Bad Brains

The Band was in good form that nite, soon as they started playing the mosh pit started. Great show

Traveled to DC from Cincinnati, OH to see Bad Brains! Was excited about the historic Howard Theatre... how cool is that!?! Actually went prepared for the worst considering HR's performance track record and having missed them in the early '90's because they cancelled, we booked our trip knowing anything could happen. The show was the length of a short CD... and no encore was lame. The band rocked! but HR only chose to sing part of some songs and none of some others. His practicing "calm and control" was boring - it was a pricey, long trip for calm and control. They really would rock harder with another front. sorry to say. We LOVED the venue and just seeing them in person was cool. Would I do it again? probably not for them unless they came to my town... but again, the Howard Theatre was player.

When I noticed Bad Brains were in Washington DC for a sold out show, I felt bad, but when they announced a second show, I quickly got the tickets. I'm glad I did, because the show was amazing! The restored Howard Theatre was impressive, and the sound system gave Bad Brains an added sonic luster that drove the crowd wild, along with a thrieving mosh pit! Overall, Bad Brains(Dr. Know,Gtr, Earl Hudson Drums, Darrly Jennifer bass, and HR vocals) provided the songs,energy, and their solid hardcore base a great Saturday night of music and reflection!

Amazing hands down!!!! H20 was a solid opener with no problems from the FSU crew. Bouncers did not allow stage dives and were flipping out on kids crowd surfing. Bad Brains killed it about 75% punk 25% reggae. HR didn't move much but did actually sing.

I had heard that at other recent BB shows H.R. didn't even sing half of the time and sat on the drum riser looking out at the crowd. Not true, at least at this show. Maybe he was encouraged by the charged up audience but he sang just fine, although I could not understand why he picked up a guitar he obviously doesn't know how to play. It was as if he was playing air guitar with an actual guitar. I guess he can't do backflips anymore he needs a prop. Dr. Know should show him a few chords. Go see them.

I no longer consider HR a member of Bad Brains. He is now the guy that used to front the band, and did amazing vocals on the albums, but he is so far gone now that he's not even on stage with them. Bad Brains has been, and will continue to be, one of my all-time favorite bands. Their music is amazing. That said, I am really pissed off at them. They stole my money. I paid twenty-five bucks to see them play, and they KNEW that HR was in no condition to perform, because based on what my friends have said, he did this in other cities as well. (The sound guy TURNED DOWN his mic because it was so bad.) Darryl Jenifer, Earl Hudson and Dr. Know willingly took my money for a show they knew was going to be disappointing. I will keep the memory of what was and enjoy that, but this show was bogus. I saw Bad Brains play in the 90's when HR was either on hiatus or in jail or whatever, and they had another guy singing for them. This remains one of the best punkrock shows I have seen IN MY LIFE. It was amazing, and I have been to a lot of shows, folks. So if you really love the Bad Brains, skip it. Seriously.

My first time finally seeing da Brians, so i was super amped and had that ticket forever counting down the days to when I would be stoked to finally hear these musicians live in person who have influenced my white behind sense playing guitar and bass since the age of 12. Trying to imitate the making of phenominal guitar and bass riffs myself growing up in bands I played with. I don't think there was ever one band I jammed with where we didn't cover at least one Brains tune, especially after my military days in college rockn out at the local pubs. Their reggae had and has influenced me just as much as their punk and metal, and were the first to pull it off noted outside the greats like "The Clash" but with a harder approach obviously which then the follwoing followed such as Sublime, 311, Skindread, even Soulfly, and newcomers Fear Nuttin Band. (you can download for free given by "thepier.org" under their mp3 massive page Fear Nuttin Bands debut album "yardcore" which is a must download, you will not be dissapointed, if your're a Bad Brains fan). Anyways I would say I was satisfied with the entire set list except I would have loved to have heard "Leaving Babylon" live and "House of Suffering" live, since it was my very first time seeing them live, so I would be lieing if I said I wasn't dissapointed there, because as a fan who owns 14 Bad Brain albums, and coutless other bands I luv and respect who have covered "Leaving Babylon", it is mosdef a fan-favorite reggae tune of theirs and they did at least play "I Luv Jah", but why waste time on a review talking of two tracks that weren't played when I think most who were there would agree the setlist still covered plenty of other loved fan favs including newer tracks from "Build a Nation" which I happen to luv that 2007 album, and they murdered the entire setlist making the crowd go nuts. It's funny, because don't even attempt to call these guys old, as you are only as old as you feel, and it showed through their performance. Loud, heavy, insane crazy loco, whatever you want to call it, it just simply should be put as Bad Brians were Bad Ass my friends!!!! H.R. is crazy (in all due respect that is) I mean for anyone that didn't know better, you might think he was on something outside of herb hahaha, but that's just how he is, Darryl the bass players eyes were rolling in the back of his head as if he were in some sort of trance like dream state, Dr, Know kiilin it on guitar as usual as H.R.'s younger brother beated the hell out of his drum kit and last but not least H.R's. crazy high-pitch screams and smiles matched by aggresive undertones of frustraion and anger promoting true punk-rock anarchy hahaha!I absolutely loved it!! I would get out to see them if you are a fan because even though I don't want to jinx anything, you just never know how many more opportunities you'll get to see this band live, as they break up on and off and do their solo stuff and yes even though I said the whole you're only as old as you feel saying, which is true but on the otherhand too, lets face it, the Brains aren't getting any younger, so take advantage while you can, though I think after seeing them live, they looked almost like they did on dvd concerts that I have of them playing in their 20's and 30's with H.R. doing backflips on stage, yes he wasn't quite doing backflips during this concert, but might as well have been, as the energy was and is...still overall there! Being a fan who never saw them live up until the age that I am today which is 30, and fianlly seeing one of my most favorite bands perform live was a positive life changing event!!!!!!!

I can't believe I actually got to see the Bad Brains. Great show, great crowd.

Definitely a good show. The band was phenomenal. The heavy bass lines, guitar tech of Doc, and the steady and ferocious drum playing filled in for the fact that H.R. was in another world and barely present on the mic. It was over as soon as it began it seemed and that's due to the often attempted speed in which my favorite band and icon plays. The two opening bands were good. Birdhand was definitely playing to a more different and difficult crowed then their music suits in my opinion but good none the less.

Awesome! This band is a legend. Totally worth it =)

It appears HR was unplugged the whole show. No vocals. No guitar. The rest of the band was amazing and brilliant -- phenomenal even, but with no sound coming from HR, especially on the more reggae and less hardcore songs, this was disappointing. Overall, until or if HR returns to the land of the performing somewhere near our own solar system, expect an acoustic set.

Ok, as we all know and knew,Hr's voice is gone!! But the raw power of the band and the crowd,showed the respect to this band,was a hugh sing a long, great crowd,great pit. The Bad Brains are amazing and still full of thunder and lighting the originators Praise Rastafari

Lemme just say I dig the Bad Brains! Here's my problem with that show... I was upstairs left (if you are facing the stage). The perfect view but no vocals! All the instruments were clear and sounded great, the band was together and tight and flawless...excellent except we on the upper left (I asked several people) could not hear the lead singer. What a friggin' bummer.

THE SHOW WAS AWFUL FROM START TO END, YOU COULDN'T HEAR THE VOCALS THE CROWD WAS SINGING AND IT WAS A SHORT SONG LIST. THE ROAD CREW SPOT CHECKED THE GEAR PRIOR TO START AND I HEARD THE SOUND CK FOR THE MIC, ONCE THE FIRST TRACK STARTED "I" YOU COULDN'T HEAR HR @ALL, HR ALSO WAS ON STAGE WITH A GUITAR PERPETRATING. GO OUT AND PURCHASE SOUL BRAINS: A BAD BRAINS REUNION LIVE IN SANFRANCISCO, CUZ WHEN YOU SEE THEM LIVE THEY ARE NOT UP TO STANDARS.

Something wrong with H.R. Didn't sing most of the time. Set was only about an hour long. Rest of the band sounded pretty tight. Of the limited songs they played, the set list was pretty good with some of the older, popular tunes included. When the lead singer doesn't actually sing, it makes you wonder why they didn't just cancel the show.

Saw Bad Brains back in '86 at the Cameo Theatre in Miami Beach. HR was in his prime, doing backflips on the stage and had the crowd in a frenzy. It was one of the most energetic, intense shows I had ever gone to (& I went to quite a bit). For those of you who remember this show, Dr. Know (Mystic Records out of CA) opened up. Amazing! Fast forward to a couple of days ago. HR looked as if he was on another planet. He gave the crowd his blessings before each song, stood perched behind the mic with a huge grin on his face, and was mumbling his way through each song (in some cases it appeared as if they turned his mic way down intentionally because he was singing something completely different). It was odd as well that he had a guitar that he picked up for a couple of songs that looked like it wasn't even plugged in! Regardless of HR, the band was still as tight as ever. I would have been very frustrated if I was in their shoes. The crowd chanted along with the real lyrics and didn't seem to slow down. I know the guys are in their mid-fifties at this stage of their careers, and I wasn't expecting them to be jumping all over the place, but I was disappointed by the overall performance of their frontman HR, and his lack of energy. I guess the years of performing and the drugs have truly taken their toll on him. Very sad..

If you missed this show, you surely missed a rare chance to see one of the most amazing punk/reggae bands to have ever existed! They are one of a kind and put on a GREAT show. opening bands were iffy but that didnt matter because Bad Brains took the show. wouldnt have missed it for the world!

Amazing show venue is awesome. Only complaint was the service at the bar, they never got the order right and took a very long time.

Sold out house w Enter the Dragon and H2O opening... Freakin' Bad Brains Live... What can you say? These guys are the royalty of Punk Rock: Respect what they have accomplished! Great Show, wish I could have seen them back in the 90's, too bad I was on a Long Strang Trip...

It was my first time seeing then and since they are down the road for an old time, I didn't think that they would put up such an energetic performance! It was an awesome concert, had a really good time! Also, H20 did a good job warming the crowd for the main attraction. It was also my first time seeing then live, but I like the stage talk between musics and their songs were all fast paced but with well thought lyrics. I would recommend people to go check it out both bands!

So friggin' amazing. Best time. Was so impressed w/ the band and HR. I cannot believe there were so many YOUNG people there; It was hard to find US ole-timers. Great, great show. (That pit was insane...to watch) I had a lovely companion, too. She really is a 'forever' pal!! Happy Holidaze to ALL!~

This show was awesome. The opening act, Year of the Dragon, with members of Fishbone were amazing, H2O kicked serious ass and all praises and love to the MIghty Bad Brains for putting on an absolutely awesome show! H.R. was on and the band was so tight!

While i could clearly hear everything when Year of the Dragon & H2O played when the Bad Brains came on the sound was very bad. At one pint I couldn't even hear what HR was saying when he was talking to the audience between songs. This was a big upset as the band was tight but the sound man butchered the sow. I left after 30 minutes because it was too bad.

I love it, I though they sounded heavier than ever!

My first tape cassette I ever bought was BadBrains when I was 12. I waited 25 years to see these guys live and I'm glad I got to see them twice in their hometown. The show was amazing and the music stellar. BadBrains for life. Gotta have the PMA.

The show over all was enjoyable. The venue is gorgeous - very upscale classy feel to it. The [sold out] crowd was enthusiastic but mellow - no real bad apples (depsite a handful of tough guys that confused dancing with pushing people with all their lonely might) in the slippery wet wood floor dance pit. The GzA rocked the crowd. Not the best HR performance... it would have been nice if he had either invited the rest of us to the world he was in or stayed here on earth for the [short] barely 40 minute set.... He chose? to not sing a couple or few tracks as well...

On a trip somewhere. Show left me feeling disconnected. Big ups to: Darryl, Dr Know, and Earl who still rock & jam. HR, please come back to us.

Good to see them again!! Can never go wrong with the Bad Brains.

So at this points it's obvious that HR doesn't want to do this punk rock thing anymore. The rest of the band should charging people to hear him mumble the lyrics and look condescendingly at the audience.

What they played was fantastic, but only a half hour? come on! I suppose i can't wish for the show they would have played 20 years earlier, but no encore? I go back and forth between being psyched that I was able to finally see one of the greatest bands out there live, and being annoyed that they had such a lackluster showing.

Except for all my friends that I havent seen in years, I want my money back! They played for 50 minutes and HR forgot alot of the words. I new this might have been the case with HR, but I thought since it was DC he would have put on a good show.

Two words - Train wreck. Unfortunately, this review site is forcing me to write more words. I can't write anymore about the show since it was only worth those two.

I was also at this show on Friday night. I always wanted to see Bad Brains live, but having lived in south Florida most of my life it never happened. I am huge GZA fan and would have paid to see him regardless. He was the only reason I walked out of the Howard Theatre content and feeling like my money for the ticket, parking, beer and gas was worthwhile. There comes a point in everyone's career whether it be sports, music, etc where it is time to sail off into the sunset and call it a day. It is that time for Bad Brains...at least as a band. I knew how this was going to play out as I watched a lot of recent live show footage on youtube. I still wanted to see this band live. It was quite disappointing to see HR even attempting to perform any Bad Brains songs. I mean, kudos to him for sort of trying, but it is over. Their legacy will forever live on in their catalogue and documentaries to capture the true essence of who Bad Brains was. It might as well been a Bad Brains karaoke night for that show and it was all the fans on almost every tune.

You knew it would happen. It was just when? You could see HR was having monitor problems. So like he has done before he quite. I also saw shoe in Irving Plaza that show was HR at his best . 2 days later HR at his worst. Too bad it had theakings of a memorable night.

I give this 3 stars because Lionize (opening band) and the GZA, gave a decent performance each. And for 5 or 6 songs, HR mumbled just enough to give the song some feeling. But for the couple of songs he simply didn't sing, 'sang' a solo song with an unplugged/inaudible guitar, or left the stage while the rest of the band went through the motions, it ruined what could easily have been a momentous show. The crowd was well and truly up for it. HR wasn't. And if you thought his abroad were so funny Daryl (laughing heartily at every one of his miscues) you wouldn't mind refunding the $29 bucks would ya? Thought not. Anyway, you could claim that HR epitomized punk rock with his antics. Unfortunately he simply just came across as self-absorbed.

Bad Brains in DC is a show my friends and I have been aniticpating for quite some time. The newly renovated Howard Theater was absolutley stellar in every way. It was beautifully finished, full of state of the art lighting, sound, and video, and very well staffed with friendly, well-trained people. The band sounded fantastic - but sadly, HR was a major disappointment. He was disoriented. He mumbled everything quietly, annunciated nothing, and seemed to lose track of who he was and what he was doing. We watched the sound board operator desperately trying to boost HR's mic signal - but that wasn't the problem...it was that HR wasn't projecting at all. He sat down frequently during songs, sometimes not getting up to finish. They played no encore, and we came to find out after seeing phone pics of the set list that they cut half the set list out. It hardly seemed like a good way to treat a sold out home crowd....very disappointing.

Great to see Bad Brains back together (i.e., all together on the same same stage). However, the sound was horrible. Couldn't hear a word H.R. was saying, and it seems like the amp to his guitar was turned off. Also, no encore? C'mon BB...that's not fair.

It was amazing and so much fun. The band did a great job and the crowd was even allowed to mosh.n really reminded me of a show from the 90's. My only problem was with the venue that you had to spend $20 to use a credit card.

GZA was unbelieveabe....way better than I expected Bad Brains was legendary....what would you expect?

Poor sound, poor microphones, poor amps and too much reggae. One of my favorite punk bands put on one of the worst shows I've ever seen.

More stage dives!!! Parents in the pit!!! Don't forget your roots!!!

After reading many of the other reviews I was expecting HR's performance to be atrocious. To my satisfaction, his performance was really amazing. The Bad Brains played a nice mixture of new and old music from their catalog and the playing and sound were amazing. Coupled with an great performance from the opening act (The Gza) and you got yourself an amazing show. One thing I will mention that was off in my opinion was that when HR would speak in the mic to address the fans what he was saying was almost inaudible. In addition, HR kind of just stands there clapping and seemingly playing guitar. He barely broke out into a dance at all during the show. I do want to reiterate that his docile and then feral vocals were on point during the show (when he was singing). I also want to add that the fans/audience were the biggest stars last night. They really made the show as they sang along and danced the night away. The mosh pit was huge and the people in Brooklyn are mega crazy.

The Bad Brains are and have always been amazing, it you get the chance to see them, don't think twice, go ! you will thank yourself later

These guys rocked, hard. I expected to see some old men trying to resurrect the energy of 25 years ago but I was pleasantly surprised to find that the band has lost nothing over the ages. Loud, fast and a whole lot of crowd movement. See them if you can!

Did all the songs I consider my favorites...and they put on a damn good performance!

I appreciate the band playing a lot of the classics. This show is for the audience. Punk rock was always a mess and I wasn't expecting pretty music but earl darryl and gary are probably at the top of their game. HR is strange. When he rolls his eyes to the heavens he seems to be praying for the show to end. BUT... at the very end after the last encore I saw him grin a sly grin to darryl and earl and it was Paul he was home and the lights were on. HR is a brilliant performer! It must be hard to play these songs at all after playing them with so much intensity for so long. Bravo and thank you for playing out these old songs once more for the people for whom it is important!