Dischord at Mercury Lounge
Lower Manhattan around the Bowery has long been a hotbed of talent and musical excellence. On October 25th, I ventured to the Mercury Lounge on Houston Street, where, inside, I was greeted by the smell of crisp lagers, banter from all corners of the universe, and the musical talents of Brooklyn musicians originally from Washington, DC, Zwei Null Zwei. The band was joined by the esteemed Shudder to Think, embarking on their first tour and reunion as a full group since 2013. Some folks are just good forever, and these two acts were perfect evidence of that.
Zwei Null Zwei
Zwei Null Zwei opened the show, delivering an eclectic mix of their signature DC sound, with a touch of krautrock thrown in. With Eli Janney (Girls Against Boys) on keyboards and vocals, Geoff Sanoff (Edsel, SAVAK) on bass and vocals, Sohrab Habibion (also of Edsel and SAVAK) on guitars and vocals, and James Canty (SAVAK, Nation of Ulysses, Ted Leo and the Pharmacists) on drums, this unit created some of the most entrancing, unique sounds not commonly found in indie music today. When the set started, the musicians took me on one of the most experimental trips I’ve ever been on, with a slew of catchy, synth-filled DC-inspired rock that I never realized I was missing out on. One highlight was the track “Unmoored,” an absolutely divine song that had me singing along by the end. While I was familiar with the band members’ former (or current in SAVAK’s case) work, I was quite unaware of this project featuring all these DC legends. Now, Zwei Null Zwei, you’ve got yourselves a fan for life. I hope to see a full-length record from these guys soon, but in the meantime, you all can enjoy all of their singles on Bandcamp.
Shudder to Think
Arguably the glammiest band to come out of the same scene that birthed both Jawbox and Fugazi, Shudder to Think is back together after over a decade (their last show was at the Black Cat in Washington in 2013). This lineup featured the always talented and awesome Craig Wedren on vocals, Nathan Larson and Clint Walsh on guitars, Adam Wade (formerly of Jawbox) on drums, and Jherek Bischoff on bass. The band brought me back in time to their prime in the mid-’90s, before I was born, and it’s fair to say that Shudder to Think is back, and just as kickass as they always were. Craig sounded absolutely fantastic, and even in his mid-50s, he can still hit all the high notes like he did back in the day. Guitarists Nathan and Clint certainly kept everything as fuzzy and angular as it’s always been, with Adam and Jherek providing excellent rhythm, making for one of the coolest shows of 2025. Some highlights were the spacey and dissonant “Love Catastrophe” and the fan-favorite “Hit Liquor,” as well as the always classic “X-French Tee Shirt.” The band also showcased their two new singles (their first batch of new music since 1998) “Playback” and “Thirst Walk,” both of which show the band still in their prime. The performance was a fresh reminder that not only is the DC music scene not dead, but it is still going strong. Despite the tight venue space, it was an honor to see Shudder to Think perform. I felt like I was sent back in time, seeing them during their heyday. Most of their material is available on Bandcamp. Both “Thirst Walk” and “Playback” were officially released on November 7th.
All in all, an absolutely fantastic set from some of the finest musicians DC has to offer. It’s refreshing to see so many of these older bands reunite to please the older crowds who grew up with them, as well as the younger generations who help keep their legacy alive. These two bands that have not aged a day and still sound as fresh as ever, and I couldn’t be happier.
