August 14, 2024
Now, I know, not everyone has time for Black Flag these days because of their lack of original members or whatever lame reason people have to ignore a seminal band such as this, and those people are entitled to their opinion – no matter how wrong it is. So what. Good for you. Stay home! Luckily, the Foufounes Electriques was rife with people looking for a good time.
Tonight, the band was in town to perform tracks from their first four years as a band and I for one was pretty amped to show up and check it out. Then again, I’d be equally as happy if they rolled up to the venue and played smooth jazz all night – but I weird like that (please don’t come and play smooth jazz all night.)
See Also: Less Than Jake at L’Olympia, Montreal
On my way in, I heard a potential punter asking the door man who the opening bands was.
Opening band!? What opening band? Black Flag don’t need no stinkin’ opening band! Nah! Instead, these legends of hardcore punk churned out not one, but two nasty, raw and highly energetic sets with a brief intermission between them – which, given their ages, is to be expected, that had the walls and the ceiling quite literally dripping with sweat. Old geezers like myself stood at the book, to the sides and in the nooks and crannies – while the younger generations beat the ever loving hell out of each other in the mosh pit. Which just feels right. Not so much a passing of the torch type of thing, because buddy, I ain’t done yet, but something almost soothing, knowing that what we love is still getting loved.
Black Flag
With founding member Greg Ginn still at the helm, Black Flag are still in good hands. Vocalist and former skateboarder Mike Vallely has been with this incarnation of the band for more than twenty years now – which makes him the longest serving singer in the bands history. In fact, the only musician to have spent more years as a member of Black Flag than Vallely – is Ginn. Since 1976; more than twenty-five musicians have had stints in the group.
Before anyone gets any ideas – let me say that I haven’t taken sides in the Black Flag versus Flag debacle. Far from it. I’m happy to sing the praises of both sides so long as it means I still get to hear the music of Black Flag live.
Their first set got underway with a ripping rendition of Can’t Decide which set the tone for the rest of the evening. Fast, angry – as was the style at the time – and just as menacing as it ever was. Black Flag have two new or newish members in the fold now, drummer Charles Wiley who has been with the group since 2022 and bassist Matt Baxter who joined earlier in the year. Still, with two new recruits, Black Flag sounded as they should.
In all, there were twelve songs to the first half of the soiree, including Six Pack, Black Coffee, Nervous Breakdown, Nothing Left Inside and Fucked Up. All the good stuff.
The second set had a few tricks up its sleeve too – also had twelve tracks to it including the notable melodies of Jealous Again, I’ve Heard It Before, Revenge, Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie, a particularly rambunctious rendition of Rise Above (one of my favorites, I might add), a cover of Louie Louie and Fucked Up. Again. Why they ended both sets with Fucked Up, I don’t know but there you have it.
At times, I forget how these guys can make the room feel like a rehearsal space, and while it is interesting – I do find it tedious too. I know, this is nothing new but it is what it is. I said it.
Read More:
>> Circle Jerks at Corona Theatre, Montreal
>> G.B.H at Beanfield Theatre, Montreal
>> Dayglo Abortions at Xeroz, Moncton
Now look, I get it – after all these years there’s really nothing new here or anything like that, and yeah, all the lawsuits and infighting has stained the band, bands, but at the end of the day this is a great way to unwind after a long day with some classic tunes and have a good time doing it. And, really, that’s the most important part of the whole thing.
Tell you what – the next time Flag, or Black Flag, come to town – I’ll be there. To celebrate the music I love and to have a good time. Hopefully you come out too.
