You know your band is on a roll when you play two shows at the same venue, only five months apart, and do not repeat a single one of your songs. While handfuls of bands opt to grind the same half-hour's worth of material, sometimes for years, Flagland spent most of 2013 in perpetual motion, growing their catalogue at an unusually fast pace. If they've made one musical statement thus far, it's that this is not the kind of group that strives to get comfortable. Not unlike bosom buddies Big Ups, their rapid transition from scrappy punk band to one of the more promising and unique bands in Brooklyn has them poised to make some serious waves in this new(ish) year. This progression is particularly evident in these two contrasting performances, the latter of which (from last July) kicks off with a block of tracks from their new 20-track LP Love Hard - their third full length in as many years, the commencement of which will take place on the same stage later this week. And if their track record for fast improvement is any indication, it will likely be their best performance yet. -AR