Last night, Shigolch and I went over to Alex’s in Long Beach, CA to see Black Fag and Work Sucks. Alex’s is a punk rock bar and if I lived in Long Beach, I’d be hanging out there all the time. It’s a pretty good sized room with good sound, good beers, and good people.
Work Sucks
Work Sucks
Work Sucks
Work Sucks
First up was Work Sucks. I had never heard of them before until they played. They played a rather basic style of mostly hardcore but would slow it down some. All their songs are about working, and how shitty it is and the singer would tell work related stories between songs and was very entertaining. I really enjoyed their set and thought it was a pretty clever gimmick. Their last song was a longer, more experimental number that was kind of Flipper-esque. I’d love to see those guys again. At the end of their set they were giving away CDs and pens with the band name on there, which would be a perfect thing to bring to the office!
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag followed shortly. I know what you are thinking, that’s a typo right? No, the band is really called Black Fag. They are a Black Flag tribute band but instead of just playing the Black Flag songs, they totally gay them up! It is perhaps the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. Each band member is a different character like in Black Flag, only the gaylord version. They even alter the songs to make them have more gayety. The best is their rendition of “My War” which they retool as “My Wardrobe” I damn near spit out my beer laughing so hard when that one started. While I’m against new bands covering old punk songs, this is like the only exception because the whole gimmick is comedy and it works perfectly. That band can play those songs to perfection too and imagine a guy in a very Fred Schneider like voice totally flaming out singing “Wasted”. They had some pretty limited, but entertaining, between song banter as well. That show is a must-see if it you ever get the chance! When we left, I was still smiling because it so much fun.
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
After the show I dropped off Shigolch and hit the road for the journey back to Gore Lodge in Hollywood where I’m staying here out in CA. Since I was the last one home, sadly I got the short couch (1/3 smaller than me!) but the show was so fun, it was worth the discomfort.
A few more pictures after the jump…
Work Sucks
Work Sucks
Work Sucks
Work Sucks
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
Black Fag
