DC Rock History

• Rites of Spring - "Rites of Spring" with Mark Andersen

  In this episode, we explore Rites of Spring, the 1985 self-titled release that intertwined with Revolution Summer and reshaped the direction of punk in Washington, D.C. and beyond. Rites of Spring formed in 1984 with Guy Picciotto (vocals, guitar), Eddie Janney (guitar), Mike Fellows (bass), and Brendan Canty (drums). The band built on the foundation of hardcore but infused their songs with personal and emotional intensity, creating a record that is often cited as a cornerstone of post-hardcore and what would later be labeled “emo.”   Our guest is Mark Andersen, co-founder of Positive Force DC and co-author of Dance of Days: Two Decades of Punk in the Nation’s Capital. Mark shares his first-hand experiences of seeing Rites of Spring live, the atmosphere of the D.C. punk community in 1985, and the ways in which the band’s performances helped spark a new sense of purpose in the scene. Together, we discuss how Rites of Spring’s music reflected a moment of transition, carrying forward the urgency of hardcore while opening space for vulnerability and connection.   We also examine the album’s recording at Inner Ear Studios with Don Zientara and Ian MacKaye, the relationship of the band to contemporaries like Embrace and Beefeater, and the enduring influence of Rites of Spring as a defining work in D.C.’s underground history.   Go Further: Dischord Records – Rites of Spring AllMusic – Rites of Spring   Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: [email protected] Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Mark Andersen – Dance of Days, Positive Force DC   Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

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• S.O.A - "No Policy" & Black Flag - "Damaged" with Jackson Sinnenberg

  In this episode, we explore No Policy, the 1981 EP by SOA, and Damaged, the legendary debut LP from Black Flag. Formed in Washington, D.C. by Henry Garfield (later Henry Rollins), Michael Hampton, Wendel Blow, and Simon Jacobsen, SOA delivered ten tracks in just over eight minutes, capturing the urgency and fury of the early D.C. hardcore scene. Released as Dischord Records’ second-ever release, No Policy marks Rollins’ first recorded appearance—raw, unrelenting, and full of promise.   We then follow Rollins’ transformation from a Georgetown ice cream shop worker to frontman of Black Flag. After jumping on stage at a New York City show in 1981, he was recruited to join the West Coast hardcore pioneers. The result, Damaged, is a cornerstone of American punk and a brutal, poetic chronicle of alienation, rage, and inner turmoil.   Our guest is Jackson Sinnenberg, who helps us unpack the rapid evolution of Rollins’ voice, stage presence, and creative philosophy. Together, we explore the shared DNA of No Policy and Damaged, and how one D.C. kid’s journey helped fuse two punk scenes into a national hardcore movement.     Go Further: Dischord Records – SOA – No Policy Wikipedia – Black Flag (band) Henry Rollins – Wikipedia "Dance of Days" - Akoshic Books Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: [email protected] Philip Basnight – Broke Royals Alex Vidales – Pilot Waves Jackson Sinnenberg – WAMU || Capitol Bop Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

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• No Trend - "Too Many Humans.../ Teen Love" with Chris Richards

  In this episode, we explore Too Many Humans and Teen Love, the 1983 release from No Trend that challenged both punk and mainstream sensibilities in DC’s underground scene. No Trend was from from Ashton, Maryland consisting of Jeff Mentges (vocals), Frank Price (guitar), Bob Strasser (bass), and Michael Salkind (drums). They took a confrontational approach to music, combining minimal, abrasive instrumentation with lyrics that satirized social norms and punk culture alike.   Our guest is Chris Richards, pop music critic for The Washington Post and founding member of Q and Not U. Chris shares his perspective on No Trend’s impact and the broader context of the DC scene in the early 1980s. Together, we discuss how No Trend’s approach to music and performance reflected a unique moment in DC’s hardcore history, bridging experimental sounds and an anti-conformist ethos.   We also examine the band’s recording process at Inner Ear Studios, their relationship to the wider DC scene, and the legacy of Too Many Humans and Teen Love as defining works in the city’s underground music history.   Sponsor: Get 10% off New Columbia Record Club with checkout code DCROCKS   Go Further: AllMusic – No Trend Touch and Go Records – No Trend   Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: [email protected] Philip Basnight - Broke Royals Alex Vidales - Pilot Waves Chris Richards - Washington Post   Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

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• The Slickee Boys - "Cybernetic Dreams of Pi" with Don Zientara

  In this episode, we explore Cybernetic Dreams of Pi, the 1983 release from The Slickee Boys that blends garage rock revivalism with punk attitude and sci-fi themes. The Slickee Boys had been a fixture in the DC music scene since the mid-1970s, building a dedicated following with their irreverent stage shows and DIY approach to recording. With a lineup featuring Mark Noone on vocals, Kim Kane and Marshall Keith on guitars, Dan Palenski on drums, and John Chumbris on bass, the band delivered an album that balanced catchy hooks with an adventurous spirit.   Our guest is Don Zientara, founder of Inner Ear Studios and one of DC’s most influential recording engineers. Don shares insights on working with The Slickee Boys and the recording of Cybernetic Dreams of Pi, as well as the role of Inner Ear Studios in shaping the sound of DC’s music scene. Together, we discuss how The Slickee Boys’ album fits within the broader story of DC rock, from their early DIY singles to their lasting influence on the city’s underground music community.   We also examine the album’s production process, the impact of Inner Ear Studios on the DC scene, and how The Slickee Boys helped expand the boundaries of what punk rock could be in the nation’s capital.   Sponsor: Get 10% off New Columbia Record Club with checkout code DCROCKS   Go Further: Don Zientara – Inner Ear Studios Dance of Days by Mark Andersen and Mark Jenkins Trouser Press – The Slickee Boys   Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: [email protected] Philip Basnight - Broke Royals Alex Vidales - Pilot Waves Don Zientara - Inner Ear Studios   Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

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• Faith / Void Split with Thurston Moore

  In this episode, we explore the Faith/Void Split, the legendary 1982 release from Dischord Records that captures the duality of the early D.C. hardcore scene. Released as Dischord Records #8, the album pairs Faith’s tight, melodic hardcore with Void’s chaotic, genre-defying intensity. Both bands, formed by teenagers, contributed to the diverse evolution of hardcore punk in the nation’s capital.   Our guest is Thurston Moore, guitarist of Sonic Youth and author of Sonic Life, whose exploration of punk’s formative years and D.C.’s unique underground scene offers insights into the album’s enduring impact. Together, we discuss how the Faith/Void Split influenced not only the local punk landscape but also laid the groundwork for the post-hardcore and noise rock movements that followed.   We also examine the album’s production at Inner Ear Studios, the role of Dischord Records, and the cultural significance of the split LP format in fostering a sense of community and creative experimentation in the early 1980s. Sponsor: Get 10% off New Columbia Record Club with checkout code DCROCKS Go Further: Sonic Life by Thurston Moore Dance of Days by Mark Andersen & Mark Jenkins Dischord Records – Faith/Void Split Follow Us: Social Media: @dcrockpod Email: [email protected] Philip Basnight - Broke Royals Alex Vidales - Pilot Waves Thurston Moore - Sonic Life   Podcast Artwork by Rebecca Basnight

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