With over 3 million views on Youtube (and a multiple feature in the "Instrument" documentary by Jem Cohen), the December 29, 1988 homecoming show at the Wilson Center in D.C., or at least this particular live rendering of Waiting Room (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGJFWirQ3ks) can most definitely be considered iconic and another milestone performance.
It is the fifth Fugazi appearance at the legendary venue, which took place only a couple of days after the band concluded a long, strenuous tour through Europe as well as the Margin Walker recording session in London.
The occasion turned out to be a benefit for the National Coalition for the Homeless, put together by Positive Force D.C., and presented a remarkable bill which also included another personal favourite of mine, Soul Side.
In their book "Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation's Capital", Mark Andersen of Positive Force and Mark Jenkins reminisce: "As Soul Side played, PF workers at the front door were nearly overwhelmed. Over 1000 people had shown up, the largest Wilson Center punk crowd ever. While both Verbal Assault and Soul Side had sizeable followings, the vast majority of people came to see Fugazi. In its first DC show since the release of its [7 Songs] EP [in November 1988], the band had unexpectedly doubled its audience."
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Anticipating possible mishaps, Ian addresses the dynamics of the unexpected yet historic turnout right off the bat: "I'm going to beg, cajole, plead with the people up front to be a little more caring of each other because all night I've been watching people get their heads smashed right about here. Now I know we live in a democracy - or what you might think is a 'democracy' - so I'm sure people will say, 'Hey man, it's my right to jump and land on people's heads all night long'. Fair enough, but how many people would just as soon they didn't jump on their fucking heads all night?"
Greeted by loud cheers, the band then soon eases into Reprovisional which not only turns out to be the live premiere of the song which had been recorded at the Margin Walker session in December 1988 (titled Provisional, with single guitar composition), but also presents the first time Guy tries to play guitar with the band in a concert setting. Unfortunately, problems with his guitar amplifier a couple of chords into the song ultimately prevent Guy from further using his guitar, after which the band takes another stab at the song with Guy just focusing on the lead vocals.
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As it turns out, this performance at the Wilson Center includes another song premiere from the Margin Walker sessions as the band busts out a full version of Promises, a song that had only partly been showcased in the course of the preceding European tour, mostly as an instrumental. Lyrically, Ian relates the song to the persisting problems of the homeless in D.C. and elsewhere, and the countless bullshit promises made by politicians over the years.
Listening to this digital recording, or watching the footage of a number of songs that circulate on the internet, you can easily pick up that people attending the packed gig actually know most of the songs, that they sing along at the top of their lungs and dance to their heart's content in the confined space they find themselves in, all without engaging in violence.
In this regard it is revealing that the band had ventured to Arlington’s Inner Ear Studios as soon as January 1988 to lay down 11 tracks. Although this First Demo hasn't seen a proper, official release until very recently, November 18, 2014, limited-edition cassettes of the demo sessions were distributed and changed hands soon after, familiarising the growing number of enthusiasts with the songs as Fugazi swiftly gained a foothold.
Or as Ian quips right after Song #1, "What, have you guys been trading tapes or something... What's going on I hear... If anybody here owns an unauthorised copy of a Fugazi tape, we're gonna sue you. Hand them up, come on, over to the front, let's go, all those tapes."
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It all makes for a blistering, at times hair-raising experience as the momentum quickly builds and both band and audience continually feed off each other. Highlights are plenty, and include no holds barred renderings of Bad Mouth, Bulldog Front, Waiting Room, and a cathartic Glueman.
Also, this particular version of Suggestion (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-k1iK4nyS8o) - featuring D.C. affiliate and Fire Party member Amy Pickering on guest vocals - just might be the proverbial icing on the cake. About halfway through the performance, Amy withdraws to the side of the stage after which Ian steps up to the mic and relates the song, which is usually about rape, to something else which had been brought to his attention.
The cheers from the crowd intensify as he decisively speaks out, his voice rising, "I read in the paper the other day about some young men, some 'boys' who were beating up homosexual men in a park. I read in the paper the other day about some young men, some 'boys' who were beating up gay men in a park. Let me tell you something now, I don't give a fuck what you are, but you do not beat up people for being gay, you do not beat up people for being black, you do not beat up people for being women, you - do - not - beat - up - people - period."
My only gripe with this live recording basically is that the sound quality unfortunately is below average due to a lot of treble, and as such only hints at the sheer energy, intensity and raw power of the events that played out on this particular night in time.
Still, for a great number of reasons addressed above, this recording undoubtedly is worth checking out.

This was my first! I was going to see Verbal Assault. Holy shit was I in for a surprise.

I think there were 900 people there, in a room fire coded for 50. I was in the back when Fugazi started. But it was no problem. So many people were moving and packed in there so tightly, that my feet barely ever touched the floor and by the end of the set I was effortlessly in the front.

People still danced back then. It was awesome.