The importance of L.A. ’s
punk pioneers Black Flag cannot be understated. Even if history only confirms
one album, Damaged, as the band’s
crowning achievement, you have to consider the band beyond anything committed
to magnetic tape. From their grueling tour schedule, to the D.I.Y. ethos of
their label SST Records, to their dangerous encounters with the Los Angeles
Police Department, Black Flag is a band that could never be duplicated in
today’s world. Not that you’d want to, based on their numerous war stories.
Because of this, the members of Black Flag’s continual
line-up changes deserve a bit of respect In their post Flag offerings,
regardless of how important their career changes were.
For Black Flag’s first vocalist, Keith Morris, that respect
was secured with the Circle Jerks, another prominent SoCal punk rock band that
continues to inspire and be revered even in the new century.
For Black Flag’s original bassist and occasional wordsmith
Chuck Dukowski, the ability to say something nice about his work after Flag
becomes a bit of a stretch. After researching and re-listening to Duke’s work
in such forgotten SST releases by SWA and October Faction, the best thing that
can be said is to leave well enough alone.
It may surprise some that we can now consider both of these
alumni members as legitimate members of the post-millennium music scene, not
just card-carrying SST members looking to cash in on a bit of nostalgia,
although both men have participated in at least some kind of reunion effort of
their former glories.
Dukowski’s current gig centers around a band that bares his name:
the Chuck Dukowski Sextet. The CD6 features Chuck’s wife Lora on vocals, an
artist who not only delivers stunning visual pieces (check out the band’s album
covers) but also a surprisingly awesome vocal take on the Dukowski penned Flag
classic “My War” from the band’s debut album, Eat My Life.
They included the cover on a split 7” they did with Mike
Watt’s Missingmen project last Spring. The effort was released on their new
record label Org Records as a way to remind listeners of Dukowski’s lineage, a
promotional tactic that must have worked since it certainly brought the CD6 on
my radar.
Keith Morris’ latest band, OFF!, also took flight after a
bit of reminiscing and the subsequent falling out between band members trying
to revisit old tunes while trying to ignore old personality clashes.
When Morris’ Circle Jerks decided to give it another go, the
members found a huge gulf between the idea to make the band just another nostalgia
act or to take things a step further by incorporating new songs into the mix.
When some members were unable to devote the time necessary to work on new
material and when some voiced concern over producer Dimitri Coats’ own work
demands, Morris put the Circle Jerks on hiatus and continued to work on the
songs that he and Coats had started.
Off! just released their debut album over the summer, and
it’s hard to find fault with Morris’ decision and with Coats work ethic either.
Off! screams by at
barely a quarter-hour, with every second sounding like it’s the most important
thing in the world, even when the subject matter obviously isn’t.
Don’t think that Off!
Is riddled with greasy kid stuff, but there are moments where Morris is able to
channel his younger angst. Most notable is “I Got News For You” where the Keith
takes a haymaker towards Black Flag and SST founder Greg Ginn. Ginn is pretty
notorious for questionable payment practices, and Morris may be the first SST
alumni to publically call him out via a 45-second song, even one that hijacks a
line or two from Flag’s “You Bet I’ve Got Something Against You.” “We trudged
through sludge and piss/Were never paid for this!” he screams, while Coats does
an incredible job of being able to alternate between Ginn’s free jazz chaos and
punchy Stooge riffs.
Haunted is the
latest offering from the Chuck Dukowski Sextet, and while it’s nowhere near the
intensity level of Off’s pace, it’s closer to SST Record’s spirit with its
unpredictable tangents.
As with the band’s previous records, the weakest link is
vocalist Lora Norton who struggles with pitch, delivery, and a general sense of
identity. Usually, she remains in a comfort range of a slow burn stoner,
somewhat resembling Opal’s Kendra Smith, without the mystery or consistency.
It’s a family affair for the CD6, and thankfully Norton’s
son Milo Gonzales has shaped up to be a pretty passionate guitarist, giving Haunted its moments of much needed power.
With a bit more work and a bit more attention at figuring out exactly what kind
of band they want to be, the CD6 remain in this weird purgatory of notable
potential with some members clearly dragging their feet on the band’s overall
forward movement.
Gonzales seems stifled with his mother on board as he
conjures up visions of Witch
Mountain
The worst offender is the eight-minute (that’s half of Off’s
entire total time, if you’re keeping track) “A Thing,” which drags on and on
like it’s trying to compete as some weak V.U. cover, complete with the
obligatory drone viola.
For now, the CD6’s best work remains confined to that
out-of-this world “My War” cover, which is unfortunately ironic as the band is
clearly trying to branch out from Dukowski’s own past.
And maybe that’s the problem: the CD6 are simply thinking
too hard at trying to find themselves, when all they need to do is to try and
find the same kind of passion that Morris was clearly able to conjure up in
short order with Off!
This review originally appeared in Glorious Noise.
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