Rethinking It Through: Gray Matter

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THE HIGH-SCHOOL AGE musicians in Gray Matter released the garage-punky "Food for Thought" in 1985 on the R&B label. Then Dischord put out the stunning proto-emo EP "Take It Back" in 1986 — one of the best recordings the D.C. punk institution ever released. (Dischord released both on one CD in 1990.)

But in 1987, Gray Matter followed the Dischord model of bands splitting up early — though it wasn't a permanent break, which fits in with the group's sense of being a part of yet slightly apart from the now mythology-clouded 1980s D.C. punk scene.

"We were insular in terms of the way we dealt with what was happening in front of us in the city and beyond," said singer-guitarist Geoff Turner.

"We were heavier drinkers, and had a different sense of humor and slightly different styles" from other Dischord bands, added drummer Dante Ferrando. "But it was all part of the same music scene."

"It was a totally social scene here," Turner said later. "It was basically social chaos."

Gray Matter bucked the Dischord trend and reformed to make 1992's "Thog," but after a year and a half the band busted up again.

But the third chapter of Gray Matter's story will be written on Friday when the original members — including bassist Steve Niles (now a successful comic-book writer in Los Angeles) and guitarist Mark Haggerty (who lives in San Francisco) — will reunite for a night to help celebrate the 15th anniversary of the Black Cat, the landmark nightclub Ferrando established soon after Gray Matter version 2.0 called it quits.

The quartet will perform all of "Take It Back," plus select songs from Gray Matter's catalog, which is still in print and still selling to generation after generation of new punks.

"Part of me always felt like the memory of all those [1980s Dischord] bands — the records would just stop selling; too many things would come after it," Turner said. "But I've seen the punk thing constantly being rediscovered. ... Dischord is like Folkways Records for D.C."

» Black Cat, 1811 14th St. NW; with the Shirks, Domino Team, Fri., 9 p.m., $10; 800-551-7328. (U St.-Cardozo)

Photos by Christopher Porter/Express

» Click here for a collection of vintage and rare Gray Matter concert flyers.
» Click here for a rare collection of Gray Matter live photos.
» Click here for vintage photos of Gray Matter playing and posing on the roof of Food for Thought.

SEPT. 16 ADDENDUM:
» Click here for photos from Gray Matter's reunion show.