The Fleshtones brought the heat during their fast-paced, grinding, and explosive set in their recent show at DC’s infamous 9:30 Club.
To the delight of the audience on August 14, The Fleshtones were fantastic, highlighting their twist on punk-driven rock music. While I had always dreamt of seeing a show at CBGB in New York City back in the day, I could finally rest easy as I got to see one of the great CBGB bands conduct a great set almost 50 years after the heyday of the punk revolution. This band, which made their debut at CBGB in New York City in 1976, brought all the energy with them just as you would have seen in the ’70s. They have not missed a beat and still kick like no one else.
The Fleshtones then displayed solid grooves and stage energy, rekindling the fire of the punk scene of the ’70s and ’80s in their 90-minute set. Originally from Queens, The Fleshtones talked about great punk bands the Ramones and Patty Smith during their show, and reminsiced about their days at CBGB and Max’s Kansas City throughout the show.
The band played some of their classics such as “Alright,” “Feels Good to Feel,” and “I Surrender,” but I thought the best song of the show was “Remember the Ramones.”
Watch The Fleshtones perform “Remember the Ramones” live for Moshcam on YouTube:
Arguably, besides hearing the great songs, the best part of the evening was seeing in person how dynamic the band plays live. The Fleshtones have the energy level of bands 30 years younger and put on a non-stop show of great rock and roll. They are experts at playing their instruments, and this was on high display during the concert.
In case you missed the latest show at 930 Club, you can listen to band’s current music on their latest album, It’s Getting Late (…and More Songs about Werewolves). A few of the best songs from the album were “Pussywillow,” “Love Me While You Can,” and “It’s Getting Late.”
Before The Fleshtones took the stage, DC’s own The Yachtsmen played a great 45-minute set featuring some of their staple tunes “I Wanna Go Fast” and “I Think I Wanna be President.”
Seth Hurwitz, the owner of the 9:30 Club, introduced The Yachtsmen before their show to set the tone of what turned out to be an amazing evening and event.
Here are some photos of The Fleshtones performing live at 9:30 Club on August 14, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
Here are some photos of The Yachtsmen opening The Fleshtones at 9:30 Club on August 14, 2025. All pictures copyright and courtesy of James Todd Miller.
