

Enclosed here are songs taken off of Furniture EP (1), End Hits (9), Red Medicine (6), In on the Kill Taker (4), Steady Diet of Nothing (3), Repeater (3), Margin Walker (1) and 7 Songs (1). This includes, by 1999 standards, rare-ish live renderings of Caustic Acrostic, Lockdown, or Downed City.

This was an amazing show! This was where my love for the SG began.