I went expecting the worst but actually wasnt let down too badly (and towards the end was completely fucking blown away). Coming out WAY late did start them out on bad footing (at least with me because my adrenaline had already peaked and dropped by then). They actually started out pretty damn strong (yes HR fucked up the beginning of "Sailin' On" but who doesnt fuck up song lyrics every once in a while? I was just glad the motherfucker stayed onstage! haha) and even the reggae that they played (which was usually only one song sandwiched in between their hardcore songs, I think they might have done two in a row once in the entire set) was relatively tight and well played (though at times onstage it looked like the Bad Brains backing up Lee "Scratch" Perry as wacky as HR was acting). The only real gripe I had was the poor choice of hardcore songs in the middle of the set which I honestly didnt recognize (as any releases after I Against I were re-sold by me pretty much after one rotation because I found it to be unlistenable crap compared to the early material) which is a damn shame that playing those took precedence over classic but omitted songs in the set like FVK, Banned in DC, At the Movies, Destroy Babylon, House of Suffering, The Big Takeover, I etc. But the fact that the last 3 songs in the set were I and I Survive, Re-Ignition, Pay to Cum (which was worth the fucking price of admission right there, all 2 glorious minutes worth) plus I Against I for the encore made up for the lull in the middle of the set. Of course I wish I had seen them in '89 (those plans foiled due to the 9:30 club selling out 2 nights before I could get tickets) or earlier but Im definitely glad I got to finally witness the original lineup perform.
Hunter
