Embrace
Embrace was a short lived Washington, D.C. hardcore band active from the summer of 1985 through the spring of 1986. The group was central to Revolution Summer alongside Rites of Spring and Beefeater. Press tags like emotional hardcore circled at the time, but the band rejected that label. The lineup featured Ian MacKaye on vocals with Michael Hampton on guitar, Ivor Hanson on drums, and Chris Bald on bass.
How The Band Got Started
Michael Hampton and Ivor Hanson had previously played together in S.O.A. Embrace played its first show on July 28, 1985 at Food for Thought near Dupont Circle. The band appeared only nine times in public. The final show took place at the 9:30 Club in March 1986.
Shows and Recording
The quartet focused on a tight run of shows and writing sessions. The recordings were released after the breakup as a self titled album in 1987. The material took cues from the Faith EP Subject to Change. The result was direct, melodic, and intense without losing the core of D.C. hardcore.
After the Breakup
Following Embrace, Ian MacKaye and Jeff Nelson tried to turn their England based studio collaboration Egg Hunt into a band, but it did not move beyond rehearsals. Michael Hampton formed One Last Wish with former members of Rites of Spring. Chris Bald joined Ignition. In 1987, MacKaye started Fugazi. In 1988, Hampton and Hanson paired again in Manifesto.
About the “Emocore” Label
Some fans and writers started calling Embrace and Rites of Spring emocore, short for emotive hardcore. The band publicly disagreed with the term and did not use it to describe their music.
Members
- Ian MacKaye, vocals
- Michael Hampton, guitar
- Ivor Hanson, drums
- Chris Bald, bass
Tributes and Later Recognition
In 1994, the tribute album Land of Greed… World of Need appeared on Trustkill Records with covers by bands such as Avail, Rancid, and Lifetime. Proceeds benefited local homeless shelters.
Discography
- 1987, Embrace, album
Compilation Appearances
- 2002, 20 Years of Dischord
