So, this was a treat. Black Flag – well, in their current form – touring locally in Santa Cruz!
This is a band that I’d always resented not being able to see live in their hey-day, specifically with Henry Rollins as front man. Damaged and My War remain for me amazing, seminal works. I still remember all those years ago as a teenager having my mind blown and my perception of music (especially punk) altered (again) for good (not for the last time either).
Well these days, the group is a subset of the original members: Greg Ginn (lead guitar), to be exact. With him is Mike Vallely (vocals), Harley Duggan (bass guitar), and Charles Wiley (percussion). I got my chance to see them last night (1 April 2023) in Santa Cruz at The Catalyst.
They played straight through My War, then after a 20 minute break, started on a bunch of songs from across various albums before unceremoniously finishing up – something I actually appreciate with live acts.
Holy hell, Charles was great on drums. These days I guess they stretch out a lot of the songs with long solos or jam sections inserted in their live songs (the B Side of My War lends to this anyway with longer tracks) and to be honest, you could have left Ginn out of those sections and just had Charles and Harley jamming and it would have been phenomenal. A big part of my night was Charles’ drumming.
Anyway, stoked I got to see them. Mike did well on vocal with maximum enthusiasm and some obvious emulations of Rollins’ style (a tribute almost). I did have that sad sense a couple of times though that it felt like a really good cover band but without Rollins and what I expect his level of energy and intensity would be like at a live show.
Now I’m really hoping FLAG comes through town. With 3 ex- Black Flag members: Keith Morris (Circle Jerks, Off!), Bill Stevenson (Descendents, ALL), Chuck Dukowski, and Dez Cadena, plus Stephen Egerton (Descendents, ALL), I’d be kicking myself if I missed it, especially with Morris at the helm.
Next show I have tickets to at The Catalyst in Santa Cruz is Descendents (w/ The Bompops), playing 9th and Walnut (and I’m pumped!)
