FRIDAY: >> Stop by Velvet Lounge to lend your support to John Stabb, singer of the legendary D.C. hardcore act Government Issue, who's struggling to pay medical bills after being attacked near his home in Burtonsville, Maryland. $8, doors at 9 p.m. >> The Quarry House in Silver Spring hosts recent Three Stars alums The Hall Monitors along with New York's The Brides. Cover merely advertised as "real cheap," show starts at 9 p.m. >>... more ›

Three weeks ago, John Stabb, singer from legendary D.C. hardcore act Government Issue, was attacked and beaten near his home in Burtonsville, Maryland. He describes the incident in a blog entry on Dag Nasty's website: i'm about a block away from my place coming home after work & really exhausted. out from the outdor pool area of my condo community pops up 5 enthusiastic (now i'm thinking all hopped up on goofballs!) young hs kids.... more ›

In the early 1980s, Washington, D.C. was a mecca for hardcore punk music. The scene was so pure and original that it drew young rockers from literally all over the country, each wanting to mix it up with the original gods of this new radio-unfriendly sound. The names are quite familiar: Minor Threat. Scream. Jawbox. Soulside. State of Alert. Government Issue. Faith. The D.C. hardcore scene was a catalyst for the careers of Henry Rollins and Dave Grohl, while others stayed local like Dischord founder Ian MacKaye who later fronted Fugazi. It was incredibly influential on young rock musicians looking for something beyond the radio and MTV -- sounds which now traditionally define the era -- and spawned a second wave of bands in the 90s (an era which is aptly titled post-hardcore). Two such bands were Trusty and Circus Lupus, both of which moved halfway across the country to join the D.C. hardcore scene and later were signed to Dischord. Another group, Worlds Collide, was formed by Chicago transplant Matt Burger who came to drink the waters of this rock oasis. And for those who were content in their native lands, groups like Squatweiler from North Carolina still were influenced by the underground rock coming out of D.C. more ›