really excellent set here, super fun the whole way through. highlights include:

* one of the best renditions of Merchandise i think i've ever heard - the band tackles it with a perfect energy and the sound quality is top-notch
* ian going on a long tangent about keeping the doors closed so as not to let in a draft, and then dedicating Great Cop to himself. never let them tell you he doesn't have a sense of humor
* an unlisted "easter egg" track that made me grin when i discovered it

seconding Gunter's recommendation here, this show is absolutely worth your $5

This date marks the last time Fugazi played the city of Seattle in the state of Washington, following another gig at the Capitol Theater in Olympia on the previous night and completing a 7 night stretch with partners in crime The Ex, an iconic punk band from the Netherlands which has been in existence for decades and performs to this very day.

The venue is the DV8 (which reportedly has been torn down for a multistory mixed-use building in 2012) and packs some 1500 attendees for the occasion. As it turns out, Fugazi played Seattle 6 times over the years, with only Olympia topping this in Washington state, chalking up a total of 7 Fugazi shows.

The recording starts off with Greg Bennick (vocalist in Seattle-based political straight edge hardcore band Trial, activist, public speaker, movie-maker, and philanthropist, to name a couple of things) delivering a lengthy, yet eloquent and passionate plea addressing and opposing the Teen Dance Ordinance, at that time a controversial Seattle law which severely curtailed the ability of concert and club promoters to hold events for underaged patrons.

Considering Fugazi strongly advocated an all ages policy since its inception, things pretty much add up on this particular night in time.

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Something else I particularly admire about Fugazi is that the band never used fixed set lists, but preferred to take its cues from situations or events as and when they occurred.

Of course this means taking risks, since it significantly increases the element of surprise and the chance of possible mishaps, and it definitely demands the band members to stay alert, taking subtle leads and cues from each other, and being able to go into any of the songs that make up the repertoire. On some nights this kind of interaction falls short, yet on other nights everything is magic.

That said, this recording right here definitely falls in the latter category since it documents an evening in time where the pieces of the puzzle come together and the result transcends. The band is on fire, and the performances and interplay are great, which results in several little improvs or song variations.

In this regard, note a little bit of additional foreplay leading the listener into Recap Modotti, as well as the deliciously grinding guitar play lighting up Waiting Room, the alternate guitar arrangements during Turnover, the restrained percussion and deliberate vocal finesse on Long Division, the drawn out bridge during Song #1, or Joe’s unusual and different approach towards the end of Glueman.

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Also, note that the set opens with the Number 5 instrumental with Jerry Busher on additional percussion. The song would not see its official release until October 2001, as part of the Furniture EP.

On top of this, the sound quality is truly excellent and beautifully captures the intricate patterns and layered subtleties which these songs contain. The only minor reserve here is that the 1500 people attending the gig are not all that audible in the mix.

To conclude, it can be noted that one song is not mentioned in the set list yet gets pulled out of the hat right after Long Distance Runner. I will not give away the song title here, but I’m sure a lot of listeners will welcome this tune.

Counting the surprise track brings the total number of songs played up to 29. Most of these are taken from the End Hits and Red Medicine albums (7 versus 8 songs respectively), followed by 3 songs each from the Repeater and Steady Diet of Nothing albums, 2 songs each from In on the Kill Taker, the 7 Songs EP and Margin Walker EP, and 1 song each from the Furniture EP and 3 Songs 7 inch.

This was my third Fugazi show. Attended the previous night of this tour in Olympia, too. Drove down from Vancouver, BC, with my new roommate who had never seen Fugazi before. I first participated in a Fugazi show in Vancouver at Plaza of Nations in 1993. It was also tremendous. Perhaps one of the most exhilarating aspects of attending these 1999 shows was bearing witness to my roommate's ecstatic joy and pure astonishment, not to mention, the widest grin I have ever seen on a human face, after we left the venue. Thanks to you all and your music and ideas for kicking my ass then and for continuing to do so today. - Justin

FYI: This show also includes "Blueprint." It's lumped into the file for "Long Distance Runner," right before Encore 2.