Does anyone else agree that My War-era Black Flag was the best period for the band? It’s probably not the most popular opinion, but it has its advocates (including this writer). Everything about the band’s sound and style at the time seemed to be rebelling against what traditional notions of hardcore-punk should feel and sound like. Whether it was Rollins’ long hair and fishnets, the notably slower tempos, and the muddier sound (which proved to be hugely influential on the emergence of sludge-metal in the coming years), it was an interesting time for the band, as this bruising performance from 1984 aptly demonstrates. The entire set is pretty killer, as is the opening poem Rollins shares which feels particularly relevant lately, perfectly encapsulating the sentiment this writer felt as the results from last week’s election were becoming more apparent:
“Tomorrow you may bring about the destruction of your world. Tomorrow you may sing in paradise above the smoking ruins of your world-cities. But tonight, I would think of one man, a lone individual, a man without name or country, a man whom I respect because he has absolutely nothing in common with you. The man is myself. Tonight, I shall meditate upon that which I am.” – Henry Miller
