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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Four By Fate / Richie Scarlet - The Chance, Poughkeepsie NY June 6, 2014 Concert Review & Photos

Back in June of last year, Four By Fate played their second show ever at The Chance in Poughkeepsie, NY.  With Tod Howarth (vocals/guitar) and John Regan (bass) in Four By Fate headlining and Richie Scarlet opening it was like a Frehley's Comet family reunion.



It was a damn good show of mostly Frehley's Comet covers as well as songs by other artists the other members of the band had been in - drummer Stet Howland (W.A.S.P.) and lead guitarist Sean Kelly (Crash Kelly).   Throw in some Beatles, Kiss, Humble Pie (John Regan has long been the bassist for Peter Frampton) and Cheap Trick as well (I'm pretty sure one of the guys did a stint in Trick or maybe something like Robin Zander's solo band).



Richie Scarlet aka "The Emperor of Rock n Roll" kicked ass as always opening in the middle of the crowd with "Beck's Bolero" in a set that included a cover of "Crimson and Clover", as well as "2 Young 2 Die" (dedicated to baseball legend Don Zimmer who passed away two days earlier) and "Shot Full Of Rock" off Ace Frehley's "Trouble Walkin'" album.



At the time of the show I was backed up with shows to report on and knew I'd get around to this eventually.  Well yesterday Four By Fate posted the following on Facebook, so I figured no time like the present...

"Changing Of The Guards:

Hello Four By Fateful's. Tod and John here to fill you in on what's up these days with FOUR BY FATE.

As we eagerly approach the 2nd part of our stretch to finish the new release, there have been some changes made to the lineup. 

Joining the FOUR BY FATE family is legendary drummer AJ Pero of Twisted Sister/Adrenaline Mob fame and New York's own Patrick James of Pound/ Flywheel on Lead/Rhythm guitars. 

The road for FOUR BY FATE is an exciting one and with each turn we are blessed with wonderful talent, strength and the promise of crossing an epic finish line. We, as band, are grateful for all the good times and creativity that both Stet Howland and Sean Kelly brought and shared with the band. More than that, we are blessed to have them as brothers, a bond that will always remain. 

Both Stet and Sean will always be a part of the FOUR BY FATE family and we wish them nothing but tremendous success in all that they do. We hope to cross paths again in the not so distant future.

From Sean Kelly:"While the time has come for me to focus on new musical horizons, I want to extend my very best wishes to John, Tod, Pat, and AJ, all players and people of the finest caliber. I also want to thank Stet Howland for the good times and friendship we shared, a true drum legend! It was an honor to launch the good ship Four By Fate with John, Tod, and Stet....long may it sail!”

From Stet Howland:"I love these guys and we will all continue to rock and cross paths down the line"As of this week, 6 songs went out into the hands of very interested parties that will eventually be a part of the launching of our release tentatively entitled: ‘Rhythm of the Curve’ 

It won’t be too much longer before you have a full length CD, Download, Video and more in your ‘Fateful’ hands. 

Our best to all,

Tod Howarth 

John Regan"

Glad I got to see this gig and it was a great night of rock n roll.  While Stet and Sean will be missed, it's good to see this is an amicable parting and their replacements should continue to kick some ass.  I'll definitely check out the new lineup when the album is released and they come back to The Chance.

Here's the setlist:

Calling to You (Frehley's Comet)
Something Moved (Frehley's Comet)
Into The Night (Frehley's Comet)
Follow Me
It's Over Now (Frehley's Comet)
I Am the Walrus (The Beatles)
I Want You To Want Me (Cheap Trick)
Blind In Texas (W.A.S.P.)
Ride The Wire (Crash Kelly)
Time Ain't Running Out (Frehley's Comet)
I Don't Need No Doctor (Humble Pie)
Encore:
Rip It Out (Ace Frehley)
Breakout (Frehley's Comet included Drum Solo)
Rocket Ride (Kiss)

Below are a ton of photos from the show.  Click on them to super size.  Then go click this link to go to the MostPeopleAreBlank Facebook page and click "Like" to keep up to date on all our posts as well as giveaways just open to those who follow on Facebook.  More shows to come.  Rock on and Enjoy - Paul

Richie Scarlet Photos:

Four By Fate Photos: