Live Review: Black Flag @ The Mill, Birmingham
Reviewed by Tim Finch
Hopefully Black Flag need little of an introduction. The pioneers of the emerging hardcore punk scene of the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. Their imagery and iconography helped build their reputation alongside their lyrics, their logo one of the most recognisable in the music industry as a whole.
The bands constant line up changes and multiple hiatus’ have never dulled the cult following which they have cultivated. Keeping them the talking point of the scene whether currently active or not.
In 2019 they are back on the road, the line up a little different to the recognisable names but the core of the original band, Greg Ginn, remains ever present. As their tour rolls through the U.K. stopping off in a plethora of different venues, we’ve caught up with them on a dreary Tuesday night in Birmingham.
After an exceedingly long wait in the twilight drizzle we eventually get into the Mill in Digbeth. The transformed warehouse the perfect venue for a punk rock show.
Support for this tour are Total Choas, a hardcore punk act from California. Whilst the band may be ten years the junior of Black Flag, they still have a storied 30 year career behind them. With pretty much go an hour long set they get to shine in the headlights for quite some time.
Punk anthems ring out but they have a twist of metal about them too. Shawn Smash gets time in almost every song to solo. It’s not a bad thing, in fact it turns the short sharp punchy tracks into epic behemoths. The aggression of punk and the technique of metal blended into one. After their hour is up we are left battered and bruised but feeling fulfilled.
The headline act arrive on stage fashionably late, three figures stir in the shadows on stage as we await their frontman. The set is kicked off with a bang as Mike V jumps onto the stage, there is an energy, a vigour about this band. An aurora surrounds them, they are cult icons and simply that fact adds to the electric atmosphere.
For an hour and a half they destroy this warehouse in the back streets of Digbeth, classic songs spanning their full career are rolled out. Yes, the band lack that cutting edge intensity of the late 70’s and early 80’s. But the music scene, the political scene has moved on and everyone’s got that little bit older. Still the live show is immense. Writhing bodies, flailing arms and punk yell’s throughout the night highlight a perfect old school set.
Black Flag may be 40 years into their career, but the still have what it takes to entertain!
Photo credits Tim Finch Photography
