Black Flag “Who’s Got the 10-1/2?” 1986. SST Records. Last night we saw “Black Flag” perform at X-Ray Arcade. The quotes are because it’s just Greg Ginn (on guitar) from the OG lineup(s) and three other young musicians who look about the same age as my kid. It was good…it was weird. The kids did a good job and absolutely put their heart and snarl into the show but it was grandpa with the grandkids. Again, weird. The Queers opened and they’re also down to just original member, Joseph P. King aka Joe Queer. At least the rest of his band felt a bit more age appropriate. (The Queers were fun, though their sound got pretty repetitive quickly, but it’s short, sharp, dumb and silly punk so I didn’t mind.) We only stayed for the first half of Black Flag (OMG there was an intermission! Like we were at the fucking opera or something) so I’m not sure what they played during the second set but we got “Nervous Breakdown,” “Damaged,” “Six Pack” and “Wasted” during the first half.

Who’s Got the 10-1/2? is a live LP recorded in August 1985 at Starry Night in Portland, Oregon. This is Rollins-era Flag (the back cover of the LP has him in those tiny, sweaty 80’s athletic shorts) so deep screamy yet guttural vocals over Ginn’s shred and the hardcore rhythms of bassist Kira Roessler (the only other woman in Black Flag until the current singer, Max Zanelly) and drummer Anthony Martinez. For an 80’s live punk album, the quality is surprisingly good, especially Side B’s “My War” and the long mashup of “Slip It In” with “Gimmie, Gimmie, Gimmie.”