The Wailers : Live @ the Belly Up

Ah Yes, the "Legend : Celebrating 30 Years" tour has come to Southern California and it has landed at the wooden "concert hall/night club" tavern, the Belly Up in Solana Beach.  Great sound quality at this venue and the seating is tiered to some extent for maximum seated viewing pleasure.  Oh course there is an open dance floor.  Table Service, food, drinks, & dancing if you please.  Everyone having a nice time at this Wailers stop on the way to Reggae Immortality.  The Wailers opened up with Familyman's "Cobra Style" and extended the instrumental nicely, it had a hard & clean sound to get the night going. Good to see Aston "Familyman" Barrett on Bass most of the night, only switching out during the encore with his son "Familyman Jr." on the keyboard at the end.  The Belly Up in Solana Beach will be hosting Israel Vibration in early August ( http://www.bellyup.com/event/israel-vibrations-2/ ), it should be a great show as well.  The Belly Up has a venue in Aspen, CO if that's your neck of the woods or should you find yourself in the area, check it out and let me know what you think.

Marley (2012 Movie / Documentary) : Bob Marley

This is the latest major Bob Marley documentary film or book to be released and  it was a definite pleasure to be able to view it on the "big screen" down at the Pickford Cinema's "Limelight Theatre" ( http://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/ ) in Bellingham.  The film by director Kevin MacDonald is about 145 minutes long and, to me, doesn't seem to cover any new revelations or shocking secrets of Bob's life and times.  I did, however, enjoy the interviews by those such as Bunny Wailer and numerous other contemporaries.  It showed how those that knew Bob the best have changed and aged themselves.  Maybe with a bit more wisdom and patience.  That being said, this is a most comprehensive documentary and the picture quality is the best yet.  Comparing this to older documentaries like Public TV's "American Masters" series and books like "Catch 'a Fire" (T.White) is not that fair.  Of course we've all got limited Marley resources to go on - so what you have in "Marley - 2012" is the latest, cleanest, most updated version of the real-life legend of Bob Marley.  I would recommend finding a Marley book (Catch 'a Fire) and at least one other TV Show / Film to get the best mixed perspective of Bob and Marley lore throughout the years, but this is a Great place to start.

Clinton Fearon : Live @ the Wild Buffalo

Yes !!!, Another late night Reggae session with the legendary Clinton Fearon and the Boogie Brown Band, this time on Saturday January 11th, 2014.  It's great to see him in town once again for what seems like the annual Bellingham Jamdown at the Wild Buffalo House of Music ( http://wildbuffalo.net/ ) .  I've noticed some changes in band members, but it's the proof of the professional that the live sound stay as clean, clear, and consistent as ever.  Always getting your money's worth with this show - you know you'll hear some familiar (if you've seen him before) tracks.  Now remember that Mr. Fearon is one of the Original Gladiators and a True Legend of Reggae culture.  The Reggae history and legacy of the Seventies and Eighties is getting away from us.  Soon it will only be legends and tales of concerts by these history-making Reggae Titans, so witness thy self to bare witness and be a part of sharing Reggae Culture with those of the future.  Not enough venues - not enough artists.  Who Next - Soon Come ??