In their book “Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation’s Capital”, Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins argue that Fugazi, among other things, set out to oppose “punk-as-usual, speaking out against violence and machismo and regenerating the sense of community at shows”. According to the authors, Ian said in 1986 that “when people actively participate, it gives the show a purpose and unity that you don’t see often now”. Through this, Fugazi and its members hoped to “elicit any kind of protest or get people thinking”.
These early live recordings definitely serve as a case in point. Note for instance that during this particular show, Ian invites people who want to express musical ideas or who have something to say, to participate in band proceedings, since “there is always room for more”. Guy literally took him up on that, since this recording features Guy on lead vocals for the first time, delivering an ardent version of another addition to the live repertoire, Break-In (the third and final song released as part of the 3 Songs 7” in 1990). Guy did not yet pick up a guitar for these first couple of shows, but does provide backing vocals on most other tracks, and uses what seems to be the tambourine as well on a couple of occasions if I am not mistaken.
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Other than that, the Joe #1 instrumental (the first song written by Joe, “pretty fucking ingenious, huh”) opens the show and serves as sound check, before Ian gives the floor to a speaker addressing the Women Take Back the Night initiative (unlike other recordings, the speech itself is not included here). The recording then abruptly continues with Merchandise (note that the opening part of the song is missing), followed by Song #1, relating to “sort of a philosophy that you can attach as much importance you want to anything, yet in the end it’s all nothing so you should take care of each other and never put movements in front of human beings”.
The following interlude addresses the issue of the light show (or plea to leave it be), after which a pretty much definite version of the song Bad Mouth is premièred (released as part of the 7 Songs EP in 1988), followed by another live rendering of And The Same (which has been polished some more since its previous performances) with “Big Joe power-pushing the bass line”. As mentioned, Guy then steps up to take on Break-In, and livens up Waiting Room as well with some more backing vocals. A crushing yet invigorating performance of the traditional set closer (at this point) The Word blows the roof off, as Ian seizes another opportunity to fuel the communal fire, urging those present “to break down any fucking walls between the band and the crowd tonight”, to “please raise your voice, and join in”.
As to the sound quality, I think that even though the mix suffers a few irregularities, it is still very much enjoyable overall.

These early dc space shows are my favorites. I saw Fugazi's first couple shows but then went to Brooklyn for school and could only see them when I was home on breaks. There were cassette tapes of these shows floating around in early '88 and I wore those damn things out...pining for home!

Love it ... Love it