How did they do it? How did Maroon 5, an otherwise competent if not a little dull pop band known as Kara’s Flowers, become such a globe-stomping smash hit of a group?

The Fourth World was Kara’s Flowers debut in 1997, but within two years the band had split from their first foray with a major label (Reprise), and renamed themselves Maroon 5 with the addition of guitarist James Valentine. The junior-high classmates spent the next several years tweaking their style and playing various music showcases in and around New York City and Los Angeles. As Kara’s Flowers they were modern rock, but as Maroon 5 they parlayed that into mega-success with their debut album Songs About Jane. Live Friday the 13th is the actually the second live recording Maroon 5 have spawned since their Songs About Jane emerged in 2002, following 1.22.03.Acoustic. Where that was an acoustic set, Friday the 13th is a complete concert recorded at the Santa Barbara Bowl, both on CD and on DVD.

The band beef up their sound somewhat, and the crowd goes ape for the mega-hit “This Live”. The terrible cover of Oasis’ “Hello” is a genuine low point, and shows just what a pop band Maroon 5 are – they simply cannot do ‘rock’ at all. With frontman Adam Levine recently guesting with Kanye West to great effect, the band’s follow-up album is going to be the test; can Maroon 5 spawn a career where Kara’s Flowers could not?