I gotta say I was slightly nervous going to this show. A couple of years back I saw Bad Brains and was really disappointed...but it's Black Flag. Some of the greatest songs of all time. I had to make sure I wasn't missing a chance of a lifetime.
Got to the Chop Shop at 8.30pm - the time I was told the show would start (I'm old I need to know these things) - only to see a sign at the door saying opening band starts at 9pm, and then they didn't come on til 9.20pm. FAAARK! While Good For You is another Greg Ginn band I wasn't overly impressed. I thought the drumming was kinda week and singer Mike Vallely's Morrison-esque swagger did not invoke the same stage presence. I saw the whole hour - a long time for an opener - but by the end the crowd thinned out, disappearing to the smokers patio.
After a small wait - the same band walked out but with Ron Reyes now taking over vocals. From the opening notes of the first song, Revenge, a small section of the crowd went overboard in a mosh pit that had everyone taking stock of where they were. I think I have a good knowledge of the Black Flag catalogue and a great amount of songs I love were played tonight - Depression, TV Party, Six Pack, Fix Me, Police Story, Rise Above amongst the better ones. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme didn't have the punch it should have. And there were some new songs (?) that seemed better suited to Good For You. They did end strongly with a great Louie, Louie rendition.
Overall a good night. My first visit to the Chop Shop - I like this venue and can't wait to see some more stuff here. Again my expectations were pretty high, but Black Flag today is only 2 members of a band that were a force 30 odd years ago. While it was good to hear these songs, I felt the ferocity was lacking and some of the songs I have heard covered by other bands (eg Pennywise, Circle Jerks) better.
But at least I can say I've seen Black Flag.
The Crap Facts
This is my 360th concert.
The Chop Shop is the 100th venue I've seen a concert in.
This is my 11th concert in Charlotte.
This is my 12th concert in North Carolina.
This is my 168th concert in the USA.
Good For You are the 428th band I've seen.Black Flag are the 429th band I've seen.
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