LIVE REVIEW: Anti-Flag @ The Garage, London

In a world that feels like it is getting worse by the week, the politicised restlessness of ANTI-FLAG and their refusal to stand still in the face of injustice are arguably more pertinent than ever. Several hundred of their fans gathered at London’s The Garage gathered on a sweltering August evening to raise their body temperatures even higher, as they dance and sing along to the Pittsburgh punk-rockers’ anthems of resistance and hope.

A lively start is given by LAST HOUNDS from Birmingham who dial up the heat by another degree. Their brand of hardcore punk blends in rocky hooks and nu-metal-tinged riffs, resulting in an energetic sound that is easy to latch on to. Presenting mainly songs from 2021’s Burden, their only full-length offering to date, the quintet shower us with groovy breakdowns and gang vocals. Moments like the choppy main riff of Bleed and the vicious drop of Running With The Dead sound absolutely monstrous live and get a fair few of the gathering crowd moving. The ferocious vocals of Mike Skelcher shift between rap-adjacent narrative and rasp-throated melodic singing, all while he is tirelessly patrolling the stage and engaging the audience. Snakeskin rounds off a fun and engaging set by LAST HOUNDS – a young band that is well worth keeping an eye on.

Rating: 8/10

The second supporting slot comes from Chelmsford’s TIGRESS. The key ingredients of their sound are a beefy bass groove layered with engaging guitar effects and melodies on top, bringing forth associations with MUSE at their rockiest. This is all tied together by the marvellous voice of lead vocalist Katy Jackson who lends much attitude and vocal dynamism to the music. TIGRESS’ set gets off to a slightly restrained start due to some sound balance issues and the more mid-tempo style of their opening songs, but both factors are corrected soon enough and the show gathers pace. It is the closing duo of songs where the quintet shine brightest. Their signature song Alive is immensely catchy, feeling like an uncovered gem from PARAMORE’s Brand New Eyes album, while the muscular main riff and driving rhythm of Disconnect make for a brilliant modern alt-rock anthem. After a solid support slot here, TIGRESS will be back to London in September for their own headline show.

Rating: 7/10

From the first notes from ANTI-FLAG it is clear that the already hot space of The Garage is set to reach baking point. The opening duo of The Press Corpse and Die For The Government ensures that the whirlwind moshpit is at full speed from the onset, as bodies enter the melting pot in front of the stage and throats shout along in full voice to these classic anthems. The bouncy rocker Hate Conquers All provides an early highlight, with bassist and co-lead singer Chris #2 shouting the ‘backs against the wall’ refrain like a man possessed. His chunky walking basslines carry a lot of the forward momentum of ANTI-FLAG’s songs, and in a live setting it stands out even more, particularly with his guitar suitably ramped up in the mix. His performance behind the mic is no less committed, with the sheer power behind his shrill screams acting like an adrenaline injection. Alongside him, guitarist and co-vocalist Justin Sane perfectly carries the more melodic parts, while virtually everyone on stage chips in for the powerful choruses. As befits a band that has played in the same configuration for over twenty years, their entire musical unit is infallibly tight.

The evening’s setlist provides a comprehensive walk through the punk veterans’ discography, featuring songs from eight of their studio albums, including their upcoming thirteenth offering LIES THEY TELL OUR CHILDREN. The energy is kept sky high with songs unleashed with minimum fuss between them, other than to amplify their meaning and message. One of the most powerful such calls comes before the performance of brand new song THE FIGHT OF OUR LIVES (since released as a single) – a powerful rallying cry to stand firm against the rising tide of bigotry, inequality, oppression in today’s world. Moments like this drive home the significance of bands with ANTI-FLAG’s ethos and elevate the live music experience beyond just the events of the night.

The show continues in this vein with the airing of more emblematic tunes like Fuck Police Brutality and This Is the End (For You My Friend). It is indeed almost the end, and, forgoing the theatre of coming off stage before an encore, ANTI-FLAG treat us to a little medley of punk classics by the likes of THE CLASH, BLACK FLAG and SHAM 69. To conclude, they get the crowd to join for one last sing-along in Cities Burn, whose infectious ‘Woah-oh woah-oh’ refrain is carried on by the crowd even after the Pittsburgh punkers have put their instruments down. Memorable and impactful, ANTI-FLAG’s show is a celebration of live music, and a much-needed surge of optimism that we have the ability to change things for the better.

Rating: 9/10

Check out our photo gallery of the night’s action in London from Ciara Wilkinson Media here: 

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