Descenes and Discords: Howard Wuelfing on the Washington DC Punk Scene of the 70s & 80s episode artwork

EPISODE · Sep 14, 2025 · 53 MIN

Descenes and Discords: Howard Wuelfing on the Washington DC Punk Scene of the 70s & 80s

from Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris · host Darrell Craig Harris

Descenes and Discords: An Anthology is the new book release from longtime music publicist, writer, and musician Howard Wuelfing offering a powerful time capsule of the birth and early evolution of punk music through the pages of two influential fanzines: Descenes and Discords. These publications, originally printed and distributed in Washington, D.C. during the late 1970s and early 1980s, captured the raw energy, irreverent spirit, and revolutionary ethos of the underground music scene — the first locally, the second nationally. Published by writer and musician Howard Wuelfing, Descenes was a hyperlocal chronicle of D.C.'s burgeoning punk, hardcore and new wave communities. It featured scene reports, interviews, and passionate live and record reviews of now-legendary acts like Bad Brains, Slickee Boys, and Half Japanese and dozens of others that never gained national recognition. As vital local music scenes sprung up around the country, Discords picked up the baton with a wider lens — covering bands like Black Flag, Pylon, Circle Jerks, Mission of Burma and many more, all with the same DIY authenticity and zero-corporate gloss.  About Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris The Music Matters Podcast is hosted by Darrell Craig Harris, a globally published music journalist, professional musician, and Getty Images photographer. Music Matters is now available on Spotify, iTunes, Podbean, and more. Each week, Darrell interviews renowned artists, musicians, music journalists, and insiders from the music industry. Visit us at: www.MusicMattersPodcast.com Follow us on Twitter: www.Twitter.com/musicmattersdh For inquiries, contact: [email protected] Support our mission via PayPal: www.paypal.me/payDarrell     

Episode metadata supplied by the publisher feed · Published Sep 14, 2025

Embed this episode

Ready to play

Descenes and Discords: Howard Wuelfing on the Washington DC Punk Scene of the 70s & 80s

0:00 53:40

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

No similar episodes found.

No similar podcasts found.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris?

This episode is 53 minutes long.

When was this Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris episode published?

This episode was published on September 14, 2025.

Can I download this Music Matters with Darrell Craig Harris episode?

Yes. Use the download control on the episode player to save the publisher-provided media file.
URL copied to clipboard!