BLACK FLAG August 15, 2019 Poughkeepsie, NY VIDEO & PHOTO Review

I was stoked when I saw The Chance announce this show a few months back.  We get a good amount of classic hard rock and metal in Poughkeepsie, but maybe two good classic punks bands a year and I've never seen Greg Ginn with Black Flag.  The closest I've seen to Black Flag was Rollins Band in 2003 did a very short tour where the whole set was Black Flag covers (and a few Ramones tunes at the very end).  It was particularly cool when Rollins Band started the set fronted by Keith Morris to play a Morris era Black Flag before Rollins came out to cover his tenure.  That show was awesome, but I've always wanted to see one of the Ginn versions and somehow I had always missed them.

Well this was a great show.  Basically a 21 song setlist of greatest hits banged out in an hour.  Ginn killed it on guitar nailing those classic riffs and the rhythm section was excellent, but Mike Vallely really nailed the vocals throughout.

Towards the end of the set, Vallely talked about seeing the band at City Gardens in Trenton NJ in 1984 and how he hoped his performances of these songs honored the original works by the previous four vocalists (they do). His stage presence is most definitely learned at Rollins University.  He put in his all and was literally drenched in sweat by the end of the show.

Actually here's one of the videos I shot of "TV Party" followed by "Rise Above" and it's between these two songs Vallely speaks as described above.

Here's the full setlist (the first few songs may be slightly out of order) with the other two videos (and various photos) I shot mixed in.  Marceliano and Jeff from openers The Linecutters came out to sing back up on a few tunes plus Marceliano added guitar on the final song, their cover of Louie Louie.   The Linecutters played right before Black Flag and The Fatalitees opened the show.

Setlist:

Depression

No Values

Fix Me

Black Coffee

Room 13

Gimmie Gimmie Gimmie

Loose Nut (video link directly above)

White Minority (video link above - in the same video as "Loose Nut")

Bastard in Love

Six Pack (with Marceliano and Jeff of the Linecutters on background vocals - video link directly above)

I've Had It

Slip It In

I Can See You

Revenge

Clocked In

Jealous Again

Can't Decide

Nervous Breakdown

TV Party (video link towards beginning of review)

Rise Above (with Marceliano and Jeff of the Linecutters on background vocals) (Video link towards beginning of review - in same video as "TV Party)

Louie Louie (with Marceliano of the Linecutters on guitar and background vocals)

When the set ended, Ginn packed his guitar and came out immediately to meet and greet with anyone who stuck around (as did the rest of the band).  Ginn also was out and about before Flag's set and genuinely seemed to love interacting with the fans, chatting, taking pictures, signing autographs.  Very cool to not only finally see the band, but meet the legend as well (here's my shot with him).

The show was well attended.  No Balcony, but downstairs was full and the pit (as you'll see especially in the TV Party/Rise Above video) was jumpin'.  A great way to spend a Thursday night and I hope The Chance keeps booking these classic punk shows.  So nice not to have to drive to NYC or Brooklyn to see them.

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Click any photos to enlarge them to full screen.  Also follow on twitter @MostPeopleBlank   Then, of course, as always - Rock on and Enjoy - Paul