Inspired by Marley

By PETER MARCUS - February 2, 2007

Ronny Noel, frontman for Denver-based reggae ensemble Irie Still, was inspired after seeing Bob Marley play in his native Trinidad. Nineteen-years-old, standing just two rows back from the stage, Noel was smacked in the face by Marley’s sweat as the passionate roots-rock reggae superstar flung his dreadlocks from side to side. Back in the day The year was 1979, and Noel, already pursuing a life filled with music, was moved by the African spirits that swam in Marley’s soul. “It changed my life,” Noel explained with a soft Caribbean accent. The African-influenced musician will turn his world full circle tonight as he and Irie Still perform at the Herman’s Hideaway Bob Marley Birthday Bash. Creation Noel first created Irie Still in New Mexico in 1995, after immigrating to the United States from Trinidad. He later took the show on the road and moved to Colorado. The band has changed over the years, but the music and the message has remained the same. “It’s a way of life, there’s a strong message behind reggae music,” explained Noel. “Reggae always speaks up for the oppressed, but not just reggae, reggae was a large influence in Trinidad, but what I do mainly is Afro-beat. Reggae is limiting to what I do. We do reggae, but we also have a strong African influence.” Never trapped In Noel’s opinion, the best music is that which shares no record label. Record labels can be confining, he said. The best musicians are those that move around and touch upon many genre’s of music. He cited 311 and Sublime as examples of musicians that have run the gamut of musical expression including reggae, rock, rap and punk. “Those guys pushed the envelope a little bit,” he said. “I think people really appreciate that.” An Irie Still concert moves all over the place in terms of sound — Noel never likes to feel trapped on stage. The message As for the message, Noel is living the teachings of Mr. Marley and others who preached one love and unity. “I just want people to really love each other, respect each other and respect our children,” he said. “We just need to love and respect all around us and understand that the world doesn’t belong to us.”