Search - Soul Brains :: Live at Maritime Hall Sf

Gotta have it LIVE

H. Smith | California | 08/09/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For the new Brains fan, you may find it puzzling that there are nearly as many live recordings of Soul/Bad Brains as studio collaborations. The avid fan, however, knows how the Brains are best served: straight with a twist of live.
If you are just beginning your experience with this D.C. rooted band, this is a good start to your live collection. Grabbing deep into the back catalog, you will find a variety of the early hardcore material, with additional representatives from every Brains studio accomplishment (I do not include 'Rise' because there is no HR). Indeed this is a live journey through a rather bumpy career for the Brains, and what it lacks in production quality, it makes up in soul.
The avid, long-time listener will find this a reasonable effort with a few gems. Severely lacking the ferocity of Bad Brains 'Live' or the highly polished, uptempo flavor of 'Youth are Getting Restless', it will probably not be in your normal Soul/Bad Brains rotation. Nevertheless, there are highlights. HR's playful (and often funny) musings with the crowd and superb renditions of 'Sailin' On', "I n I Survive' and 'I Against I' make this a worthy buy.
One things for sure, if you are old school,you will be spinning 'Rock For Light' on the turntable by the time this one is over. And the new fan...no doubt you will be adding to your Brains collection soon."

Still the most bad-[buttocks] roots-rock-reggae band on Eart

Sebastian Merino | Puembo, Ecuador | 05/05/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"If you are looking for the most bad-[buttocks] blitz-speed core and thumpin reggae... get 'The Youth are Getting Restless'(recorded in 1987)...
If you wish to hear a more mature, fun-loving live album by still the most bad-[buttocks] roots-rock-reggae band on Earth (on par with Wailers and Word Sound Power) - the Brains - this time with elements of funk, soul, H.R. having all kinds of fun with the lyrics and his highly versatile voice and jokin with the audience - get 'Live at Maritime Hall'. The range of soundz covered in this hour-long concert is extraordinary. H.R. can sing his rap as fast as ever and then slow it down and send chills up my spinal chord... and he actually is singing, whereas in 80s he was often screaming off the richtor scale. Dr. Know is as perfect on lead guitar as ever; goin from 'super-crunch to super-clean' (as he says)and always awe-inspiring. Darryl Jennifer incorporates the funk and is the backbone of this perfect continuum. Earl Hudson is on point and massive, especially on 'Re-Ignition' whence he lifts the energy level mid-way into the concert beyond what might have seemed possible.The whole album is uplifiting spiritually and the most enjoyable live album I've heard since Peter Tosh, Live at One Love Peace Concert. The reggae tracks - 'Day Tripper/She's a Rainbow', 'I'n'I Survive', 'Youth Are Getting Restless' are surprisingly mellow and largely improvised by H.R. The heavier tracks are totally rockin and will feed your higher brain stem. However, after evolving throughout the 80s to create the fastest and loudest soundz; the Brains are now evolving as avatars of soul. The album is very danceable; you could mosh to it; yet I feel more like practicing Tai Chi when I hear it.It feels very beautiful to hear the original Brains still playin with all their guts and Jah blessings after 20+ years. I very much look forward, however, to the release of new tracks. The only new track on the album - 'On Like Popcorn' is so much fun to hear and sing along to; it is about all the beautiful people on Earth; and the track gives a good preview of the new soundz they are producing in the studio; lots of jive and bounce; always totally limitless and uplifting; great for when you just need something loud and extraordinarily positive and heartfelt to boost you through life.Get this album if you know God or are looking for God and spirituality, if you are a die-hard Brains fan, if you appreciate musicians who are still totally out-going after well over 2 decades, if you wish to hear the most authentic fusion-rock-metal-rasta hard core-rootz reggae-fun(k)-gospel-soul band who first conceived of the math and rythms that most every other positively rockin band has been inspired by, or if you never heard of the Brains and simply need something very positive, fast, loud, (sometimes) mellow, fun, inspiring, that will benefit your body chemistry and positive mental attitude in ways beyond description.
Give thanks and praises; the Brains are doing a beautiful job.
Lovely,
SEBAS."

I and I Survive

d_didonato | Austin, TX United States | 06/01/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Okay, so this isn't the BEST live Bad Brains album. When judged against, say, "The Youth Are Getting Restless," this should probably only get 3 stars. But when grading a band's albums, it should be done on what the album sounds like as its own entity, not compared to the artists' other work.
That said, this is a really great live album. The whole band sounds very fresh and energized despite the 20+ years that they've been together. Doc's chops are in full effect; Daryl's bass tone is insanely versatile - from the deep dub-reggae to the punchy hardcore to the "hunna-miles-an-owa" punk jams; and Earl is on point with almost metronomic precision.
Highlights are "Coptic Times," "I Against I," and "Re-Ignition." The end of "I & I Survive" absolutely shimmers, and it's interesting to hear H.R. eschew the personal pronoun - especially in "Sailing On" (good thing they didn't do the song "I"!). HR's crowd banter is hilarious ("Gettin' all moochy on me!") - he sounds like a little kid.
The mix is much better than on the SST Live album. The only problems with the Maritime mix is that sometimes the bass overpowers the guitar and sometimes the snare sounds a bit dead. Not enough to detract from a five-star rating."