Black Flag Tramshed, Cardiff

RAISE the flag for a pulsating night! That was certainly the mood at Tramshed as the veteran American punk-rockers packed away their kit.

By the end of the 90-minute set packed with BF classics, fans were counting not only their lucky stars but their bruises.

Yes, it was that kind of night – no place for the faint-hearted or weak in body as the moshpit lived up to everything that was expected.

After a terrific warm-up set from support Total Chaos, the main men swept onto stage with frenetic openers to include Depression, No Values, I’ve Had It, Black Coffee and Fix Me.

For the first hour or so there was no interaction – it was one of my favourite types of gigs where the band just gets on with it. No political lectures, no nonsense. Just pure boot-jumping US hardcore punk with a long old thread of Motorhead-style hard rock.

Black Flag have been going for more than 40 years now – they started out as Panic in 1976 – but show no signs of flagging energy. Key to

this is the sheer power and live music professionalism from ever-present band leader and legend Greg Ginn.

Ably supported by frontman Mike V, the Californians had the crowd in raptures all night.

Track after track of raw energy followed, from Slip it In, Police Story and a mind-blowing Six Pack.

Towards the end the Total Chaos lads joined the stage as the night closed with Nervous Breakdown, Rise Above and Louie Louie. A smashing show, and long may these guys fly the flag for punk rock.