CONCERT REVIEWS
Meditations, Justin Hinds
Duck Room, Club Viva, April, 26, 27, 1999
Unbelievable last two night of Reggae in St. Louis. Meditations played
Tuesday, then Justin Hinds last night. I am beat...
Tuesday night at the Duck Room the Meditations returned and put on a
great show, as usual. It's a mid-sized hall (500 or so) and there was a
good crowd skankin away. Local band Reggae At Will opened and sounded
good. Then promoter Barnibus (aka Barna Rebel) took the stage and sang a
few tracks - he's been a big guy in the reggae scene and is a cool dude.
Then the Meditations took the stage. The monitors were messed up at the
start and Ansel was real professional as he straightened it out during
the song. Kinda like a sound check.
They played non-stop killers with a lot of em from the new CD on Easy
Star, "Ghetto Knowledge." It was good to see Michael G on guitar and the
band sounded tight. The show started late (what else is new), so during
"Wake Up" the lights came on and some guy's saying to stop over the
P.A., but Ansel, Danny and Winston kept singing. It was cool and kinda
funny...
They did a wicked extended version of "Seniorita" where they introduced
everyone and it was excellent. Their voices meshed beautifully and,
believe me, they can still sing up a storm. Even though they all sound
great, there's something about Ansel's voice that is just so unique. He
did a Curtis Mayfield sound at the end and it was wild.
Great guys, great show and highly recommended if they come to your area.
Well, as my radio partner Michael Kuelker said, it's feast or famine and
this week we feasted. The following night - last night - was Justin
Hinds and the Dominoes and it was an evening not to be forgotten. After
a LONG day at work, I sucked it up and headed down to the intimate Club
Viva, and witnessed one of the best shows in recent memory. It was like
stepping back 30 or so years. The horn section of Vin Gordon and Deadly
Headly was sensational and the band just played the wickedest rock
steady and ska tracks you've ever heard.
Club Viva's a small venue and the nice-sized crowd was eatin it up.
Every song (and there were many I didn't know) were unbelievable. Justin
would intro each track with a few words and he was just as cool as can
be. If you can believe it, a schoolmate of his - Ethel - lives in St.
Louis and it was great to see them talking after the show. She went to
school with him in Kingston! So I got her # and am looking forward to
some great stories.
I truly felt as I watched Justin that he is really preserving a special
time in the history of Jamaican music. The ska and rock steady sounds
the Dominoes played were sensational.
Another show not to be missed!
Reporting from the midwest...
Professor Skank
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