Black Flag @ Record Bar KC

After a lengthy outage, I'm back to add new content.

Black Flag in Kansas City at the Record Bar on August 26, 2019

Only being 10 years old in 1984, my mom would've never knowingly let me go to a Black Flag show. Hell, at that point in my life Michael Jackson, Tears for Fears and The Fixx were my top 40 choices. It wasn't until 3 years later I found skateboarding and the world of music that would open up to me. I still remember my mom thinking that buying the In God We Trust, Inc. from the Dead Kennedy's cassette for me was a good idea. Purchased, in the car, tape in player... Nazi Punks leading off. I'm surprised I made it home with that tape, that day. It was an eye opening moment for me, similarly to hearing Black Flag's Damaged. Rollins aggressive tone that you could feel in every breath spoke to me and at that moment I knew who I was and would be forever. A skate punk.

Fast forward 30+ years later and what do you know, Black Flag live in KC on their 2019 tour. Now, the band is minus the original personalities up front; Dez, Ron Reyes, Henry and Bass & Drums; Dukowski, Kira, Robo, Stevenson, but the constant in Greg Ginn still lives and knows how to throw down. Also, when I saw who would be fronting the tour I knew I had to see them; Mike Vallely of skateboarding fame!

The opening band, The Linecutters, did a good job energizing the ever growing crowd. Playing to the tune of about 45 minutes, their mix of speed, screamo and tight beats really complimented the melee that would soon ensue.

After a quick setup Mike Vallely made his presence on stage with the others. They all took one look at each other and flew into Depression. Two chords into the set and all bets were off. I started the evening about mid pack and quickly found myself at the edge of the pit pushing flailing bodies back into the mixing bowl and helping others off the ground. *note - it was good to see, even though there were people there to inflict damage, true to the punk code, someone hits the ground and you give them a hand back to their feet. A slap on the back and right back to the mosh. Anyhow, it wasn't until about the 12th or 13th song when Vallely took a break between songs to introduce everyone; Greg Ginn, Joseph Noval (Bass), Isaias Gil (Drums) and himself, Mike Vallely, Then quickly back into it.

The set consisted of 21 songs split across 8 albums. Depression, Black Coffee, Slip it In and TV Party were the stars of the set. The band really did a great job of mixing their setlist for continuity, hard not to for them though with so many great, head pounding, aggressive songs.

Overall I give it an A. The set was on point, the opener didn't suck, the crowd was into it the entire show and Mike Vallely was truly an awesomely nice guy, got to meet him after the show. With the set done, he took a quick drink of water and sat down on the edge of the stage to talk to everyone. Awesome for the fact that he took that time with the rigors of playing consecutive days through the midwest traveling to the West Coast.

If they come to a town near you, pay the $20 and go see this juggernaut before they call it quits for good. Doesn't matter only 1 original member still remains in the band, these guys rock hard.