It has often been quoted that a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds. Ten or so years ago, it seemed that the Washington City Paper could not let a week pass without some homage to Fugazi and Dischord Records. Nowadays, it seems that a week cannot pass without at least a superficial attempt to sully their exalted names. I confess that, in the past, I myself thought that Fugazi was just all right with me, and I let them into my heart. So I was relieved to learn in one issue that, despite the temptations of major-label stardom, Ian MacKaye had not compromised his values in an effort to have Minor Threat duplicate the success of Off the Wall (“The Tale of the Tape Box,” 10/10).
In the very next issue, however, I was shocked to discover that Fugazi and its acolytes are actually humorless sermonizers who have only served to oppress those who worship true rock ‘n’ roll in this town (“In on the Killjoy,” 10/17). The scales fell from my eyes: All of these years that I thought I had been thinking for myself, forming my own opinions about things, and supporting the music that I liked, I had actually been brainwashed into following the Fugazi agenda.
Before I headed out to burn all my Fugazi records, I noticed that the latter article mentioned only a few other bands not affiliated with Dischord, only one active in the past five years, and none currently making music. In the spirit of ecumenism, it would be nice to see the City Paper grow a bit and wean itself from its Fugazi-centric view to devote more space to the dozens of bands currently spreading their version of the gospel hereaboutssome of which, I hear, even have a sense of humor and have been known to make people jump up and down.
Mount Pleasant