Above, live video of Fugazi from 1988 synced with a recent performance of “Waiting Room” by Chicago’s Blue Ribbon Glee Club, a punk-rock chorus that remakes indie songs of days gone by sans instruments, for the most part. It might be the shambolic nature of the Club’s vocals that’s making this kinda charming for me, as I usually hate a capella’s overcontrolled showiness. But the Glee Club eschews Whiffenpoofy, enunciated prissiness for unrestrained joy; the Wreckless Eric cover on the Club’s MySpace page is cute, if a little weird because of the “30 people singing about being lonely” factor. One suggestion for any members out there who might be reading: Maybe you should take on the Olivia Tremor Control or the Futureheads next. [YouTube / MySpace]
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Fugazi Gets A Gleeful Remake
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This is actually pretty great. My only question is, why is Waiting Room ALWAYS the go-to Fugazi song. For a band who never had any proper radio singles or music videos, why does 1 song rule over all the rest? It’s not anywhere near their best song either. Public Witness Program, anyone? Merchandise? Come on!
@SilentSid: I think it’s pretty easy — “Waiting Room” has one of the greatest bass lines and opening riffs in all of recorded music and is instantly recognizable. And that riff has been played and recognized for almost 20 years now, so that it’s part of the subculture. I agree that there are plenty of great Fugazi songs, but none have quite the same playful immediacy of “Waiting Room.”
And I agree completely that this video mashup is outstanding.
There was also an incomplete marching band rendition of the song on YouTube. No word yet on any a capella versions of The Insrument.
Thank you so much for this.