I’m too young to have seen a live Fugazi show, but after the first time I saw Priests, I left feeling like I knew what seeing Fugazi might have felt like. There’s an undeniable element of early DC punk to their explosive sound and energy, which is smart, angry, politically charged, and anti-consumerist. But Priests don’t at all feel like a band that is harkening back to the past. They are the opposite: Priests are a rare sort of band that makes me excited about the present and hopeful for the future. There is just something so fucking immediately captivating about them. Between songs, singer Katie Alice Greer speaks about the content of the lyrics, and reminds crowds to be mindful of their dancing, to treat others with respect. On tour, their merch table includes copies of In Every Town, a book about all-ages venues. The band actively avoids playing bars and traditional venues; online, Greer has written extensively advocating for the value of inclusive community spaces. Their recordings are upfront and addictive too: start with their Radiation/Personal Planes 7″. – Liz

BUY: “Radiation”/”Personal Planes” single available via Bandcamp.