Live At the Fillmore 03/20/1982

Not only is this unarguably the best live recording of Bad Brains, but in sound quality and performance it also rivals some of the Washington, D.C. hardcore band’s best studio-recorded moments. Indicative of the era, H.R. opens the set with a dedication to “Ronald Reagan and his puppets” before exploding into a punchy version of the instrumental “Attitude.” Their signature tune “Banned In D.C.” throws heated bolts of energy as propelling drums and a fast-pedaling bass support a winding guitar culminating in what sounds like imminent destruction until the song slows down to make way for some of Dr. Know’s best captured leads to date. The bastardized reggae of "Rally" downshifts into a mellower vibe while recalling a time in the early ‘80s when reggae was rising from the underground and into mainstream acts like Blondie, the Police, and the Clash; but this version also holds a magnifying glass over H.R.’s versatility as a vocalist. “Riot Squad” puts the hard back in the core with a fast and feral performance that punctuated everything early-‘80s skate-punk embodied.