Boston Reggae Scene Active in August

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/living/articles/2006/08/18/lively_up_yourself?mode=PF

Lively up yourself

Cool vibes, roots rhythms, and rough-and-tumble dancehall make up a sun-splashed month of reggae

By Siddhartha Mitter, Globe Correspondent | August 18, 2006
The Boston Globe

Jah be praised! Three humongous reggae concerts are coming to Boston in a two-week span, bringing Irie vibes and syncopated riddims to dispel the late-summer melancholy. Better yet, the de facto festival at the Bank of America Pavilion doubles as a crash course on the state of reggae today, featuring revered veteran bands from Jamaica and Britain (tomorrow), members and associates of the Marley family (Thursday), and a grouping of roots and dancehall old heads and young guns (Aug. 31).

UB40

Better known, unjustly, for its mass-appeal pop period than its musically adventurous, politically incisive early work, the seminal Birmingham, England, combo is back with ‘‘Who You Fighting For?,’’ an elegant new album that successfully draws on both.

TOOTS & THE MAYTALS

It doesn’t get more crucial than this Kingston crew, whose ‘‘Do the Reggay’’ introduced the word in 1968. From classics like ‘‘Pressure Drop’’ to pairings with Keith Richards or Bonnie Raitt, Toots Hibbert might be the hardest-working man in the reggae business.

BUNNY WAILER

One of the original Wailers alongside Bob Marley and Peter Tosh, Bunny Livingston remained for years in Jamaica before finally blossoming in the 1990s on the world stage. Though open to dancehall, he’s really one of the keepers of the roots-reggae flame.

STEPHEN MARLEY

Though his long-awaited solo album has yet to drop — it’s expected later this year — Bob Marley’s son Stephen is no underachiever: a longtime member of brother Ziggy’s Melody Makers, he may have the sweetest voice of all the master’s progeny.

ASSASSIN

Hailed as the next big thing in dancehall, Assassin comes rough, rugged, and raw with his debut release, ‘‘Infiltration.’’ The frenzied pace, tongue-twisting delivery, and thumping bass come standard; the poise and relatively respectful lyrics are pleasant extras.

CAPLETON

Like bill-mate Buju Banton, the immensely popular Capleton has moved from aggressive dancehall to a more spiritual roots sound as Rastafarianism has played a larger part in his life. He’s still a top-rate verbal acrobat and a fiery stage performer.

Reggae Sunsplash
With UB40, Maxi Priest, Third World, Toots & the Maytals, and Rik Rok
At: Bank of America Pavilion, Saturday at 5:30 p.m., $35

Roots Rock Reggae Festival
With Ziggy Marley, Stephen Marley, Bunny Wailer, Ozomatli , and Jon Nicholson
At: Bank of America Pavilion, Thursday at 6 p.m., $35

One Love Festival
With Buju Banton, Elan & The Live Wyya Band, Capleton, Gregory Isaacs, Cocoa Tea, Assassin
At: Bank of America Pavilion, Thursday, Aug. 31, 2006 at 7 p.m., $35

Package tickets for two shows ($60) or three shows ($75) are available from the Bank of America Pavilion box office, 290 Northern Ave. Information: www.livenation.com.

© Copyright 2006 The New York Times Company