The Ultimate Ode to the DIY Demons at Dischord Records

27 D.C. Bands Formed like Voltron to Pay Tribute

By now East Coast punk rockers and moon stompers can recite the history of Dischord Records better than they can their Social Security numbers, and for good reason: Dischord Records mattered more to them. Inspired by the music of the Cramps and Bad Brains, four D.C. teenagers - Ian MacKaye, Jeff Nelson, Nathan Strejcek, Geordie Grindle - formed the Teen Idles in the autumn of ‘79. They pooled their money to release a record, but no one was interested in taking on the hardcore band, especially after they’d split. So, and this is the key part, the lads decided to do it themselves. They got some advice from a friend, came up with a name, designed a cover, and sent the tapes to a pressing plant. The result, an eight-track EP called Minor Disturbance by the Teen Idles, became Dischord Records #1. For those interested in such matters, an original copy is available on eBay as of this writing for $1,500.

Dischord Records is still a blue-collar operation, churning out new releases, and charging less for those releases than any other gang around. They’ve endeared themselves to punk aficionados across the globe because of their work. They strictly operate within the D.C. scene, they don’t use contracts, and they shun lawyers with extreme prejudice. Nelson has claimed Dischord Records was not about making a profit, but rather about getting their friends’ records in fans’ hands.

From the beginning of this label, people have said that the way we do things is unsustainable, unrealistic, idealistic, and we were just dreaming. Well, the dream is now 35 years old, so they can go fuck themselves.

-Ian MacKaye

In 2017, Dischord posted its entire catalog on Bandcamp for free streaming or purchase.

Enter Celebration Summer bassist and Navy veteran Greg Raelson. Raelson and Celebration Summer, like so many other outfits in the District of Columbia, remain inspired by the artists on Dischord. So much so, in fact, that he’s undertaken a massive project. He’s built a gatefold double-LP tribute to Dischord Records by 27 D.C. artists. The set includes a coloring book-style insert and features previously unreleased covers by The Dismemberment Plan, Ted Leo, J. Robbins, The Pietasters, and Celebration Summer. In the true spirit of Dischord, this is strictly a DIY project from Raelson.

I wanted to do something special to bring some attention to the amazing alternative, punk, and hardcore scene currently happening in our area. And in doing so, pay respect to the label that put D.C. underground music on the map in the first place.

-Greg Raelsom, Celebration Summer

The project is a run of 500 individually numbered albums available here through Bandcamp. A couple of slabs of vinyl will set you back $44 or $13 for the digital dose of D.C., with a portion of the proceeds going to We Are Family DC.