Digging back into 1979-80 with Hüsker Dü's 'Tonite Longhorn' live double LP

By Andy

If I close my eyes tight enough and dig deep, I can envision the night that Hüsker Dü initially barreled into my life. I can recollect the palpable feeling of intensity shattering the air and unhinged voices and instruments bludgeoning eardrums. Gritty songs armed with melodies crashing through the rapturous wall of noise. 

When I glance at the top of my right hand today, I can still witness a small scar that emerged after the (not so) X-Acto knife briefly got away from me while carving a Hüsker logo for a homemade T-shirt stencil while blasting some punk rock in my family's garage.

Powerful memories and slices of skin from the summer of 1982 remain with you no matter how many years tick by. They're an integral part of your being.

The band's tunes have never strayed too far from my ears, and now we welcome another critical release from the punk rock days of yore to get the wheels solidly cranking in our heads again.

This month, "Tonite Longhorn" arrives with a head-spinning 28 tracks, kicking off with "Insects Rule The World" and providing the final blow with "Statues." This 85-minute double-LP unleashes ultra-early incendiary Hüsker live action that rattled the inside of Minneapolis' notorious Longhorn Bar over four nights between July 1979 and September 1980. The previously-unreleased recordings come roaring to life thanks to the safe keeping over the years by late sound engineer Terry Katzman.  

Judging from live sets I've heard from this era, there's most likely a delightful mixed bag of fast and slower songs with a punk-pop edge, a territory where the band would traverse heavily over the years.   

Inside the package, which is emblazoned with late drummer/vocalist/songwriter Grant Hart's original cover artwork and features a cover of Johnny Thunders and the Heartbreakers’ “Chinese Rock,” you've got original fliers, additional Hart artwork and exclusive liner notes written by longtime Hüsker fan and friend Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth.

For starters, the LP -- released on the band's Reflex Records -- will be available on April 22, Record Store Day, and is limited to 5,000 copies. Later on Aug. 25, "Tonite Longhorn" will hit all digital service providers and streaming services.  

“Most artists begin their careers by looking to their heroes for inspiration. 'Tonite Longhorn' is a comprehensive overview of three teenagers paying homage, experimenting with different genres, and -- most importantly -- building a foundation for things to come,” said guitarist/vocalist/songwriter Bob Mould in a press release. “We knew what we had: good chemistry, great melodies and harmonies, and an overabundance of young (and sometimes dumb) enthusiasm. We knew we were different, and we knew we were on to something different.”

Bassist/vocalist/songwriter Greg Norton discussed the band's Longhorn audition in the press release: “Bob was done with his freshman year and we didn't have any gigs lined up. He was considering going home to Malone for the summer. Grant shows up all frantic and tells us we need to load the gear and get to the Longhorn, we had an audition. We arrived during their lunch service, load in and start playing. The manager comes storming out of his office and stops us. 'What the hell do you guys want?' he asks. Grant says, 'We want to play here.' He replies, 'Fine, you can play the opening set Friday night, just stop playing and get out of here.' That set is here, July 13th, 1979. We passed the 'audition' and the rest is history.”

Photo credit: Steve Hengstler