Though his songs are simple, Bob Marley’s messages were clear — there is always hope for love, unity, and peace when you choose to include them in your life. This is what Woodstock’s Annual Tribute to One Love represented on February 4, in honor of Marley’s birthday two days later.
The tribute, which was presented by Upstate Reggae, featured live music, a buffet of Jamaican soul food, and dancing until the early morning at the Bearsville Theater in Woodstock. DJs played Caribbean hits and RoyalHeartSound entertained while the smells of salty collard greens, baked mac ’n cheese, jerk chicken, and various cured meats — from Reggae Boy Café in Poughkeepsie — filled the lounge.
The popular New Paltz ska/reggae/dance hall band The Big Takeover split the bill with Bronx reggae/rocksteady group Royal Khaoz, and ended up performing first. Takeover played a setlist of favorites off their latest album, Tale of My Life (2011), plus a couple of new songs, including one that lead singer Neenee Rushie described as “a sexy, sexy song. Very sexy. You’ll want to couple up — or triple up, it’s that sexy.” She wasn’t kidding. To honor the man whose softly smiling face lit the stage’s backdrop, they performed Marley’s “Hammer.”
As a whole, The Big Takeover’s sound has more of a breezy feel since exciting blues guitarist Jonny Klenck has been replaced, but it doesn’t take away from their powerhouse performance. This night in particular, the brass section — made up of Andy Vogt on trombone and Chas Montrose on sax — was particularly hot, pushing the limits a bit further than usual.
By the time Royal Khaoz took the stage, the audience was fired up. The eight-piece band, which has grown tremendously in the past year from cautiously entertaining to khaotically good, performed classic rocksteady favorites, danceable originals, and a medley of Marley hits — “Trenchtown Rock,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Could You Be Love,” and others. During the standout “Roots, Rock, Reggae,” another feel-good Marley jam, vocalist Jay matched his voice to the late legend’s in a way that elevated the crowd — which had dwindled due to the late hour but was still impressive in size — back to dance-party status. The show concluded with Rushie joining the band onstage.
Upstate Reggae is currently working on booking future shows for area reggae fans, check their website for updates: http://wavelinks.net/reggae.htm
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