Discuss “Ian MacKaye does the unexpected with The Evens”

The scene was quite strange as I walked into Rangos Ballroom on Friday night: a baritone guitar and a minimal drum set and two lamps made from microphone stands on either side of the stage. This was definitely not the Ian MacKaye I had expected to see.

You see, 25 years ago, MacKaye, a Washington D.C., native, fronted one of the first hardcore punk bands, Minor Threat. Minor Threat went on to become one of the more signifigant punk groups: Everyone from Sublime to Rancid cites their influence. After Minor Threat disbanded, MacKaye formed another punk group, Fugazi, which also became famous on the punk scene, selling several gold records along the way. So naturally, when The Evens, MacKaye’s next project, came out in 2005 after Fugazi amicably...