Before Circus Lupus landed on DC's venerable Dischord Records, the group's original Midwest lineup recorded a full album's worth of songs less than a year after forming. With the demise of DC's Ignition in the late '80s, bass player Chris Thomson headed to Madison, WI for college. Before leaving DC, he dove headfirst into being a vocalist fronting the short-lived throwback punk / hardcore project Fury. Thomson served up pointed and profound Tony Cadena-inspired screeds about betrayal, disappointment and poseurs all set to a soundtrack of furiously primitive and chaotic music supplied by members of the DC punk band Swiz. Brief yet influential, this band marked Thomson's switch to vocals, putting him on course to front Circus Lupus and claim a notable spot in the DC punk timeline of the late 20th century.Soon after arriving in Madison, Thomson was invited to join a new project started by friends Chris Hamley, Arika Casebolt, and Reg Shrader. Circus Lupus marked a change in direction from the familiar sounds of DC punk that Thomson had been associated with for years. The newly formed group looked to noisier Touch & Go and Homestead bands for inspiration, aligning themselves with bands from Chicago, Louisville and Milwaukee. One early supporter of the band described the new group as "profoundly familiar yet uncategorizable. Like if the Germs had gone to college and never got pulled into hard drugs and suicidal behaviors."The original Circus Lupus lineup played a dozen shows and recorded these songs with Eli Janney at Inner Ear studios in August of 1990 while on a brief tour. Within a year, the band would decide to permanently relocate to Washington DC, where they felt they had more opportunities. Shrader opted to move to Chicago and would ultimately join the Touch and Go band Seam. Old friend Seth Lorinczi (Vile Cherubs) would become their new bass player, forming the version of the band that most listeners are familiar with.While a few of these ended up on their first single, the rest were shelved, some later to be rerecorded with Lorinczi and released on Dischord.L.G. Records is proud to have helped this notable recording see the light of day. The original tapes were recovered by Ian MacKaye and transferred by Darren Edwards. Tim Green remixed and remastered the original recordings at Louder Studios in California.
Release date:
April 19, 2024
Label:
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Phono Preamps - Top Picks
A selection of the best phono preamps for your turntable setup
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
HumminGuru: Ultrasonic Vinyl Record Cleaner
Advanced ultrasonic technology with customizable cleaning cycles and a large tank capacity to thoroughly remove dust, dirt, and contaminants
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Denon DP-400
Featuring a high-precision, belt-driven mechanism and an adjustable tonearm that ensures optimal tracking and minimal resonance
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
Jerskin Fendrix Once Upon A Time. . . In Shropshire (Shropspire Mud Brown) [2xLP]
Untitled (Recs)
October 10, 2025 -
Baest Colossal
Century Media
August 15, 2025 -
Jay Wheeler Girasoles (Yellow) [2xLP]
Linked Music
August 8, 2025 -
Bruce Dickinson More Balls To Picasso (Multicolor Splatter) [2xLP]
Bmg
July 25, 2025 -
Sally Shapiro Ready To Live A Lie (Baby Pink) [2xLP]
Universal UK
July 11, 2025 -
Gary Numan A Perfect Circle: Live At OVO Arena, Wembley [3xLP]
Bmg
July 25, 2025 -
Ice Nine Kills The Silver Scream Boy In The Lake (Blue) [2xLP]
Fearless Records
July 11, 2025 -
Curtis Harding Departures & Arrivals: Adventures of Captain Curt
Anti
September 5, 2025 -
Simple Minds Once Upon A Time
A&M
October 17, 2025 -
California Irish The Mountains Are My Friends
7Hz Productions
July 11, 2025 -
Olga Amelchenko Howling Silence
Edition Records Ltd
July 11, 2025 -
Tim Minchin Time Machine
Bmg
July 25, 2025 -
Swell Season Forward
Masterkey Sounds
July 11, 2025 -
FLETCHER Would You Still Love Me If You Really Knew Me?
Fletcher/Snapback
July 18, 2025