Roots Archives Forum

I love old roots, and don't really go in for much new stuff. But one of the best performances I've ever seen was by St. Croix's Ras Attitude and Batch, backed by The Zioneers, at SNWMF 2005. What an inceredible show.

For those we like Sly & Robbie live check out:
http://rootsmanx.podomatic.com/
Just posted a live performace of Gregory Isaacs backed by the Taxigang.

Taco B: I have a poor bootleg of the halfpint, Ini Kamoze show (taxigang, Maastricht Novembre 86). If I find time I will put some of it on the above mentioned page...

One of the better shows I saw is Berres hammond, Frankie Paul, Halfpint backed by 809 band paradiso A'dam. Marcia Griffiths backed by lloyd Parkes & We the People, Skatalites with Tommy Mc Cook & Roland Alphonso, Andrew Tosh backed by soul Syndicate,...

Rootsmanx,

Will check the Gregory Taxigang performance. Good stuff!

Have the Taxi Connection Live in London LP. Curious for the Maastricht bootleg.

Reactivating old thread time.

I can bore for England (and frequently do) about Thursday nights at the old Top Rank Suite Brighton in the late 70s/ early 80s.
Saw Culture, The Gladiators, Dillinger there, all in 1978. A bit later saw Burning Spear, Steel Pulse, Eek a Mouse, Barrington Levy, Ranking Dread.... and a few others I now can't remember.

In the late 70s the vibe was pretty mellow with a crowd consisting of punks, hippies, students, soul fans and the curious - but by the early 80s it changed and a heavier contingent started appearing... bit more gangsterish. The music was always good though.

Also saw Bob Marley at the Brighton Centre.... 1980 I think. Wish I could remember something clear about it but time has erased it.

The best band I saw was, perhaps surprisingly, Steel Pulse. They could really create a brilliant vibe live.

I would have to say Steel Pulse was the most outstanding reggae concert I have ever seen. Maybe it was the scene, (thousands of people dancing in the field at Central Park) but DAMN that was one hell of a show!

The Mighty Burning Spear
Bunny Wailer
Judy Mowatt
Marcia Griffiths
Tamlins
Jays
Diamonds
Congos

Capleton bring the most vibes. Non stop vibes. Anthony B brought it as well.

I've seen quite some reggae artists (in the Netherlands) since approx. 1983.
Some impressive gigs which comes to my mind :
Culture (probably the best reggae live act I've ever seen)
Dennis Brown
Burning Spear
King Sounds
Ras Michael
U-Roy ft. Scully
Congo Ashanti Roy (Solo)
Albert Griffiths and The Gladiators
Eek-A-Mouse (1st gig in Netherlands)
Max Romeo backed by Reggae Regular
The Abyssinians
Black Uhuru with Sly & Robbie
Bunny Wailer
Alton Ellis
LKJ with Dennis Bovell Dub Band
African Head Charge
And just recently ... Erroll Dunkley ... Great show in Antwerp

Steel Pulse
Andrew Tosh
Pablo Moses
Don Carlos
Black Uhuru (Duckie Simpson only)
The Congos
Apple Gabriel
Israel Vibration
Max Romeo
Eek a Mouse
Papa Winie
Calton Coffie
The Wailers

I've only been going to reggae gigs in the last 8 years or so, but I've been lucky enough to see some great shows in some very small and intimate venues. It's always worth hanging out post-show to see who you bump into.

The Abyssinians always put on a fantastic show, very gospel and spiritual vibes there. Seem to play the same setlist everytime though.

Max Romeo's Charmax band are great. 2 brass players which seems to be quite rare in UK shows, where 'keyboard player playing the horn lines' seems to be the usual rule. Max put on a heavy roots show encoring with 'Wet Dream' which he seemed under duress to play, like he'd distanced himself from the song but played it anyway due to popular demand.

Mighty Diamonds sets are always very dynamic. After lots of "Right Time" and "Back To Roots" material they like to do a gospel-influenced segment and then end with an extended "Pass The Kouchie" with each Diamond doing a likkle DJ spot.

The Congos set was mesmerizingly brilliant, including a nyahbinghi version of "Congoman". Their energy was incredible, which meant the "Heart Of The Congos" stuff was nearly double-speed! Cedric's falsetto got a little wild and untamed at points though.

And for energy, nothing beats Yellowman's onstage work-out regime, all star-jumps and scissor-kicks! Even if you're not into his more vacuous dancehall lyrics his shows are worth catching. Dillinger's supporting set though, was everything I wanted and more. "Fountain On The Mountain", "Ragnampiza", "CB200", and sure, "Cocaine In My Brain" for those into that kind of thing....