I’ll be honest, this was not an event I was waiting to attend for decades (as, on the other hand, it was with Exploited, seen three weeks earlier), though I am a Black Flag fan since ‘97. Mostly because seeing them live wasn’t something realistic, considering all the key members coming and going and forming other bands and suing each other in between. Thus, seeing the upcoming show ad on the wall invoked more of a “Yeah right must be a joke” reaction out of me and I didn’t buy a ticket for weeks after. But I did buy it, because even 71 years old Greg Ginn with performers at least thrice younger than him is still THE Greg Ginn playing Black Flag songs, so WTF am i really contemplating this for?!?
First impressions of the event were amazing already. A guy with electric violin plopped himself two steps from entry door (right next to me) and went jigging it out. He was very good but i felt like paying him to go away because my ears hated it – too close. Except for a couple teens who dropped coins into his can, nobody cared for the dude’s work. Sorry, pal, but we didn’t come here to see Dropkick Murphys, ok?
Funny enough, the day wasn’t yet done with violins. Upon my entry into the might Starlite Room, the sound guy was playing Mahavishnu Orchestra ‘Birds of Fire” on the PA! Which is an amazing record, hands down, that i was enjoying for decades, but more amazing is that: 1) it is not something you are likely to hear before a punk show (although Black Flag were/are quite experimental); 2) even more nuts is that i was going through the linear notes of that very CD, borrowed recently from the public library, an hour prior to the show! Wow. I didn’t believe my ears! But looking at the sound guy’s monitor i knew i got it right. I’ve briefly talked to his majesty Sound Master right after. We had a good laugh. And then he played Thin Lizzy for half an hour. Then – Cramps, SNFU, and DRI . Nice evolution!
Also, during that first half hour there were over fifty rockers in the room and I was the only longhaired guy. I shared that thought with a couple standing next to me. Fella said “Oh, thats becoming a norm now. Well, Metallica guys all looking shorthaired and respectful now.” Wtf?? Dude must be living in a forest.
Anyway, Black Flag formation 2026 took the stage later than 8pm sharp but totally SLAYED! Besides Gregg looking quite in shape and with a cool transparent plastic body of a guitar, the band was also very pro at what they do and it was absolute pleasure to hear them. The drummer was friggin awesome, and the vocalist Max was totally born to be in this band, even though she is literally decades away from BF heyday (she also revealed she was either born or raised in Edmonton. small fkn world, hey). I hope this line-ip will last, and record, and release something tangible together. We had to our listening pleasure a mind-bogglingly all-inclusive set list and great sound. Audience was nuts and happy, I’ve spotted one case of stage diving and all kinds of moshing, including a circle pit involving the bassist who kept playing(!). I met some new people, which happens rarely. Great night. Thankyou Starlite!
#blackflag #punk #punkmusic #starliteroom #mahavishnuorchestra (haha)
A decade and a half ago there was something I could identify myself as – a rocker. I’m sure there were plenty of other social groups I could identify as: a human, a male, a student, Russian, a misanthrope, maybe. But as a rocker, I was fitting into a subculture that meant everything to me above all others listed above. I’ve been listening to metal and rock and everything that grooved and had fire and could break through the wall. I learned of the bands I liked, bought their music and shirts, and I went to their shows.
Trezvennost II 