Flag and Black Flag…oh, the drama
I make no secret of my love for the music of Black Flag. Their music was more than just songs to me, it was a way of life that changed the way I lived my life. This year, after the band has been nonexistent since 1986, there has been a flurry of activity from former band members…some of it smells genuine and some reeks of ego and greed. One group of ex-members is touring behind the name FLAG and looks to be very sincere and energetic for a bunch of 50 somethings…
Then you have Greg Ginn…guitarist and leader of Black Flag and the only constant member of the band. His guitar sound was Black Flag and it was always his band. Well, in seemingly a response to FLAG, Greg has decided the time is right to resurrect good old BLACK FLAG. The re-formed group consists of a brand new rhythm section and Ron Reyes on vocals (known as Chavo Pederast from the Jealous Again EP) and, of course, Greg on guitar. There is an extensive world tour and a new album on the horizon. Time will tell how this will go down in music history, but I think chances are good that it falls flat. That being said, I already have my ticket for an upcoming show. I’ll tell you how it turns out…
Phish Summer Tour 2013
With one of the funnier tour announcement videos Phish dropped the plans for their thirtieth year together…and surprise there is some West Coast love.
July 3 @ Bangor Waterfront Pavilion – Bangor, Maine
July 5 – 7 @ Saratoga Performing Arts Center – Saratoga Springs, New York
July 9 @ Molson Amphitheatre – Toronto, Ontario
July 10 @ PNC Bank Arts Center – Holmdel, New Jersey
July 12 @ Nikon at Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, New York
July 13 – 14 @ Merriweather Post Pavilion – Columbia, Maryland
July 16 – 17 @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheatre – Alpharetta, Georgia
July 19 – 21 @ Northerly Island – Chicago, Illinois
July 26 – 27 @ Gorge Amphitheatre – George, Washington
July 30 – 31 @ Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys – Stateline, Nevada
August 2 – 4 @ Bill Graham Civic Auditorium – San Francisco, California
August 5 @ Hollywood Bowl – Los Angeles, California
August 30 – September 1 @ Dick’s Sporting Goods Park – Commerce City, Colorado
I missed last years tour and will try to at least see one show…okay, maybe two. I just need to decided on Lake Tahoe or San Francisco before they hit the on sale date of March 28th.
I asked my wife tonight if she would be interested in going with me to see the band…she thought about it for a few minutes and declined the offer…told me to go and have a good time. I have dragged her to see Phish a couple of times and although she had a good time the music is just not her cup of tea. I only can imagine that this is what she hears when I play Phish…
Song for the Rough Week Ahead – Hanni El Khatib
Feel like I am waking up from a long fever dream…
I guess that was what it actually was. Last week I was sick…some intestinal infection that put me down for four days. Too sick to read. Too sick to watch TV. Too sick to write. Too sick to listen to music.
The big pills have returned me to myself…
Song for the Rough Week Ahead – Paperhouse by Can
CAN…they spontaneously created works of wonder in concert, some recordings have 40+ minutes of instant composition. Check out this video from a European music show for a live version of Paperhouse…at about the three minute mark the groove gets locked by Jaki and off they go.
Santa Sangre Redux 