Wrapping up with IAN MACKAYE and GUY PICCIOTTO

Wrapping up with IAN MACKAYE and GUY PICCIOTTO

Author: Ian James Wright February 12, 2022 Duration: 2:18:34

Ian MacKaye with some working titles https://i.imgur.com/kDaV4Xi.jpg

"Survival" by Prince Far I https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pNlMvVR93i0

My Korg DT-1 tuner https://i.imgur.com/hjEFR0k.jpg

Guy Picciotto's "guitanjo" https://i.imgur.com/jemecjC.jpg

A few addenda from Guy:

  1. "I’m pretty sure the working title 'Na Na Na' was the song Target. The 'na na na' would have been the opening note sequence that Ian and Joe played and I seem to recall when we were writing it / rehearsing there was some singing along of 'na na na na na na .. na na na na na' which made us all laugh."
  2. "The demo for INSTRUMENT and REND IT from Inner Ear that I mentioned was also significant in terms of writing the song INSTRUMENT. When we tracked it originally the guitars played thick chords all through the song with no dynamics – it was basically just a wall of guitars the whole way through. I think we even played it live that way for a while – where it was a more grungy noise thing. While doing the demo we struggled mixing it and couldn’t get it to work – it was just too monolithic and muddy. At some point I just started playing the mute buttons on the mixing desk to drop the guitars out during the verses so the bass part could be revealed and that was the key to making that song work and from there we totally re-arranged it to allow all that air back into the song that wasn’t there before. I feel like that was a significant stage for us in terms of changing the way we thought about our music and our mixes in terms of carving space.'
  3. "I need to confirm this with Ian but after listening I’m pretty sure the computer in COMBINATION LOCK is saying 'Wait a minute…. I forgot my combination'. Because of the janky algorithm it sounds like 'Wait a min-oot …. I forgot my combination'. That seems to match my memory of it but if Ian has a different take I’ll let you know."

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There's a certain kind of music fan who doesn't just love a band but needs to dive into every corner of their work, dissecting each track with a mix of scholarly curiosity and pure fandom. The Alphabetical Fugazi is built for that listener. Host Ian James Wright, joined by a rotating cast of guests, has undertaken a wonderfully peculiar project: exploring the entire recorded output of the iconic post-hardcore band Fugazi, but he's doing it alphabetically by song title. This means a conversation might jump from a deep cut to a more famous track based solely on the whims of the alphabet, creating unexpected connections and fresh perspectives on a catalog many thought they knew inside out. You'll hear detailed breakdowns of the music's construction, the intensity of its performances, and the weight of its lyrics, all filtered through the personal experiences and insights of Wright and his guests. It's a structured yet freewheeling deep dive that celebrates obsessive detail. This podcast approaches a legendary band's work not as a historical timeline, but as a shuffled playlist where every episode is a surprise, guaranteeing that even the most dedicated Fugazi enthusiast will hear something new. The journey runs from "23 Beats Off" all the way to "Walken's Syndrome," and every discussion in between is a testament to the enduring power and complexity of the music itself.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Alphabetical Fugazi
Podcast Episodes
"Sieve-Fisted Find" with Rachael Dietkus [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:09
"Sieve-Fisted Find" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/sieve-fisted-find Pitchfork Interview with Guy https://pitchfork.com/features/interview/5840-fugazi/ Fugazi Soundcheck & Sieve-Fisted Find at International…
"Shut the Door" with Father Christopher Foley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:55
"Shut the Door" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/shut-the-door Performance from Instrument https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6WHAnkJFOMs Luxury https://luxury.bandcamp.com/ Furnace Fest https://www.furnacefest.u…
"Runaway Return" with Bob Nanna [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:26
"Runaway Return" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/runaway-return "Peterbilt" by Happy Go Licky https://happygolicky.bandcamp.com/track/peterbilt "Divers" by Braid https://braid.bandcamp.com/track/divers "Hidde…
"Returning the Screw" with Sean Madigan Hoen [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:12
"Returning the Screw" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/returning-the-screw "The Turn of the Screw" by Henry James https://www.gutenberg.org/files/209/209-h/209-h.htm Sean Madigan Hoen www.seanmadiganhoen.com K…
Addenda #2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:06
David Fischer's updated photo of the End Hits view: https://i.imgur.com/jAmK8ut.jpg Email the podcast: fugaziAtoZ@gmail.com In lieu of a donation to the podcast, please make a donation to the DC Abortion Fund (https://dc…
"Repeater" with Hans Dobbratz and Mat Keel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:54
"Repeater" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/repeater Fugazi Live Series 12/29/88 at Wilson Center https://www.dischord.com/fugazi_live_series/washington-dc-usa-122988 Nothing but a Number: A Live History of Fu…
"Rend It" with Jenna LaFleur [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:50
"Rend It" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/rend-it "Rend It (Demo)" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/rend-it-demo (n.b. I misspoke slightly, "Turn Off Your Guns" was of course released on First Demo…
"Reclamation" with Allison Wolfe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:35
"Reclamation" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/reclamation U.S. states making 2021 moves on abortion rights and access https://news.trust.org/item/20201231112641-qfynt/ Fugazi vs. Destiny's Child "Independent…
"Recap Modotti" with Rob Riginio [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
"Recap Modotti" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/recap-modotti Early live version of "Recap," Philadelphia 5/3/97 https://youtu.be/HCGAHG8h-J0?t=2487 Tina Modotti https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tina_Modotti Ant…
"Public Witness Program" with Steve Albini [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 0:00
"Public Witness Program" by Fugazi https://fugazi.bandcamp.com/track/public-witness-program Kreative Kontrol: Ian MacKaye & Steve Albini (Part I) http://vishkhanna.com/2015/11/12/ep-223-ian-mackaye-steve-albini-part-i/ F…