Issential Knowledge

What a gwaan Reggae massive,

First off, let me apologize for not posting over the last few weeks but I have been busy doing the only thing that tears me away from the keyboard… and that’s live Reggae.  We have been blessed with summer full of Reggae concerts and festivals starting in June with the Sierra Nevada World Music Festival (SNWMF) and continuing through an epic Reggae Rising a few weeks ago along with other various shows here in the San Francisco Bay.  Every night there seems like another show that can’t be missed such as Mykal Rose last week and a Beres Hammond show last night.  Phew…  I got to send a special shout out to the bredren of Woven Roots from Humboldt County, who put on a wicked show at Pier 23 before backing up the Virgin Island legend, Army.  I had heard some recordings but technology can be deceptive so I was pleasantly surprised with their musicianship and live dub sections.  Definitely check out their debut album, “Storms of Change.”  

Sierra Nevada World Music Festival

As I have mentioned in my earlier posts, SNWMF has taken over the irie void left by the transformation of Reggae on the River to its current manifestation of Reggae Rising.  Sierra Nevada really stepped it up this year with a stellar Roots Reggae line up highlighted by legends, Sly & Robbie, The Abyssinians, The Heptones, Ras Michael, Mykal Rose, Junior Ried, and also contemporary artists, Tarrus Riley, Anthony B, Etana, and Bushman.  This was a really special show because this was my first time seeing many of these artists since I was a kid.  Going into it, I was most excited for Mykal Rose, because I had recently listened to the entire catalogue of his work as well as his dub projects, and I was not disappointed.  Backed by his own band, Mykal tore the place down with classic Black Uhuru tracks such as, “Sensimillia,” and “General Penitentiary,” but also included his more recent work such as, “Real Jamaican” and his collaboration with Damian Marley “Shootout.”  Sly and Robbie were incredible as usual playing for what felt like 5 hours on Saturday night.  Starting with a wicked dub set then into a lover’s rock session with the backup singers, then on to a set with the incomparable, Cherine Anderson, who has one of the sweetest voices in Reggae and who also may be this genres most beautiful woman. Other shows that I was particularly impressed with was Bushman, Etana and I thought the star of the show was Tarrus Riley, who has one of the most powerful and fine tuned voices I have ever heard live.  Even with all that, my favorite moment of the festival was when Anthony B brought several children on stage and dedicated a song to the youth and the parents.  I thought that was a very nice touch and really embodied the spirit of the festival.  It was a moment that I will not soon forget so thanks to all the artists and the people of Epiphany for such a great SNWMF 2009.

Reggae Rising

Reggae Rising has come a long way and has endured lots of skepticism from the Reggae purists but there is one reason I can’t bring myself to miss this yearly gathering.  That reason is the music.  Artists come from all over the world for this one festival and look at it as a way to reward and share their craft with their core fan base here in the United States.  Some people love New Years or Christmas, or celebrate their birthday for weeks on end, but I have Reggae.  It’s that simple.  You’d think that after 18 years of going to this festival I would have exhausted my enthusiasm but my 19th was the most highly anticipated and still the greatest yet.  Joined by 17 close friends, we were blessed with show after show of great artists giving it their all.  There were one of a kind performances from: Luciano, Aswad, Gentleman, Freddie McGregor, Capleton, Marcia Griffiths, Toots and the Maytals and the list goes on.  After announcing the additions of Demarco and Luciano during the weekend of SNWMF it was clear that the people of Reggae Rising had a statement to make.  This is still the festival for contemporary Reggae.  So they were able to also get people like European dancehall star Million Stylez, Demarco, Lutan Fyah, Chezidek, Rootz Underground, Deserie, Nyorah, Queen Ifrika and many others to also bless the bill.  

Friday was highlighted by Rebelution, whose bassist Marley, who is the only person with that name who has been at that festival more often than me, as they announced that it was his 26th year.  Nyorah also stood out but had some sound issues that affected the delivery. Luciano came with his usual energy and incredible stage show as the night cap, but I thought Queen Ifrica really stole the show.  With a diverse mix of singing and chanting she represented for the sistren and really left her mark in her first visit to Reggae Rising.  Nuff Respect…  

Saturday was a marathon of unmissable performances starting in the early afternoon with Rootz Underground who had entirely new show from the last time that I saw them featuring many brand new songs from their new release, “Gravity” set to drop in the early part of 2010.  They had the same Roots Rasta vibe but added a certain hiphop/ electronic element and looked much more confident on stage so big up to the bredren of the Underground.  Dezarie followed them; putting on a very spiritual set which I thought was a nice addition to the day that can often be dominated by dancehall.  Million Stylez followed her and put on a good lyrical show but was slighted because he didn’t perform with a band.  He and Demarco were the first artists I’ve ever seen do that and I hope they are the last.  Chezidek (backed by a band) followed him and was the surprise of my Saturday with his surprising powerful and clear voice.  He also performed several wicked new tunes so definitely keep an eye out for his next project.  They switched the schedule to have Toots next instead of last which I thought was a good move to then have Lutan Fyah and Capleton close it out.  Lutan Fyah really came with his best and sounded well rehearsed was clearly a fan favorite.  Capleton of course had the entire place dancing with hit after hit but really made a statement with his silver encrusted white/Burberry robe ensemble.  I’m never disappointed by his custom threads.

Sunday was a good wind down and featured several Reggae legends.  One my favorites, Freddie McGregor, came and blessed the place along with several artists from his Big Ship Record label Laden and Chino.  The Original Wailers also came and gave everybody their dose of Marley covers but the sisten really came and stole the show once again.  Sister Carol and Marcia Griffiths both came and put on electrifying performances and I thought really exceeded expectations.  Nuff respect to the Empresses.  Capping the roots session was an extremely rare (maybe 15+ years since they last performed in the US) performance by English drum and bass duo, Aswad.  They displayed a talent and excitement that could only come from decades in the business and gave the youth a much needed dub lesson especially with the absence of Sly & Robbie.  I will never forget the 2 minute intro to the extended Dubfire version…  Gentleman and the Far East Band headlined the night for the 2nd straight year and showed why when they delivered a custom show with many extended versions and brand new tracks from his upcoming album.  He even used it as a testing ground for tracks he was considering, which I thought was really special.  I don’t think they’ll bring him back for the 3rd straight but I hope that his next tour makes it over the Atlantic.  If you ever get a chance to see him, don’t miss it.

This year at Reggae Rising was unbelievable and I thought a very successful over all execution but there were several disappointments that I would be remiss to mention.  The first was the overall organization which I thought took a major hit from the previous years.  There were countless people at will call on Thursday struggling to get tickets they had paid for and there was very poor communication between staff on how to resolve the issues.  There was also the artists playing with DJs which there is no place for.  There are dozens of bands hired for this festival and it doesn’t do the artist justice to make them play with a background track because the fan cannot help but compare it to the other acts.  No disrespect to Demarco and Million Styles because they came with it anyway so nuff respect.  Of course these are minimal criticisms because the festival was such a blast but I hope that the people of Dimmick Ranch make some organizational adjustments before next year’s festival.  I’ll have to make it special since it will be my 20th.  Who’s with me!?

Give thanks and praise to the Almighty Jah for the inspiration and grace to make this movement a reality.  Reggae has had a long road and is finally gaining the traction it needs to really succeed here in the United Sates.  Since Bob Marley and the Wailers, Reggae has struggled to thrive here but with the persistence of Sizzla, Capleton, Buju and others, the doors have been opened it has opened for artists like Sean Paul, Sean Kingston, Rihhanna, Demarco, Serani, and other Caribbean artists that now enjoy great pop notoriety.  Check back soon for my reviews of my favorite albums released this summer.  

Jah Bless & Jah Guide until we meet again.

Marley “One” Lovell