This is a hidden gem that has endured the test of time all the way since 2001. “The Goons Live At The Black Cat” is a live recording of one of the most important bands of the DC Hardcore scene since the early 1990s. Out now!
What’s going on ladies and gentlemen, welcome back! It’s me, your Punk kid, MadZen, and today we will explode our brains out with this absolutely thrilling, sick, “new” album. Recorded in 2001, this live show still stands tall, proud, and fearless with a potency and energy that breaks every natural law. Let’s get to it!
The Goons were a hardcore/punk band from the Washington DC area that was active from 1994-2006. Fed up with the decaying suburban youth condition, they decided to speak out and make a whole lotta noise in support of their community. In a time where drug overdose and uptight policemen were at their peak, The Goons (and the Hardcore scene in general) provided an escape for all these frustrated kids who, bored, tired, and angry, found in their shows a reason not to get arrested.
Now, as 2022 comes to an end, The Goons have begun playing reunion shows. To celebrate their return they’ve teamed up with DCxPC Live to release the full recording of their 2001 show at The Black Cat, recorded during their tour with The Varukers and Molotov Cocktail. As you might imagine, this album is not for the faint of heart, but if you’re a Hardcore fan, this is a must and a pretty legendary addition to your vinyl collection.
The show opens up with White Tide, the only track available on Spotify. This song carries a heavy background, as it was inspired by the fact that one of their shows at C-Squat was canceled. The reason? A few folks in their neighborhood including a kid at a neighboring squat had all OD’d on a recent batch of heroin. “The cops were being a pain in the ass and the show would just draw their unwanted attention. Some drugs you can party on and some just eat you and if you’re lucky you OD before you end up a shell.“, The Goons explain.

15 Tracks of extreme riffs, roundhouse drums, and chaotic screams mark one of the most iconic shows of one of the most iconic bands of the era. Songs that might catch your attention are “Human Wheel”, “Nation In Distress”, “Breakdown”, “America Hates Its Youth”, and “Storm Troopers of Good Faith”. Social commentary mixed with the eviscerating force of a packed Punk/Hardcore live show.
“During the first week of sales, all purchasers will be entered into a raffle to win the corresponding VML Live album. For example, this is DCxPC Live Vol. 5, so we will raffle off VML Live Vol. 5 Presents Sloppy Seconds. The album also includes a reversible cover, so fans can choose whether to display the class VML style or the band photo cover style.”
– DCxPC Live
Don’t forget to support this project and to follow on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, TikTok, SoundCloud, YouTube, and Spotify. You can also visit their official website. If you enjoy their music and are able to provide monetary support, you might consider downloading it on Bandcamp.
It also helps to stream and share their music; you can obviously find it in the following Playlists: Less Than 1,000 Followers, Sickest & Dopest, Unknown But Essentials!, and Only Punk.
Remember that you can always find me here Linktree Madzen for all my social media and collaborations.
P.S. If you enjoy discovering new artists and fresh new music you can subscribe to this blog Less Than 1,000 Followers and follow the Playlist with all the artists that we have presented here!
This coverage was created via Musosoup #sustainablecurator
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