In the fall of 1993, Fugazi embarked on their second Japan / Australia / New Zealand tour. Having played just three concerts in Japan in 1991 (two in Tokyo and one in Osaka), the band threw in some more dates this time around, adding up to 5 gigs, Osaka the first stopover.

Considering Fugazi was an established band by now, debuting on the Billboard charts following the release of the In on the Kill Taker album in June 1993 and having performed several obliterating concerts at 3000+ cap venues such as the Roseland Ballroom in New York, I find it quite striking these Japanese shows played out at moderate venues, drawing select audiences (it is noted a mere 100 participants attended the Osaka show).

Still, even though there is not much going on in terms of in-between song chatter or audience feedback, I find these Japanese gigs well worth visiting (see my earlier ravings about the 1993 Tokyo shows).

This Osaka recording might be my least favourite of the 1993 Japanese string of shows, but this is essentially due to the lesser audio quality - note that the vocals sound a bit distant and that the low end frequencies (bass in particular) are rather indistinct most of the time.

However, from the recording it is clear that the band does put in the energy and zeal to convince its listeners, offering a selection of 23 songs which is very much to my liking, drawing generously from the Kill Taker album (9 songs), followed by Steady Diet of Nothing (5), Repeater (4), 3 Songs seven-inch (1), Margin Walker EP (3) and the 7 Songs EP (1).

Note that this Osaka recording includes the only live rendering of Turnover on the Japanese leg of the 1993 tour.