Capitol Contingency chronicles a unique time in a uniquely vibrant music scene: Washington, D.C., 1991-1999. Punk was broken; the Internet had yet to engulf society; the major label compact disc marketing system was in its greatest -- and final -- era of dominance before its file-sharing-imposed collapse. And the nations capital, already ground zero for some of the nations best hardcore punk and post-punk sounds, was once again emerging as an incubator of musical innovation. This book looks at crucial albums by bands like Fugazi, Jawbox, Chisel, Unrest, Velocity Girl, and the Dismemberment Plan, using interviews with the artists to explore the abundance of smart, innovative rock and pop coming out of D.C. throughout the 90s.

Ian MacKaye, Ted Leo, Travis Morrison, J. Robbins, Craig Wedren, and others all share their memories of and perspectives on an era and a scene that has come to embody the best aspects of late-century independent American rock music.