Dancehall ROCKS gently When many think of rock music, images of head bangers in white face powder, eyes lined in black and reddened lips puckered, spring to mind. That extreme persona may soon be joined by that of a fashionable Jamaican bopping to rock, as more and more reggae and dancehall acts seem to be [...]
Film explores reggae’s roots The Canadian reggae scene is about to get more notice. Niagara College student, Brad Weiss, 21, of Stoney Creek is producing a documentary on the development of the reggae scene with director Alex Peers, also from Niagara College. Reggae is Mr. Peers’ passion and he and Mr. Weiss decided to make [...]
One love. One heart. One perfect day As the 25th anniversary of Bob Marley’s death nears, memories of seeing the supernatural legend in concert remain powerful Gather ’round, kids. I’m going to tell you about the time I saw a legend, a natural mystic, in the flesh. In the two and a half decades since [...]
Man from Wareika returns During a break in a Tokyo recording session, Rico Rodriguez puts down his trombone to lark around on the roof with the teenage members of Oreskaband, the all-girl ska band he’s been working with. That, at 72 years old, he is now old enough to be their grandfather doesn’t even faze [...]
Man from Wareika returns During a break in a Tokyo recording session, Rico Rodriguez puts down his trombone to lark around on the roof with the teenage members of Oreskaband, the all-girl ska band he’s been working with. That, at 72 years old, he is now old enough to be their grandfather doesn’t even faze [...]
Man from Wareika returns During a break in a Tokyo recording session, Rico Rodriguez puts down his trombone to lark around on the roof with the teenage members of Oreskaband, the all-girl ska band he’s been working with. That, at 72 years old, he is now old enough to be their grandfather doesn’t even faze [...]
Toots on a Roll The man who gave reggae its name brings back the Maytals. The career of Frederick “Toots” Hibbert predates reggae — in fact, he’s the guy most often credited with naming the genre. But the music’s reigning patriarch isn’t a museum piece just yet. Last year’s True Love — an album that [...]
Once-promising Rihanna makes us stop caring about a Girl Like her Before discussing the beastly new album by Rihanna, let’s reflect on her auspicious debut album, Music of the Sun. Though it did have a couple of garish tracks, Rihanna defined the album with reggae-inspired songs full of vim and vigor. This was apparent on [...]
Dance pon da riddim The Royal Peacock is dead. “Last night around this time, the place was packed,” says a baby-faced bartender while handing out Red Stripes and scooping up dead presidents. Shit. Looking around the barren nightclub, it’s hard to envision the room packed with dancing, gyrating, sweaty folks. Sure, there are a few [...]
Holt stirs up reggae lovers When a dapper crooner by the name of John Holt went onstage at the Wildey Gymnasium minutes after 2 a.m., he truly put the gold plating on Vintage Reggae Gold to lift sagging spirits and a few sleepy heads after a long night.