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| Anti-Flag / the Casualties / the Unseenlive in New York2006 live show   Review by: Brian See others by this writer ![[staff]](/images/icons/staffsticker.gif){kind=icon}
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Published on April 18th 2006
Anti-Flag's first official headlining tour in support of their major label debut; does the backlash start here?
Oof...okay, only a select number of people have any idea why writing this paragraph is really, really awkward for me, but here goes nothing. The Casualties then played. This was probably the one band I had the least interest in seeing, but I tried to watch with an open mind. Sounded like streetpunk to me with a few, uh, iffy traits. Their fanbase was quite ridiculous, and they also incited a near-constant circle pit; it lagged a bit in the middle of the set, but seemed to renew interest with the Ramones' tribute song "Made in NYC," following it with a pretty solid cover of "Blitzkrieg Bop." I can tell you they also played "Media Control" and "Punx Unite" (you know, "IF THE PUNX / ARE UNITED / THEY WILL NEVER / BE DIVIDED"). The one guitarist's electric green mohawk gave off a pretty cool effect in the blacklight, so props for that. I might've actually gotten some enjoyment out of it not for Jorge's voice; boy does that grate on you after a song or so. Now, I've always enjoyed Anti-Flag (and by always, I mean the last 3-4 years). I even prefer their newer albums over the beloved, poppy streetpunk era, even while I realized the course they were taking may one day end up somewhat compromising those vehement beliefs. But tonight, something changed, in a good way; my respect for the band grew admirably as I came to finally realize what the band was about. I recently wrapped up reading Let Fury Have the Hour, a book edited and compiled by Antonino D'Ambrosio that includes a number of articles taking an in-depth look at the life, work, and influence of Joe Strummer, with a heavy portion of the book obviously dedicated to the time in his life spent in the Clash. Among the themes throughout the book conveyed was the fact that Strummer was firmly "anti-intellectual." He preferred to raise awareness not through overtly highbrowed diatribes, but through more accessible pieces of social and political analysis, messages that the common folk could listen and relate to. Also recently I've noticed our good friend and site editor Aubin make emphatic mention of just how Clash-influenced Anti-Flag is; I initially scoffed a little at these statements. However, after reading a recent interview with band member Chris, who's sure to admit he believes the band's role as a gateway drug is more prominent than anything, and seeing the band myself live once more, it makese sense. Anti-Flag may not draw from the same far-reaching musical spectrum and breadth of influence as the Clash once did, but in writing these simple, uber-catchy pop-punk songs, they congregate the common folk of these days -- folk in this case being kids -- in hopes of raising political awareness and rallying them into active social duty, as these folk may have no inspiration otherwise. And this is all fully intentioned. Sure, there's still sporadic sloganeering ("War Sucks, Let's Party!"), but it's part of what draws those folk in. As well, A-F had a table set up with a number of petitions, with Military-Free Zone.org being the largely supported highlight, which lets you opt out of the military accessing personal information through your school for recruitment purposes. Therein lied physical proof the band attempts social change and positive unrest themselves. The set itself seemed very raw musically, but it worked well. The fans seemed to respond nicely to the newer songs, which included the excellent "I'd Tell You But...," "The Press Corpse," "This Is the End (For You My Friend)," "1 Trillion Dollar$," and "War Sucks, Let's Party!." The band dipped into their back catalog for favorites like "911 for Peace," "Spaz's House Destruction Party" (I believe this was the song where one member forced the band to stop playing until one physically crushed fan up front had breathing room), "Die for the Government" of course, "Turncoat," "Rank-N-File," "You Can Kill the Protestor, But You Can't Kill the Protest," "Fuck Police Brutality" (opener), "Got the Numbers," "This Machine Kills Fascists," and "Underground Network." Again, the band seemed to play rather raw, but I suppose that is the essence of punk rock. They encouraged the crowd to sign the petitions and get active, reinforcing my point. Outside of a few barely audible off-hand comments between friends (something about selling out to Clear Channel as mentioned by some nearby attendees), there was not a word of heckling and a wealthy number in attendance. So I suppose if there's any backlash, it's quite minimal. Hopefully those dizzying themselves in the revolutions of circle pits are given the inspiration to participate in metaphorical ones. I think if even 1 make that transition, the band's succeeded. People who liked this also liked: ![Elder - Elder [10 inch]](/images/covers/thumb/elder-elder.jpg)          Please login or register to post comments. What are the benefits of having a Punknews.org account?
i hate people who go to gigs just to stand at the back casually tapping theri foot n trying to look cool The AKAs are one of the worst bands ever... it makes my ears bleed. "But New Kind Of Army sucks. This is one band that should stick to their new stuff." The working name for this tour is "SucktoberFEST!" why do people care so much that their on a major? they didn't change their music, and it's even better now. the real posers are the ones who care so much about them signing, and not giving them a chance. "this is 2006. its ok for a punk band to be on a major label. its not THAT big of a fucking deal." best thing about an anti-flag show? no smoking "but really should've...played more than 1 song off new kind of army." "punx unite is a sham 69 "cover"(if the kids, are united/they will never, be divided)" as i gradually edge towards getting blacklisted from this site, i have to point out that punx unite is a sham 69 "cover"(if the kids, are united/they will never, be divided). Propagandhi should've headlined. They're better anyways I love Smoke or Fire...they remind me a lot of Avail, and a faster version of old HWM...above the city is fucking great. Short, fast, uptempo punk with some great vocals pretty good show, nice review. the akas were a good opener, smoke or fire is a great band and put on a great set. the unseen were pretty good, and i don't much care for the casualties but you really can't argue with a large glowing neon green mohawk! as for ant-flag, good set overall but really should've talked less and played more than 1 song off new kind of army. and im pretty sure the guys heckling about clear channel, were my friends, who like anti-flag but just like to be assholes. ok, wats the deal here? why is it that every time a band goes major label, someone is here to bitch about it? so fucking what?! this isnt the 80s, when punk was all underground, this is 2006. its ok for a punk band to be on a major label. its not THAT big of a fucking deal. i agree with some people that say they get worse as they get older on a major label. i love the casualties. but on the front line, while being an ok album that i listen to frequently, isnt their best. perosnally i think underground army was. and that was when they were on an independent label. the unseen's state of discontent, is great. but not as good as the old stuff, pre-epitaph. as for anti-flag, i love their new album on a major label, its fucking harsh. i enjoy it more than their old stuff. none of these bands are bad, just not as good as they used to be. and being on a major label doesnt have THAT much to do with it, so drop that battle. and yeah, some great punk bands are on independent labels, such as the artists on punkcore records. i listen to almost every one of those bands on that label. and i like them just as much as any major label punk band. i would have loved to come out to this show wtf i thought this was PUNKnews.org " Hahaha, Brian and The Casualties = BFF's. Just because bands suck does not equate them to posers. Capitalist Casualties tour this July, celebrating their 20th anniversary. Get ready to have your faces ripped off. ""Poser show of the year. At least the reviewer caught the opening acts" "So I'm reading a Dave Grohl biography and it mentions Nirvana opening for "a band of teenagers called the Unseen" who just play rock covers, any song you mention. Is this our street punk friends or just another Unseen?" "Poser show of the year. At least the reviewer caught the opening acts" Poser show of the year. At least the reviewer caught the opening acts. "Has anybody ever seen Smoke or Fire not open with California's Burning?" does anyone actually really like the casualties? Also, the new Anti-Flag is freaking awesome. If anyone's refusing to listen to it, or simply wary, because it's Anti-Flag, give it a try. That's the boat I was in. I kinda wondered if they were good now after hearing "Turncoat" and "School Of Assassins" from their last album's sessions. ""Would people really pay $15-20 to just to heckle Anti-Flag?" "Would people really pay $15-20 to just to heckle Anti-Flag?" Brian - They didn't play "Loving"....they never have. At least that's what I was told straight from the source... And its a fucking shame Smoke or Fire has to open for the Unseen and the Casualties... about what smoke or fire opens with, in richmond, i've seen them open with "delawhere" and "culture as given" "So I suppose if there's any backlash, it's quite minimal." should mention that i do have and like the sof cd... i saw sof on the fat tour...wasn't that impressed, but then again i like the unseen and the casualties. which puts me in the minority on this site. And its a fucking shame Smoke or Fire has to open for the Unseen and the Casualties... HOLY SHIT. They played "Loving, Self-Loathing"?!?!?!?!? For the best book on the Ramones read, So I'm reading a Dave Grohl biography and it mentions Nirvana opening for "a band of teenagers called the Unseen" who just play rock covers, any song you mention. Is this our street punk friends or just another Unseen? This review was really hard to read. Score is for: The new Sick Of It All is the fucking shit I was going to write a review of the Salt Lake City stop for this tour purely because of the sheer awesomeness that went down during Anti-Flag's set. I'll just tell the story here. (the point being to make the world a better place for everyone in anyway possible, and not saying that "my band saves the world more than your band does") Just to get this out of the way, a comparison between Propoghandi and Anti-Flag is missing the point. SoF are such a bunch of fuckers. I was told they wouldn't play "Loving, Self-Loathing" on this tour. And what the fuck, now they did. I sure hope you are sure they played that. Has anybody ever seen Smoke or Fire not open with California's Burning? love the use of the word vehement in both or your reviews this tour would be so much better if brothers keeper opened. I didn't get to make it out to this tour, but I did go to a show Smoke or Fire, The Unseen, and The Casualties played a few days before this tour started. Smoke or Fire was fucking great, The Unseen was pretty good, and I left a few songs into The Casualties' set. score is for anti-flag preaching when they could have been playing "that's youth" i was pretty upset i missed this tour, but those are lame fucking tracks for antiflag to play from the new album. one trillion dollars is a worthless track, and i'd hate to hear it live in place of "new american century" or "depleted uranium" |
