Pace on Earth

Hit Me With Music

Reggae got soul, Freddy got soul.

Every Wednesday night a local reggae outfit called Dub Antennae plays at the Taproom. I have been several times over the course of the summer and since the first time I went to the last time (last night) the crowds have gotten progressively bigger. The place was packed last night, as was the stage. At my last count there was 10 people on stage including a four-piece horn section. I don't know that reggae is all that complicated to play but these guys have a great singer and the horn section is the kicker. From the first time I saw them until last night the one thing that has been consistent is their ability to make people move. And that, no offence to them, is less a testament to them as it is to reggae music itself.

I can remember being in London a couple of years ago on a rugby trip. After my rugby commitments were done North and I went to London to see the sights. I saw Big Ben (Parliament, kids...), the Tower of London and the bottom of a couple dozen pints of flat British beer. After two days of this I awoke alone in my King's Cross hotel room with a lonely night ahead of me. Once I made it out of my funk-hole I wandered onto the Tube and found myself getting off at Covent Garden. Once there I saw a band setting up to busk in a closed shop doorway. They were just doing their sound check but they were obviously prepping for some reggae. I grabbed a snack and sat down to watch them from across the square.

Once the music started in was clear that these guys weren't just out for a laugh. They were tight; but it was once the singer started that their strength became clear. The guy was tiny but had a huge, smooth voice. As far as I could tell they were doing Legend from start to finish but if you closed your eyes it would be hard to tell the music wasn't coming out of boombox. If you openned you eyes the scene was even more amazing. Covent Garden is a major Tube stop and a big tourist area. The mix of people through there on that day was astounding; from tourists to businessmen, beggars to royalty (maybe right?). The coolest thing was watching these people walk in between the band and me. They would all catch an ear of that voice then glance at the band. Some stopped, some didn't break stride but nearly everyone started smiling and bobbing to the beat. They all knew Marley; everyone knows Marley. It was one of the coolest things I had ever seen; quite possibly my favourite sociological survey and it left me giggling.

No word on who the band was but I gave them whatever pounds I thought two hours of music was worth and left London happy. I went to bed happy last night too...there's a pattern there.

Listen to reggae - be happy.

Rasta Si

posted by Vitamin S @ 2:06 p.m.