BLACK FLAG/SACCHARINE TRUST/HUSKER DU - 950, DECEMBER 29, 81
     Eric Nihilist did it again, he got a Los Angeles-minn.
punk show on stage, for two shows and in a disco-synth. dance
club.  I went to the under-21 show mainly becasue I wondered
what it would be like and how many teens turned out to see
'the' band.  Also to see how the new Lucky Number would take
such shows.
     Under-21 means no alcohal; so we just drank before
going, no problem.  Once inside I noticed older men with
beer bellies standing around; could these be the bouncers?
Sure, just some truckers to combat the youth if they did'nt
behave.  Once again, Black Flag did'nt provoke any violence
just fun.
     Husker Du were up first, should have been second, and
responded with a good set.  They're another example that the
midwest (Minneapolis, to be specific) is capable of matching
the West Coast in 'punk' talent.  They are a band you can
see numerous times and still be amazed at their sound and
intensity (how many "punk guitarists " use a flying 'V'?).
Husker Du ended their set with "Statues" (on their single)
with Grant (drummer) singing it.  It ended with a member of
the Hypsterz* (minn.) replacing Grant on drums in mid-song so
Grant could come out front and wail.  Great set but no encore?
I think people were too stunned to clap.  See them they play
around Chi-town a lot and worth every penny it is to see them
and look for their new album.
     Before the show I was psyched to see Saccharine Trust,
another L.A./Hunnington Beach band YEA!  But, YUK!, they stunk
like shit.  They were touring the country with Black Flag, why
I don't know.  They just seemed did-organized and bored.  The
skinhead on bass looked cool though.  Best song I can remember
or wanted to was "Mad at the Company",No encore, Thank God!
     By now the crowd was pretty substaniated with the usual
number of jerks and cretins; but that's expected.  Black Flag
hit the stage for a all out aural assault with "T.V. Party"
(a fav) with everyone singing the chorus; what a song.
     One noticeable absence was Robo the drummer, rumour had
it he was detained in England becasue of residential problems
(he is a East German or a Columbian or a primate? only his hair-
dresser knows for sure) and has probably quit the band.  His
replacement for the night was Billy of the Descendants, he was
definately kick-ass in drumming and he had just flown out from
L.A.  Henry was great on vocals, maybe the best they've had yet.
Dez plays guitar (but you couldn't hear it above the sonic wave
of Ginn's guitar) and sings back-up ; he also looked like a
cross between a Manson gang member and a Hell's Angel.  Chuck
played with his usual distorted face but sans-mowhawk.  Greg
Ginn's guitar rules and that's it!  The only flaw was the
sound up front, almost non-existent vocals at some points,but
you could easily read Henry's lips.  What a screamer!
     The set was long with stand-out being "Nervous
Breakdown" (already four years old), "Life of Pain" where
Henry stalks the stage like a 'punk' possesed, "Gimmie Gimmie
Gimmie" and encores of "Rise Above"- Yeah!  and the killer
"Louie Louie".
     Slam dancing was widespread, including the kiddies.  One
of the coolest things was when this normal looking kid, he look-
ed all of 13 years, was thrown on stage and kept getting thrown
back on the stage.   At one point, Henry collared him and had him
sing along, yes he knew the words.  You should have seen it, Big
Brother Henry.  I've decided I need to see Black Flag every month
or two, it's natural like milk.________d.d.s.