In stock. Online 8am 29/11/25
Live At The Bayou showcases some of the earliest live performances from Bad Brains, even pre-dating the band’s 1982 self-titled debut. A snapshot of the band’s burgeoning beginnings, these recordings from 1980 and 1981 recorded at The Bayou in Washington DC, were captured between the band being unofficially “banned in DC” and relocating to NYC. This is the first of two non-jazz releases by newly formed Time Traveler Recordings. Transferred from the original tapes and mastered by legendary producer Don Zientara, famous for his work with Minor Threat and Fugazi, amongst others.
Unearthed from the archives, Live At The Bayou captures the explosive energy of Bad Brains in their earliest, rawest form—live at The Bayou in Washington, D.C., before the release of their landmark debut. A crucial document of the birth of hardcore punk, blending incendiary speed with spiritual fire and unmatched technical prowess, this previously unreleased set showcases the band's revolutionary fusion of hardcore punk, reggae, and jazz-influenced musicianship at its most primal and unfiltered. Recorded in 1979, this performance is a rare snapshot of Bad Brains just as they were redefining American punk. Features early, high-velocity versions of classics like "Pay to Cum" and "Banned in D.C."