The Even Greater Tokyo Region

Groundation



One of the great advantages of living on the continent, is that other people do too. Dutch people ask me if I don't miss the "space" of New Zealand, but they forget the advantages of everything being so close.

For me, being in Holland is giving me an opportunity to do something I've never been able to do: go to concerts of artists and bands I really like. A few months ago, I wrote about going to a big reggae concert in Amsterdam, but overall, there has been few big names to come to Holland. I think that reggae artists are like hot girls wearing tube-tops: They come out when the weather gets nice. The first proverbial hot girl wearing a tube-top was Groundation. Now, they are not an incredibly famous band, but I will say it to anyone's face that they are 'the best reggae band in the world.

I am not exaggerating this. I have never exaggerated in my entire life, which is like 100 years, if not more. Almost three years ago, not long after I stumbled across them and fell in love, I listed them as the band I wanted to see the most. Of course, they would probably never come to Japan. A few weeks back, I saw they were coming to Europe. I was prepared to travel all the way to Brussels, Belgium of Luxembourg (Luxembourg) to see them, until I noticed that they were coming to Amsterdam. (Only 40 minutes train away.)

The reasons Groundation is 'The greatest reggae band in the world', in my correct opinion:

They are amazing musicians. Most of the band are individually accomplished Jazz musicians. Concerning reggae, They 'get it'. Look, I listen to a lot of reggae, and it has unfortunately largely become a genre of image. Groundation plays true Roots Reggae, almost continuing where Bob Marley left off, without resorting to imitation. Basically, what I mean is, they aren't preachy. They don't promote a tiny minority religion, or advocate a particular substance- unless that substance is music. The positive vibrations of music.

Reggae is a simple genre, but it is amazing when you hear great musicians play it well, with a purpose. Now was my chance to see them perform live.

I was stupid enough to not buy tickets in advance, thinking that they aren't so famous, and it's a concert on a Tuesday. When I arrived, the whole outside of the concert hall was packed on the streets. Uh oh. However, upon closer inspection, most of the crowd were wearing shaved heads and black t-shirts. This wasn't the reggae crowd, but for another concert in the same place. Still, the overall crowd was incredibly different to the previous reggae concert. As in, the average complexion was much much lighter. I remember at the Richie Spice concert dancing to his song "Brown Skin", and I astutely observed mostly black people on all sides of me. But today, it made me realise again that reggae isn't really so much of a black genre.

The reason for this sudden swing in ethnic ratio's, is probably because of what Groundation is.
i.e. predominantly white. The only black members of the band are two back-up servan... I mean, backup singers. The lead singer (on the right), looks more like an orthodox Jew, or like he drives a horse-drawn carriage every day and on weekends helps build barns with the rest of the village. Perhaps this is why Groundation isn't as well-known as they should be; they don't have street-cred. It is a shame, because as I said and will continue to say, they are 'the best reggae band in the world'.

The concert hall was "cozy", or as singer-songwriters like to call it: "intimate". There weren't any pre-acts, so didn't take long for them to come out- a 9 piece band, and they put on a great show. The band's keyboardist is simply amazing. Youths often use the word "sick" to describe incredibly displays of talent, but this guy was terminally ill, but don't you dare pull the plug. He was like a non-pedofile reggae/jazz version of Jerry Lee Lewis. Beside the normal drummer was a percussionist behind a drumset of bongo's. He was huge (he was introduced as 6 foot 3), and he played the most ridiculous drum solo I couldn't imagine.It was at least three minutes, and wasn't gratuitous or repetitive. The giant of a man must have destroyed his set... The horn section was tight. The tromboner [sic.] was great, and the trumpeter did his part, and occasionally swapped the trumpet for a marracca or a cowbell, which reminded me of this SNL skit. In advance, you're welcome. Remeber, you can never have too much cowbell.


Mostly though, the trademark of Groundation is the lead vocals. And he was as raspy as ever. Amazing. He occasionally spoke interludes praising not Jah, but music, "love and happyness, that's why we play music". Possibly no-one was happier than me, because possibly no-one can play music as well as them. Overall, you could tell they were pro musicians. Everyone played great solos throughout the concert, not just in the encore, revealing that Jazz influence, and how well it blends with the reggae vibe, building up so many layers to the simple reggae beat. I came to understand that for Groundation, reggae is only the vehicle for their musical talents and positive message, albeit a universal one that has long left the shores of Jamaica. I only wish that more people come to know and love them. I know I made one convert to Groundationism by bringing along friend.

They played quite a few well-known numbers, and new material, along with the obligatory encore for which they played an extended version of Bob Marley's Exodus. To me this was symbolic for the hope they will keep spreading their music further. (They could have played "Three Little Birds", since that is the song that is always played at closing time at bars in Holland to get everyone to leave...)

It was a great night for me, and since they were the only band, starting at 9pm, I liked the idea of going to a concert and being home in my bed just after midnight. However, I took the wrong train, and accidentally ended up in Utchecht. Luckily, Holland is such a tiny country, that it was only an 80 minute detour. It reminded me that so much can happen on such a small piece of earth, and I am lucky to be here.