I will admit, I didn’t know what to expect after waiting almost 15 years just to catch a glimpse of the legendary Bad Brains. I hoped not to see a pack of old, dread-headed punks trying to re-live the magic of years passed. Instead, I hoped for four of the founding fathers of American punk, mercilessly pounding tunes through my head as I dodge elbows and flying cans of ‘Gansett in the pit. I was seriously praying for the better scene, but I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed regardless. As I hoped, when I arrived I was relieved to see a packed house at the doors and passionate fans like myself littering the streets outside the Paradise Rock Club in Boston.
Walking through the doors to the lounge, I can already smell the beer; the air is humid and practically tastes like sweat as I enter the club for my first time. It’s definitely good to be at a punk show again, and it’s one of the few I’ve seen in Boston. Navigating through the crowd, my first sight is Dr. Know on guitar with blue-lit dreadlocks as the riffs to “Attitude” begin to punch through my chest. Moving towards the bar, the years of anticipation finally come to a screeching halt as I see the remaining members on stage: Hudson smashing on the drums, H.R. center-stage in a sort of trance on the mic, and Darryl with a cheshire-like grin playing bass. I didn’t get there early enough to see the opening band H20, due to traffic, but I heard they put on a good show (even throwing in a cover of Fugazi’s “Waiting Room”), which I am sorry to have missed.
Whether the good vibe in the club was from H20’s opening performance or the fact that Bad Brains had finally blessed the stage, it didn’t matter because everyone was hyped! Fans were mostly older but showed respect for the younger punks like me and others. The music may not be as popular as it once was, but still lives! Since they first planted a seed in my brain at the age of 15, Bad Brains have opened my eyes to a purely original style of punk rock along with an attitude that had been preceded by other obvious legends like Black Flag and the Misfits. I consider them to be a permanent staple in my mind as well as that of countless others, influencing most American punk bands today. They have continued to tear the fabric of conventional punk and reggae for years, bringing raw attitude and pure soul to the scene as they merge punk rock and reggae beats with finesse from all the eclectic members, led by a manic front man bringing a style all his own to the stage.
Speaking of stage presence, the band’s performance was still trademark Bad Brains like in the early days. They show no signs of age (save a few more grey-locks and H.R.’s occasional mumbling), and still put on a magnetic performance, with major passion coming both from the fans and the members themselves. No more crazy back-flips from H.R., unfortunately, and his trademark screeches have turned into more of a dull roar with sometimes inaudible lyrics. But he is still just as captivating on stage with more of a spiritual-type vibe now. As for the other members, Dr. Know was still shredding on guitar; Darryl Jenifer looked like he still really loved playing bass; and Hudson surely didn’t miss a beat while still bouncing around the stage. The band looked to be having fun, smiling and joking around during the set. At the end of the classic “Pay to Cum,” H.R. crept off the stage almost cat-like with a smirk on his face as if he was plotting something. Sure enough, they came back under the lights with a righteous encore performance of “I Against I” that was truly epic.
The crowd was totally involved throughout the show, as were the Bad Brains. It is good to know that they still evoke such emotion from their fans, and newcomers alike. Though their age is slowly creeping up on them, the sound was still good and the passion in the air triumphed over everything else. In short, they will forever be legends in my mind, and I can only hope others will see them in the same light that I have.
SETLIST: Attitude, Right Brigade, Sailin’ On, The Regulator, Jah Love, Give Thanks and Praises, Universal Peace, F.V.K., I & I Survive, Banned in D.C., Soul Craft, I Luv I Jah, At the Movies, Re-Ignition, Pay to Cum
ENCORE: I Against I, People Make the World Go Round
By: Matthew Rosati