For 2026, we’ve launched a new web series called “Yea, I Was There,” taking short dives into legendary concerts that have passed through Oxford, Mississippi over the last 60 years. We’ll spotlight iconic shows—from B.B. King and Bob Dylan to Fugazi, R.E.M., and countless Proud Larry’s gigs—along with streaming links and videos when available.

We’re also looking for your stories and memorabilia, so if you were there (or still have the poster or T-shirt), email us and help keep Oxford’s music history alive.

Check out past entries on Phish, Animal Collective, and Smashing Pumpkins here. 

 

“Washington, D.C.’s premier indie punk band, Fugazi, rolls into Oxford tonight for one of their renowned live shows — always all ages, always $5 and always brimming with fervent exhibition.” – Jamie Kornegay writing for The Daily Mississippian

“Audio and Video Taping Allowed” as the poster reads. “All Ages!” 

Fugazi came to Oxford in April 1996… a big deal. Legendary Oxford punks, The Neckbones, opened the show. The attendance is listed at 600 folks. 

You can download this show for $1 at Fugazi’s impressive live archive website. 

Setlist: Joe #1, Bed for the Scraping, Sieve-Fisted Find, Interlude 1, Reclamation, Target, Song #1, Blueprint, Interlude 2, Long Division, Forensic Scene, Shut the Door, By You, Margin Walker, Birthday Pony, Do You Like Me, Facet Squared, Public Witness Program, Pink Frosty Instrumental, Encore 1, Instrument, Smallpox Champion, Merchandise, Fell, Destroyed, Long Distance Runner

We spoke to Tyler Keith, Dave Boyer, and Forrest Hewes from the Neckbones about opening for Fugazi. They all three brought up the DIY ethos behind Fugazi. They also mentioned that the band travelled with their own laundry machines. “The mobile laundromat was seriously impressive… we had been touring a fair amount leading up to that show, and doing laundry on the road was a pain in the ass,” said Forrest. Reiterating the laundry, Dave said, “First thing I remember is thinking it was cool as fuck that during load in that afternoon they wheeled in a washer and dryer and started doing laundry beside the stage. They had the DIY thing down to a science.” Dave continued, “and then they pulled out stencils and started screen printing their own t-shirts. No shit. I think that’s maybe what gave Tyler the idea for us to start making our own t-shirts using cardboard stencils and spray paint.”

Oxford is featured in the film, Instrument, which is a collage of footage from Fugazi on the road, rehearsing, and recording. There’s a brief scene of the band backstage at Lafayettes in Oxford where they are signing copies of the show poster (seen above). Tyler Keith (Neckbones) mentioned, “when you see them back stage in Oxford you can hear [The Neckbones] in the background.” Tyler continues, “They were really nice. I was working at [Oxford’s record shop on the Square] Uncle Buck’s at the time. After the show we went to the store. I had a photo book of some 70s glam rock stuff. Ian really like it. I gave it to him. When they got back from the tour he sent me a signed copy of the Banned in DC record with a thank you note.”

You can stream the Fugazi film, Instrument, right here.

Ticket stub signed by Ian MacKaye and Guy Picciotto:

 

 

Here’s a look at the routing for some of Fugazi’s 1996 tour: 

APR 5 NEW ORLEANS, LA, TIPITINAS

APR 7 LAFAYETTE, LA, LAFAYETTE HIGH SCHOOL |

APR 8 HOUSTON , TX, D AND I COLONIAL HALL

APR 10 OXFORD, MS, LAFAYETTES

APR 11 NASHVILLE, TN, 328 PERFORMANCE HALL

APR 12 KNOXVILLE, TN, ELECTRIC BALLROOM

 

It was a crazy week in Oxford for live music: 

 

Shirt available on Fugazi’s 1996 tour:

 

BONUS STUFF… 

Fugazi played another legendary Mississippi show in Jackson on April 8, 1993 at Midnight Sun. Stretch Armstrong opened the gig.

You can also pay $1 to download the Jackson show right here.

 

(photo by Chad Mikell / taken in Jackson at Midnight Sun)

A nice review from Antti V. over on the Fugazi live archive page: 

Fugazi hits Jackson, the capital of Mississippi for the first and only time. The venue is Midnight Sun, a club in the city that is just one of many that local concertgoers must miss dearly. Apparently the venue was a good fit for bands that were getting popular, but who wanted a more intimate club setting.

Ian opens the evening while Brendan and Joe jam on a cool riff. The crowd seems very enthusiastic and welcomes the band with huge cheers. They reward this energy by opening with Blueprint and Merchandise – back to back hits, if you will.

No mix settling is needed, and the sound is quite typical of the era – powerful and unified. While sounding a bit thin and maybe lacking some detail, these recordings represent the band’s current state, and the overall feel of the room really well.

The starting flow is great with Guy going straight into Walken’s Syndrome after the aforementioned opening duo of tracks. The song is always a delight to hear, and it works wonders whenever Guy throws the starting riff in a stop-start move from the previous song. Facet Squared follows seamlessly, but takes a little while to get going as some crowd control is needed to give the front row some breathing room. When the song is eventually allowed to properly start, it rumbles characteristically for sure.

Guy tells a hilarious story how he once had to airline travel wearing only borrowed underwear. This storytime gives the band a little break, and the following mid-part of the show has the best energy whole evening. Lockdown has a tight, driving groove, and flows perfectly to Suggestion.

The band is a bit more talkative this evening, and the show thus feels less intense musically than usual. The banter is all great fun though, including a rock ‘n’ roll chant of a local restaurant’s name.

There are of course hot performances too. Nice New Outfit makes an appearance and sounds bouncy and brisk. Smallpox Champion is another highlight. The band seems to be losing a bit of energy towards the end of the show, but still put all they have into Runaway Return and Repeater.

This is a fun entry to listen to because the mood is quite relaxed and talkative. The playing is not on the level of intensity as the heavier shows from the era, but there are highlights as always, ie. the mid-set jams. The recording has a pleasing enough quality, and is steady throughout.

 

FINAL NOTE: Fugazi also performed in Hattiesburg, Mississippi in 1990 but there’s very little info online about this show. So, if you have anything to share about Fugazi’s gig at Southern Miss on March 20, 1990, please get in touch!