From: SB
Message:
Last night, I went to the best reggae night in Liverpool I've ever
attended (Rockers 2 Rockers at The Magnet, with Gregory Isaacs as
special guest).
Warm up came from the Rockers 2 Rockers soundsystem, with a wicket set
from DJ Nazarene and MC NZE. It started off with 1960s' rocksteady
(heavy on the female vocals - Susan Cadogan in the mix), before moving
towards early 1970s' deejay stuff and onwards to 1990s' dancehall. Early
in the set Nazarene took an audio feed from the film Rockers, which was
being shown on the big screen, and added dubwise effects before laying
it over the audio mix. This, combined with NZE mimicking U-Roy, was a
particularly good head mash early in the evening (you couldn't work out
if the toasting was coming from U-Roy on screen, U-Roy on the decks, or
NZE mimicking U-Roy on the mic). Nazarene covered the 1970s well (Rupie
Edwards went down a storm) before taking it mote upbeat and 21st century
with some Beenie Man, Elephant Man, Luciano, Beres Hammond, Wayne
Wonder, Buju. Highlight for me was when he dropped Sizzla's "Guide Over
Us" and NZE added some extra vocals.
> "Woi yoi Salassie I will tek I home.
> Hotter fire, hotter fire
> These are the trumpets of the living man making the sound.
>
> Hey, watch over us, Emperor Salassie I dem ya road rugged and steep,
> I know it is a must, for us to make it home, even through dem yah
> nashing of teeth,
> Hey guide over us, Holy Emanuel I, Sizzla knees could a never get weak.
> I know it is a must, for us to make it home, through dem yah nashing of teeth.
>
> There are those who constantly they have been been placing
> The rocks on the tracks leaving devil snairs laying.
> And them wish fi all who dem hate to be falling
> Yet inna dem face they witness thy uprising.
> Feeling Irie making it into my way
> No apology, fire bun dem everyday-ay-ay-ay.
> Conspiracy leads the game you play
> Now they fall on their knees without my say
>
> Dem fi know I climb mountain and the valleys,
> Jah tell mi so I run both river banks.
> Within life you've got follies
> Here is the rasta yout whilst giving thanks
> Hey Jah Jah, give I-man health and strength
> Working for you makes no sense
> You Could Never put a dime in my pocket
> King Salassie- I-run the frontline so watch this.
>
> Dem high statistics and Economics have dem going-so Kinky
> Mi draw fi mi rastamon song mi nyabinghi drum, mi calabash chalice
> Babylon sey mi crazy!
> Giving praises, Niyabinghi Ises, our business
> Mi nuh join dem slavery
> Jah Jah dem burn dem bridge spiting mi big.
> When yuh dun (done) know I swim across through my victory."
Definite one for the rewind.
After 2 and a half hours of dancing, I was knackered, and The Magnet was
at the hottest and fullest I've ever seen, with a wicked and attentive
crowd, dancing fine and showing appreciation to the selector and deejay.
Gregory Isaacs came on after 11, and played the kind of lovers' rock set
you would expect from the cool ruler. I'm not a huge fan, and I think
there are better lovers singers (Marcia?), but he did the business, and
everyone went home happy.
The challenge is now for this new night to keep it up - but the
challenge has been made. There hasn't been a succesful reggae night in
Liverpool for 10 years. I do hope that this new night breaks the mould.
SB
