august 25 

Flipper, which began in San Francisco in 1979, established itself as one of the best of the hardcore punk bands - and the slowest. They … ground … away … with … dark … sarcasm. With booming bass-led melodies and shouted, desperate vocals and witty (in spite of themselves) minimalist songs. (They were an obvious inspiration for the Melvins.) They gave you "Sex Bomb," "Life is Cheap" and "Way of the World.'' They were nasty and fun. They played one long song at a concert we saw where there was, maybe, one chord and the only line, that being: "If I can't be drunk, I don't wanna be alive.'' Funny? True? A mix, maybe. Two Flippers - including founder/singer/bassist Will Shatter (heroin OD) - are dead, but the band improbably lurches on in the 21st century with Bruce Loose at the helm. They're at the Middle East Downstairs Aug. 25. Watch out for slam dancers.

472 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, 617-862-3278