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| Anti-Flag / Good Riddance / Strike AnywhereLive in Brooklyn2002 live show  Review by: Johnny Redscum See others by this writer Only registered users can post comments 
 
Published on April 17th 2002
Anti-Flag’s “Die for the Government” was a very important record to me when I was thirteen or fourteen. The band’s release on New Red Archives put them, and with it melodic political punk rock, on the American map of the 1990’s. Having only seen them twice before (ironically both times at a large festival-style concert tour I would rather not mention for fear of my inbox being inundated with accusations of being a poseur), I jumped on the chance to see them play a relatively new venue in Brooklyn, the Warsaw, at the Polish National Home. Hey, Joe Strummer tickets were forty dollars...
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Wait.. so why did this get 2 stars? The reviewer seemed to have a decent enough time at the show.. Could of had 3 stars.. I dunno where the hell the guy below lives but here anti-flag did open for good riddance and why would they open for Strike Anyhwere when they only had one album out douche? Anti-Flag Shoulda been opening for Strike Anywhere. Or Good Riddance for that matter. dude, just coz their parents have some money don't mean they ain't punk or whatever, we live in a capitalist society ie we use capitalism every fuckin day, doesn't mean we support it or like it. it is possible to get rich without fucking anyone over All this shit about punk and wealth is really stupid. If your punk you know it, no one else can tell you because punk is a mindset, not a superficial load of shit. If your rich you can still be punk, although being rich can be seen as a traitor to the scene. Anti-Flag even says this in their lyrics. The only way that someone could be a poseur is by being punk to be cool and not for themselves. Anti-Flag doesn't care if the people listening to them aren't punk, they want to get their message out. This is why little girls who might not be punk are attracted to them. Anti-Flag will never sellout... god, you kids are morons. I'm not that bright and I can tell from reading this once that hes not picking on the kids for being young, hes just bewildered because hes realizing hes no longer the thirteen year old of the scene. when you get older, you'll understand. believe me. ok, this is my first and probably only post ill ever do, but i think this needs to be said. as far as the rich kid comments go....who cares if their parents make alot of money or drive nice cars. good for them. is it any of your business as to what parents want to do with their money? no it's not. just because a kid gets picked up from a show in a mercedes doesn't mean that they are "less punk" than anyone else. if i were to go buy a nice car tomorrow, there would be nothing wrong with it. it would be what I wanted to do with my money. so just shut your mouths you little jealous bastards. to the guy who ripped on green day in his page long dissertation on how great anti-flag is, gd may not be the hardest, most political band, but the song "coming clean" is completely about homophobia, and if i'm not mistaken, i think that might have been green day taking the pansy division on their dookie tour and saying to venues in the south who didn't want to let a gay band play that if pansy division didn't play green day didn't. I didn't want the guy before this post to get the last comment so.. fuck you my dad drives a mercedes and i guarantee that I been listening to punk since you were in still shitting yourself. Just because your family is rich doesn't mean you can't love the music you ignorant asshole. To the guy who saw them in cleveland, i also saw them there. Why don't you do some research before you go start slamming a band? Justin is allergic to smoke so it's either don't let the people smoke or no show. I would like you to show me another way in which they are hipocritical, because your only reason was stupid and false. I saw the show in Cleveland. The Code is great. Anyways, Good Riddance is great and Anti-Flag sucks. Strike Anywhere is probably the greatest band out touring now. Anti-Flag are nothing more than hypocrates. The pure fact they try to prevent a freedom (smoking) from going on at their shows is purely supportive of my thought. Oh I don't smoke and I hate cigarettes. there are kids like that everywhere. anti-flag seems to have a -for lack of a better word- "poser" following. they hate the government, but give no great enlightening reasons. these kids don't care. anti-flag and their fans can kiss my ass. The intelligence in this message board radiates so brightly, it is blinding. There is nothing wrong with a band such as Anti-Flag or Strike Anywhere trying to put out some kind of message in their music. If there are kids at the show who don't know anything about the politics... Then maybe the show will be an opportunity for them to learn about it or become interested in it. I saw the Mobilize tour in Chapel Hill and it blew me away. All the bands were great. It was nice to see bands such as Thought Riot, The Code, Strike Anywhere, Good Riddance, and Anti-Flag form a tour under a common cause. In this cause opposing the military-industrial complex. For all of the critics who attack radical politics and/or using music as an outlet of radical politics, I suggest you first learn what it is you are criticizing. For Anarchism, I suggest anything by Emma Goldman(Both volumes of Living My Life are extremely inspirational) or Peter Kropotkin (The Conquest of Bread is a good book on what the view of Anarchist theory was in the early 1900's.) For Socialism, I suggest anything by the historian Howard Zinn. All his books are outstanding... Especially Declarations of Independence. one of the most respected bands in the punk community? are you joking? i can think of few bands that are as disliked as anti-flag (unless you consider 13 year old girls the punk community) I'm a lazy kid and I didn't read all of the comments, but I did read the whole review. In a way I agree with some of it, even though when I saw the Mobilize for Peace tour it was with Thrice and Against All Authority; but sometimes it feels like there are kids who like Anti-Flag for the mere fact that they're just a band that makes you "punk". (Don't take those words to sincerity, I was being a bit sarcastic there). But anyway, I completely agree that Strike Anywhere is very awesome. Very powerful, nicely written lyrics, great guitar work and everything. I was very happy to see them come here a coupla weeks ago, but I already knew their sound. They're show did blow me away though. Anyhoo, about the comments to little girls at the show. I bet there are a few people who look at me like that, seeing that I'm only 5'3 and I do wear band babydoll shirts because I don't like how I look in big regular shirts, but I can definitely say that there are no mercedes parked in my backyard. =P And taking the bus is always a good way home. I wrote the long statement. I have heard strike anywhere and I wish that extraordinary group lots of hope in the future because they are also making a big difference. Ohhh I also forgot to mention one of the greats.... Propagandhi, they really are people who are spreading the postive punk. to the person who left that lengthy statement a few spots down i totally agree with you. It's good to see people in the punk scene that actually still give a fuck. If you haven't already check out strike anywhere. All of these bands are awesome, they actually have something to say. Instead of just bitching about the girl who got away. By their lyrics and music they actually fit the criteria of a punk and or hardcore band.Much love and respect for them, but strike anywhere blow all these bands away. Ohh that totally sucks. Dissing on Anti-fLag. I think they are one of the most respected bands in the current punk scene. Not only are they anti-war and pro unity they are also for change, anti-racist actions, anti-homophobia, and many other issues that many punk bands don't bring up or talk about because they rather talk about girls and other stupid crud. Good bands like this don't really come out so often. I mean if I would start a band it would be for positive issues like Anti-Flag and not a cliche band like Guttermouth who basically are perverts and who tolerate violence or Blink 182 who don't really stand up for that many issues and in there songs they don't really have much meaning to it unless you want to mention their chick lyrics which really is nothing important to talk about. Anti-Flag are one of the GOdS of punk rock right now because of what they are doing. I get excited when I see a younger crowd at a show because at least they will understand stuff at a younger age and they will stand up against hatred of any kind. I'd be excited if in the future kids stop saying their homophobic words and racist words. If it happens I know that bands like Anti-FLag are defenetly heroes but it wouldn't matter they have made a big difference already. Their is plenty of good bands that many people bash on because they get some good recognition but they deserve it because they are making a more positive move in this world. I hate when people bash on the great bands like Pennywise, NOFX, Suicide Machines, Rx Bandits, Rancid, etc... and many other good bands that are actually writing about something important and these bands are the ones that are the true highlights of the current punk scene. Bands like Green Day, Blink, Jimmy Eat World, Sum 41, New Found Glory arent doing anything good and they get the most recognition and the most praise of the punk scene. Well they aren't really writing anything to really make you think. Well thats just my opinion and as I said before to other people "its stupid when someone says get of my country if you don't like it here because it shows how much of a difference you want to make(nothing) and how open minded you are(not very) and basically those people who say that are the ones that listen to the bands that don't really matter".... plus it isn't really your country, you don't own it, so fuck you! The first humans here were the native people and then the white man came and the native people let them stay since they didn't think land is to be owned by anyone but they starting killing the white man when the white man started kicking them out. So stick that up your "my country" statement you stupid little nazi minded fucks. Nazis want people that aren't like them off this country just like you people. You really don't see your ignorance people. I'LL END THE STATEMENT BY SAYING END RACISM, HOMOPHOBIA, BIGOTRY OF ANY KIND, and if goes against the grain... fuck it. Thanks anti-flag for the difference you made in me. PEACE! arguing on the internet is like running in the special olympics.. Even if you win, you're still retarded so yeah like i totally think like yeah i mean you are totally like bashing them and like stuff and totally not cool like dude ... good riddance should be the band to diss on. they are so fuckn aweful, i saw them in philly with antiflag. i wanted to puke... they are teeny boppin pop-punk rockas... God damn. I haven't been able to hear Paint it Black yet. I am a huge Kid Dynamite and Lifetime fan though so I cant fucking wait. And yes, Hello Bastards is definately one of the top five albums of all time. ...I rank it at #3. Yemin rules. Excellent review. Paint It Black is fucking awesome. Dr. Dan has done it again. Lifetime, Kid Dynamite, and now Paint It Black. What a career. Lifetime is one of my favorite bands ever. Hello Bastards LP is easily in my top five, of course, nothing can touch my disturbing obsession with Jawbreaker. If you like Chris #2's voice, check out his side band, Whatever it Takes... it's not quite as political, but quite amazing, the did a week with Thursday/Hey Mercedes/Saves the Day, and upstages the latter 66% of those 3 bands. (From SickBoi) Huey, you know Strike Anywhere is playing at Alley Katz (RVA) in the next few weeks, right? Worst part is, your mom probably picked you up in a BMW. so what if they have money, cause you listen to punk rock does that mean your parents have to be poor. Like the music cause you Like the music not cause you like the image. And who cares what other people are doing live your life forget about everyone else. Really man get a fucking life! Hey Sickboi, yep I heard about that. Too bad that I have no car and I'm hours away from Richmond. I'm in these awful corporate VA suburbs. I was really pissed that I missed AF/GR/SA in D.C. a few weeks ago. Anti-Flag didn't sign to Fat... that was just a one record deal... lucky bastards... most bands are tied down to 5 or 6 record deals... Like this country is so fucked up and like we have to unite to stop whoever it is that we don't like. Fuck. Your review was absolutely ridiculous. Let me review you, as an audience. You were late. Bad boy. What's so wrong with younger kids attending a show meant to bring people together and have a good time. Did you expect for the sex pistols and the ramones to be there instead? Get over that. Next, you missed 2 great young opening bands, which you probably would have bashed anyhow, because you seem to be like that. Thought Riot and the Code, anyone at the show should be able to back me up, they ruled as openers. Strike Anywhere is one of those bands where its just under the radar and while half of you wants them to be the most successful band ever, the other half hopes nobody else will notice em so you can have em all to yourself. Great shit. I agree A-F has gotten worse since they signed to Fat. That was the worst mistake ever. Mobilize is o.k. but the Chris and #2 can't write any good songs. Justin is a good song writer. stop bitching about political punk/anti-flag! Eventhough i know anti flag have kind of bland lyrics, i still like em. Whats all this crap about them trying to appeal to teenies? Bullshit. All they are is four people who are passionate about injustice and that is something i admire and not many people are like that, nor bands. Fuck bands that play boring songs about cars, girls and shit all for money and fame. Political punk bands dont deserve your badmouthing shit. how many political punks does it take to screw in a light bulb? to soybomb... poor Brooklyn kids.....in montreal, Good Riddance were the headliner, how about the other cities ?...oh yeah and strike anywhere are pretty sweet too ! lol, Huey, you know Strike Anywhere is playing at Alley Katz (RVA) in the next few weeks, right? I fucking love Good Riddance and Strike Anywhere. As a VA resident, it's reasurring to know that some good underground music is flowing out of here, and that is Strike Anywhere. As for Anti Flag, I think they peaked at A New Kind Of Army. Underground had some really good songs, but when tunes like This Machine Kills Fascists, I was just like, "I've pulled better songs out of my ass." I just get the feeling that they are becoming redundant, and it's almost as if they have nothing left to say. Sure, I've never seen them live, but I'd still probably go anyways. Who knows.. Anti-Flag is pathetic. It's 'your government sucks' music for white middle class kids (which I am) who don't know the first thing about government or world politics. They don't have smart political lyrics. They are just being that anti-establishment band because that is the punk rock thing to do and the kids will eat up your message. Give me a break. If you want smart political insight, check out the Broadways or the Honor System. Oh, Strike Anywhere is great bytheway. There is nothing wrong with younger kids at shows, this point gets exaggerated too much. On a basic level, a 16 year old faces most of the same problems a college kid does. Get over age. It's not a factor. and once again, anti-flag is bad. So what your saying is that if your parents are rich, you cannot listen to Anti Flag and you sure as hell cannot be into politics. justine sane is really pee wee herman anti f should go to afghanistan then she if they complain about how fucked the us is how mant times is antiflag going to put out watererd down versions of die for your government anti-flag got real boring i guess i grew up and realized that the shit they talk about is rehearsed and they say at every show anti-flag aint crying about little girls at shows because if they dident come there would be like 2 people there cause they sux so much Anti-flag cry about everything Having seen Good Riddance twice in vastly different situations (once at the Leeds Festival in England, once headlining in So Cal), it seems like the band - and especially Russ - let the crowd get on top of them far too easily. When they've got a decent bunch of their own fans in front of them they can put on a kickass show, but then anyone can play to their own fans. Their problem is that when confronted with kids who don't necessarily know and/or like them that much (as at Leeds and presumably on the Anti-Flag tour) they go to pieces and resort to abusing the crowd for not being more into them. Hardly the best way to broaden to your fanbase. i do not own a mercedes, or have parents that have one... but don't assume that these girls were just jumping on the bandwagon, or somehow couldn't be punk because one of them had a rich mother... but i've seen the type you seem to be referring to, and well.... I was at this show, and it was very boring. A terrible, terrible venue and crowd that leaves me warning; Never go to a punk show in brooklyn. And you could tell Justin Sane was half-assing the whole set, but maybe it was just a bad day. And I don't think he meant anything's wrong with Stevie Wonder, he means you've gotta be pretty fucking dumb to wave at a blind guy. Strike Anywhere rules. Good Riddance rules. As for Anti Flag, I have to agree with moldy. They were a lot better in DFYG days. I'm not usually one of those "Their old stuff was so much better" kinda people, but it's true. It seems like they've kinda lost something over the years. Nothing against #2 because I think he kicks ass, and is one of the few things AF still has going for them, but, bring back Andy. Or Anne. She was cool too. Yeah good review, but kindly explain what's wrong with Stevie Wonder! I can tell you what to make of the three girls climbing into the mercedes. I take it as a good sign that some kids like that are going to see anti-flag and not something like sum-41. I also think that quite a fair number of affluent kids are in to punk. Poor kids and rich kids seem to be on the top of the list for anger and strife, which I think can lead into an interest in aggressive music with a message. Run of the mill average kids can get into the scene too and often do because they are the majoritry in the world, but I think that in the undergroiund scene you see a disproportianate number of kids from the extremes of the socio-economic spectrum. So fuck off bitching about those kids being at the show. Im sure theyve played a few shows where they were tired and not into it, but ive seen Good Riddance a few times, and they always have delivered an energetic fun show. That sucks if you dont like them, because youre missing out on a lot of good music i saw this tour in buffalo and toronto.. the sad part about this tour was how the crowd treated good riddance.. a lot of people i see have bitched about good riddance on this tour.. i think the reason they didnt play their best because they werent headlining and there were a lot of younger kids at these shows too.. lots of people there for anti flag when good riddance should have been the headlining band but they werent since it was antiflags moblize tour.. this for sure wasnt good riddances tour.. go see them on their summer tour and then they will blow u away.. they usally put everything into their live show and rock like MAD.. just try to think back to how amazing they were at warped tour 2000 getting the biggest circle pit going! That review sucked dude...you basically said that you missed the code, that you like Strike Anywhere sound OK but you've never heard of them (I don't know how that's even possible!), that Good Riddance sucked and that Anti-Flag sucked, than the people sucked because they gor picked up by mom and dad...Let me tell you all something, I can assure you guys that this show fucking ripped so damn hard that peoples ears were hanging off their blissed out blasted out heads!!! I dont know if I did that right. It was supposed to go under comments. Theres nothing wrong with being rich. I wish my family was rich but no we were only upper middle class. I say we were because Im out on my own now. I would have no problem with being picked up by my mommy in a mercedes after an Anti-Flag show. I dont have to put my punkness on display to prove it. Id at least be at the show which is all that fuckin matters. I got to see Anti-Flag in a small size club when they played with Less Than Jake, New Found Glory, and Teen Idols. That was such an awesome show. Everywhere from 14 year old girls and jocks for NFG, to street punks for AF. EVERYONE WAS CHANTING DIE FOR THE GOVERNMENT. good reveiw, Strike anywhere is fucking awsome i hope to see them live soon. ive been an anti flag ever since die for your government came out, and ive seen them twice, once warped, once medium size club, and i think that there has been a steady decline in the quality of the band. I recently relistened to thier cds, i have them all, and the older stuff when andy flag was still in the band is great. I'll venture to say that DFYG was one of the better street punk albums of the 90's, but the recent stuff espically underground network just wasnt the same, they are a band that deffintly needs to return to thier roots it doesnt make him spoiled any more than being employed makes you somehow morally enlightened. Too many people who are fucking assholes get a job and all of a sudden there not assholes, your just oppressing them. Leftist politics was never meant to provide a scapegoat for your own deficiencies. To the guy below me.. get a fuckin job.. if your parents "make quite a bit of money" and you're unemployed, that makes you spoiled. If the reason you dont have a job is because you're like 14, chances are no one wants you at shows. i've never got dropped off at shows. but generally i am given money or allowance to go, becuase i dont work. does this make me stupid? my girlfriend gets picked up from shows all the time becuase she lives in the burbs. and her parents are worried about public transit at nite ... and her dad makes a fair bit of money ... so they have a decent car. dont judge people based on apperances. you know, the richer your parents, the more organic food you can afford. |
