Again in November, at 53 years previous, I used to be shocked and shocked to search out out I had one thing incorrect with my coronary heart referred to as full coronary heart block. I’ve at all times been wholesome, figuring out nearly daily, strolling the canines (Nesta and Cedella) daily, and maintaining a healthy diet. So, this was an entire shock. I went to the ER on a Monday and on Tuesday at 9 am, I used to be in surgical procedure getting a pacemaker. Why am I telling you this in a live performance evaluate? This was the primary live performance I went to and photographed since that occurred to me. I had some alternatives to do others prior to now couple of months, however nervousness and apprehension held me again. All week I used to be enthusiastic about seeing Kabaka, certainly one of my favourite reggae artists and the most effective to see and {photograph} stay. However as we received nearer to Thursday, the nervousness was getting worse, this pacemaker scenario has me thrown a little bit and I’ve been discovering it arduous getting myself to journey to and go to concert events. However this was Kabaka Pyramid! I’ve seen and photographed him about 5-6 instances, and he at all times brings it to the stage! I needed to go! He places on such an incredible present, his message of unity, positivity, inity, love, and his aware revolutionary lyrics with a novel musical fashion is what I wanted. Mixing the facility, power, and melody of Reggae with the lyricism of hip-hop, creating a robust and distinctive sound units him other than others. He’s the lyrical deity.
The present was at Underground Arts in Philadelphia, it’s the first time being there, and I cherished it. Actually cool smaller venue with superb acoustics. It’s in a basement, however a really cool ambiance. The present was placed on by Delroy Grey’s Whagwaan Tradition, a dynamic occasion promotion and leisure firm. Began in 2005 and based on the ideas of affection, unity, and creativity, this was the proper present for Delroy to placed on. “Our mission is to create areas the place folks can come collectively by music, transcending variations and fostering a way of belonging,” says Delroy. “We imagine within the energy of music to encourage constructive change and construct stronger communities.”
The evening began off with Atlantic Metropolis’s personal SensaMotion, bringing their distinctive reggae/dub sound to the stage. They create nice power to the stage, and the gang feeds off that power. SensaMotion and Kabaka are presently touring with Tribal Seeds and so they made a cease in Philly since Tribal Seeds was not making their method there. SensaMotion sounded nice, they’re a strong band, and Artwork Rivell will not be solely an important singer he’s additionally unbelievable on guitar. However the entire band can throw it down. The gang was vibing to them and having a good time. It was an important opening for Kabaka.
It was time for Keron Salmon aka Kabaka Pyramid, however first, we get a candy musical introduction by The Bebble Rockers, one of many hardest reggae bands on the market in the present day. I’d put Craig “Grizzlebassy” Higgins, Shackair McQueen, Shane “Fyah Keyz” Stone, and Chris Smith up towards nearly any band on the market in the present day. They only completely killed it all the evening, delivering candy riddims, beats, and magic on stage. Kabaka struts on stage and brings us his 2021 hit “Mild It Up.” The gang cheering and so excited for this present. We hear Strain Busspipe’s voice come by the audio system, so we all know we’re getting “Make Manner,” Kabaka’s circulation is simply so tight on this one. He brings us to “Prepared Fi Di Street,” getting the gang waving their arms forwards and backwards, the power is thru the roof from everybody in Underground Arts. Grizzlebassy is a lot enjoyable to look at, not solely dominating the bass line however dancing and having a good time on stage. “Dem system is a pressure and a large number/Me really feel it like a ache inna me chest/The folks want a relaxation/I, really feel like me cyaan breathe/Inna this yah suffocation/The folks dwelling inna sufferation/Me cyaan breathe, me cyaan breathe/When the youths cyaan write and cyaan learn,” flowing from Kabaka, they hit us with an important rendition of “Can’t Breathe,” flowing proper into “Warrior.” This present is on hearth! Kabaka mentioned it was time for a constructive upbeat music, so he brings us his and Chronixx’s music “Mi Alright.” Maintaining with the upbeat constructive vibes, actually involving the gang to hitch in, “Rock Mi Sluggish.”
“Hey, Mr. DJ, play that one once more!” Kabaka shouts to the gang as The Bebble Rockers take us into “Reggae Music.” The gang and I are so entertained by the band, sounding so excellent all evening and conserving everybody rockin’. Maintaining with those self same upbeat constructive grooves we get “Good Up the Dance.” Kabaka sounding so good, and a lot power on stage; dancing, leaping, and grooving all evening lengthy. Like he at all times likes to do, he takes us again to songs, riddims, and artists that influenced him, so it hits us arduous with the “Showtime Riddim” after which a little bit John Holt “Police In Helicopter,” asking the gang to sing together with him; “Police in helicopter, a search fi marijuana/Policemen within the streets, looking out fi collie weed/Troopers within the subject, burnin’ the collie weed.” And that was an ideal transition to “Herb Defender.” He takes us again to Kontraband and brings up “In all places I Go,” and a fully superb guitar solo from Shackair McQueen. Wow! After I hear Nathalia coming by the audio system I do know we’re about to listen to “Stand Up.” I like this music and I simply form of stood there with my cameras on the perimeters feeling this music. This one hit so properly. That is such a becoming music for the instances we live in. Kabaka slows it down for the gang and brings us “Consider,” one other becoming music for our instances, however one I can relate to. He actually hit it with the vocals on this one. Peter Tosh has been an enormous affect on Kabaka so all of us knew we’d be getting “Mystic Man.” His lyrical circulation was superb, it’s as if Peter Tosh have been there on stage guiding him by this journey.
It felt as if the evening was winding down and he introduced us to a music I actually needed to listen to, “Grateful.” One other music I like and one other one which I needed to simply take heed to and soak up. I like the refrain Jemere Morgan brings, only a candy constructive voice and vibe, however then Kabaka is available in so robust together with his lyrical deity circulation. One other WOW second! It was an emotional second for me as a result of I do know I’ve loads to be thankful for. As Kabaka thanks the gang and The Bebble Rockers stroll off stage, the gang begins chanting for extra, because it will get louder they run again on stage for his or her encore. They begin up with “The Revival” and the gang is so completely happy for extra. As soon as once more he will get the gang concerned with “Trample Dem,” and the power remains to be loopy. “Nicely Finished” is subsequent and it gave the impression of all the crowd sang each lyric with Kabaka. We get his hit produced by Damian Marley “Pink Gold and Inexperienced.” This one hit so properly and sounded so good. The band is on level and Kabaka hitting so arduous on the lyrics. The evening was completed off with “The Kalling,” and was an ideal ending to an ideal evening. Maintaining Stephen Marley within the background, The Bebble Rockers have been rockin’ it and once more Kabaka was simply so superb on the mic.
Each time I’ve seen Kabaka stay it has at all times been an important present, however they have been all at festivals on an enormous stage and massive out of doors venue. This, being such an intimate venue, and being proper up on the stage, made this a unique expertise, a close-up expertise, and a greater expertise. You can really feel the power from Kabaka, you might really feel the power from The Bebble Rockers, you might really feel the power from the gang. You felt the love, energy and positivity from Kabaka all evening lengthy. It made for an ideal evening; an evening I’m so completely happy I used to be a part of.
Todd M Judd
Kabaka Pyramid stay in Philly, PA, March 6, 2025
