Black Flag Rise in Brooklyn With Explosive Gig

It’s no secret that Black Flag have had their share of lineup changes over the past three decades, but that didn’t phase fans in Brooklyn at all. The band took hold of the intimate venue Europa during a recent stop on their North American Victimology Tour 2014.

The night started out with forceful Brooklyn duo Cinema Cinema who were beyond passionate and entertaining live. Founding Black Flag member, guitarist Greg Ginn, pulled a double shift as his solo experimental act HOR filled Europa with mesmerizing riffs.

This was the calm before the storm as the New York crowd was tame at the start of the night but when Black Flag exploded onto the stage so did fans. With a combo of ‘Rise Above,’ ‘Six Pack’ and ‘I’ve Had It,’ things got very sweaty very quickly.

Mike Vallely, who recently took over vocal duties for the band, belted out the songs we know and love with the same passion as the fans. When he was first announced as the band's new singer, Vallely said, “I’m excited about performing songs from the entire Black Flag catalog. I feel confident in my ability to communicate the songs — to give them their due respect and yet still make them my own” -- and he did just that.

For Black Flag fans, It was simply an honor to see the very talented Greg Ginn perform twice in one night. Bassist Tyler Smith has great energy onstage and the very young Brandon Pertzborn is a magnetic force behind the drums.

The crowd sang their hearts out to classics ‘Nervous Breakdown,’ ‘Jealous Again’ and ‘Depression’ just to name a choice few. The night ended with ‘F---ed Up’ (a song by Vallely and Ginn's other band Good for You) and the favorite ‘Revenge.’

All told, whatever legal issues or lineup changes that have taken place over the years didn't seem to matter to fans at the show. Everything melts away once those nostalgic songs and the memorable music of Black Flag begins.

Check Out Photos of Black Flag, Greg Ginn’s HOR + Cinema Cinema Performing in Brooklyn:

Black Flag:

Greg Ginn’s HOR

Cinema Cinema: