canikickit
18th March 2003, 21:50
So, the gig was last night. It was fantastic, I loved it.
Doors were supposed to open at 19:30 but we didn't get in there until about ten to eight. I had been very sceptical beforehand because I had thought there was just going to be Scratch and the Mad Professor, I found out in the queue that there was going to be a band also, things were starting to look up.
We went in a got a couple of drinks they were playing great tunes - nice reggae from the seventies mostly. They span (that I recognised):
Horace Andy - Don't Think About Me
Keith Hudson - Melody Maker
Susan Cadogan - Nice and Easy (it was nice to hear a Scratch production, I thought it was a cool touch for some reason)
Some of the music was probably a bit more modern but it was all good.
That went on for about an hour and fifteen minutes, which was fine by me, I was having a great time (I'd never heard reggae in a live envionment before, it sure beats the hell out of a stereo or headphones :)).
Then, out of the blue, they put on a instrumental version of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Why, I'll never know, but there you go. It was quite strange, it seemed totally out of place, and it was.
Soon after (or maybe straight after) that the band came marching on. There was a keyboardist, a bassist and a drummer(ist). The keyboard guy was the spokesman, and he started bigging up the Mad Professor (who was at the back on the desk), and telling us we had to greet Scratch when he came on with shouts of "King Perry".
Then a DJ/Singer/Singjay came on and started off by telling us it was his first time in Ireland, but he'd probably be back again. He was well able to get the crowd going and he was on stage for about 45/50 minutes (? I could be way off, I don't actually have a clue). He was really good, but I didn't catch his name. Does anyone know what it could be (Valentine, Valentino? I heard something like that, but they could have been talking about something else). I don't know how to describe him, but he was black, quite tall, and he wore army fatigues. He had a bit of a goatee, and shortish hair (he was wearing a hat, but I mean he didn't have big, long dreads).
After his little encore, we were led into chanting "Lee Scratch Perry" by the keyboardist, and then on came Scratch. He was decked out in his traditional attire with shining, reflective surfaces stitched on to his hat and the jacket.
He opened with what I presume was "Happy Birthday". I've never heard the studio version of that song, but whatever the song was it had a chorus of "Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to me". The only other song I recognised was "Introducing Myself".
Not long into his set he stopped to make an announcement: "I have been told to stop smoking and drinking poison. No more ganja and no more alcohol". It was quite amusing to see a crowd of drunken Irishmen raising their alcohol-filled glasses to toast this revelation. There was also the distinct smell of cannabis in the air at certain times. Nevertheless, his little speech on the evils of these two poisons was greeted by cheers all round, and then he launched into a song on the same subject matter.
We were treated to an encore, for which I went right up to the stage, it was quite fantastic.
Well, that's pretty much all I can recall. The musicians were all fantastic, I particularily enjoyed the drumming. My first live reggae experience was an uplifting and heartical event.
Does any one know the names of Scratch's current band? I'd like to know. I also recall the keyboardist saying that the Mad Professor had CDs available, but I forgot to do something about checking that out. I'd like to get my hands on that live show somehow.
Go and see Scratch.
Sly and Robbie are playing in the next few weeks also, I'll have to see about getting tickets. :)
Doors were supposed to open at 19:30 but we didn't get in there until about ten to eight. I had been very sceptical beforehand because I had thought there was just going to be Scratch and the Mad Professor, I found out in the queue that there was going to be a band also, things were starting to look up.
We went in a got a couple of drinks they were playing great tunes - nice reggae from the seventies mostly. They span (that I recognised):
Horace Andy - Don't Think About Me
Keith Hudson - Melody Maker
Susan Cadogan - Nice and Easy (it was nice to hear a Scratch production, I thought it was a cool touch for some reason)
Some of the music was probably a bit more modern but it was all good.
That went on for about an hour and fifteen minutes, which was fine by me, I was having a great time (I'd never heard reggae in a live envionment before, it sure beats the hell out of a stereo or headphones :)).
Then, out of the blue, they put on a instrumental version of Michael Jackson's "Beat It". Why, I'll never know, but there you go. It was quite strange, it seemed totally out of place, and it was.
Soon after (or maybe straight after) that the band came marching on. There was a keyboardist, a bassist and a drummer(ist). The keyboard guy was the spokesman, and he started bigging up the Mad Professor (who was at the back on the desk), and telling us we had to greet Scratch when he came on with shouts of "King Perry".
Then a DJ/Singer/Singjay came on and started off by telling us it was his first time in Ireland, but he'd probably be back again. He was well able to get the crowd going and he was on stage for about 45/50 minutes (? I could be way off, I don't actually have a clue). He was really good, but I didn't catch his name. Does anyone know what it could be (Valentine, Valentino? I heard something like that, but they could have been talking about something else). I don't know how to describe him, but he was black, quite tall, and he wore army fatigues. He had a bit of a goatee, and shortish hair (he was wearing a hat, but I mean he didn't have big, long dreads).
After his little encore, we were led into chanting "Lee Scratch Perry" by the keyboardist, and then on came Scratch. He was decked out in his traditional attire with shining, reflective surfaces stitched on to his hat and the jacket.
He opened with what I presume was "Happy Birthday". I've never heard the studio version of that song, but whatever the song was it had a chorus of "Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to me". The only other song I recognised was "Introducing Myself".
Not long into his set he stopped to make an announcement: "I have been told to stop smoking and drinking poison. No more ganja and no more alcohol". It was quite amusing to see a crowd of drunken Irishmen raising their alcohol-filled glasses to toast this revelation. There was also the distinct smell of cannabis in the air at certain times. Nevertheless, his little speech on the evils of these two poisons was greeted by cheers all round, and then he launched into a song on the same subject matter.
We were treated to an encore, for which I went right up to the stage, it was quite fantastic.
Well, that's pretty much all I can recall. The musicians were all fantastic, I particularily enjoyed the drumming. My first live reggae experience was an uplifting and heartical event.
Does any one know the names of Scratch's current band? I'd like to know. I also recall the keyboardist saying that the Mad Professor had CDs available, but I forgot to do something about checking that out. I'd like to get my hands on that live show somehow.
Go and see Scratch.
Sly and Robbie are playing in the next few weeks also, I'll have to see about getting tickets. :)