Junkyard Band in Washington

Junkyard Band is an American go-go group formed in Washington, D.C., in 1980. Its young founding members initially created percussion from buckets, cans and other discarded objects, an origin reflected in the group’s name. The band is best known for “Sardines” and “The Word,” two recordings that carried its percussion-heavy sound and call-and-response vocals beyond the local scene. Junkyard Band began by playing neighborhood gatherings in Barry Farm before moving into go-go clubs and larger concert settings. Its sets follow go-go’s continuous-groove format, led by layered percussion, bass and audience-directed chants. The concert album Live at the Black Hole documented that format at a venue closely associated with Washington-area go-go.