Black Flag Live Up to Their Legacy
Black Flag
w/The Linecutters
Iron Oak Post
Monday, January 21, Melbourne, FL
If you’re bothering to read this, most likely you’ve been a fan of Black Flag for a long time. And as a result, you have a favorite period and 
line-up for this legendary band. And most likely something I say here after will piss you off.
Ok; so what. I’ll manage to live with your disappointment somehow.
Gregg Ginn, guitarist and founder of Black Flag, is the sole original member of this band with a fluid and ever changing line-up. Whatever favorite rendition of this band is closest to your heart, is dependent largely on him. Guided by him. Written in large part by him. And the 2019 – 2020 rendition of Black Flag is solid and whip smart. And assembled by Gregg Ginn.
This line-up, which includes Isaias Gil on drums, Joe Noval playing bass, and Mike Vallely in the focal position of vocalist, served the material well. There was a 23 song set list which doesn’t appear to waver much. The best known songs bandied out and delivered with force. “Black Coffee,” “Damaged,” “Six Pack,” were solid sucker punches. “Slip It In” ran about ten minutes and was the intense centerpiece on which the show is built around. With a pummeling rhythm, and occasional sonic freak-out blasts of solid noise, the song was a thunderous slab of distortion and rage. “TV Party” and “Rise Above” were sing alongs at the show’s end. The former with updated references to Game of Thrones and The Walking Dead.
If you don’t think this is real enough, stay home. If you are somehow taking it personally that your favorite artists have moved on to other 
projects and aren’t part of this line-up, stay home. Watch your favorite rendition perform on a scratchy VHS tape or YouTube. Your choice.
Everyone else is gonna go and have a good time singing along with every damn word. Odds are good no one will miss you and you would have hated it anyway.
The Linecutters from Arizona were up first with metal edged punk or punky metal. There’s was an intensely muscular set. Hopefully there will be more to hear soon from the angry upstarts.
