Capitol Contingency: Post-Punk, Indie Rock, and Noise Pop in Washington, D.C., 1991-1999 chronicles a unique time in a uniquely vibrant music scene. Punk had broken; the Internet had yet to engulf society; the major label compact disc marketing system was in its greatest -- and final -- era of dominance. And the nation's capital, already ground zero for some of the 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, 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, Travis Morrison, J. Robbins, Craig Wedren, and others all reflect on a time and place that have come to embody the best aspects of independent American rock music.