Black Flag rips apart the Oriental Theatre in Denver

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Black Flag opened their new North American tour last Friday at Denver’s Oriental Theatre, and the decision to start here didn’t feel symbolic; it felt practical. No opener and two full sets. No pacing tricks or nostalgia framing. Just a long night designed to see whether this lineup could carry the weight in real time.

This tour introduces the band’s current lineup to North America, including founding guitarist Greg Ginn, bassist David Rodriguez, drummer Bryce Weston, and vocalist Max Zanelly. Zanelly’s role has drawn attention since it became public that Ginn first noticed her singing along from the crowd at a previous show. On paper, that origin story sounds almost too cool to be believable. Live, it absolutely makes sense.

From the opening moments, Zanelly was fully locked in. No exaggeration, no borrowed gestures, no attempt to mirror past versions of the band. Her delivery was direct and controlled, shifting naturally between restraint and intensity. By the second set, it was clear she was doing much more than stepping into an existing mold; she was actively shaping how the material landed.

Musically, the band played with precision and focus. Tempos stayed grounded without feeling rigid, and the two-set format gave the night a noticeable shift in weight. The first set felt tense and deliberate, the second looser and more physical, with the crowd responding instinctively rather than waiting for direction.

This didn’t come across as a legacy act leaning on reputation. It felt like a band actively testing itself in public, on the first night of a long run. If this tour continues to sharpen the way it began in Denver, it’s worth paying attention to where it ends up.