This was my first Fugazi live experience and it was pretty awesome. I was a fan of Minor Threat so someone I was in ISU ROTC with mentioned they were coming and I figured I'd check it out. I wouldn't learn the songs till later, but this set list pretty much hit all their music I became a big fan of. So cool to own this now. A little music time capsule.

Fugazi's first and only time visiting the small town of Normal, Illinois takes place during the rocking 1993 trek for the In On The Killtaker album. I like to think this was another cool chance to play a show in an unusual place for one, true to the band's philosophy. The opening remarks are a fun listen as Ian interviews the crowd and everything ends in friendly taunts flying both ways.

Some mix settling is needed at first but shortly afterwards we have another powerful recording from the era. The vocals tend to drown a little but overall the balance is fine. The drum sound is a bit thin to my ears comparatively, otherwise there's a good low end presence. Typical for the era, this recording represents really well how tightly the band play together.

Steady Diet opens the show with its brooding atmosphere. The song is easily one of the rarest on the FLS, and for example made it to only two setlists on the fall 93 tour, and merely eight the whole year. Judging by an interview, apparently it's one of those tracks the band simply never really figured out how to play after recording it. Be that as it may, it's a great instrumental and in my opinion there's nothing really wrong with the performance aside from a few obvious slips at the start.

The band then proceed to something that I can only describe as a sweet, sweet Fugazi onslaught. Exit Only is played uptempo and sounds great. Fast, fiery numbers follow and Facet Squared is the superbly energetic highlight of the flow.

A crushing version of Instrument leads to some banter with topics such as sandal-tossing and Ian's decade-long human study. The band then push on to another fantastic flow of tracks regardless of the few ruffians in the audience.
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I could list a lot of songs as highlights because the band is just so exceptionally telepathic and powerful this evening. Song #1 rocks hard and is actually another rare cut in the set as it got a mere seven performances during the fall 93 tour of the US.

As mentioned in the show's info, Promises is greatly prolonged due to a heated exchange. I won't spoil it, but I'll just say it makes for a very interesting listen. It also seems to affect the mood of the final part of the show, as the encores feel very statement-like. The songs are played with hearts on sleeves, and this peculiar atmosphere is emphasized especially on the towering rendition of Reclamation. Sweet and Low is the tender goodbye once again.

I can easily recommend this entry. The band is amazingly unified this evening and each performance oozes with confidence and the flows work so well. The recording sounds fine throughout. To me there's a perfect balance of live gig antics and hard as nails musicality presented here.

Would love to see this concert become available. This was my first - and unfortunately -- only live Fugazi experience. Here's what I remember...a complete, intimidating, solid wall of sound. I don't think the crowd knew what hit them. Thanks guys, for making your history and artistry accessible to us!
Brandan, Bloomington, IL