Hollywood "bowl"

Wendy and I went to the Hollywood Bowl last night. Our friend Julia invited us, and we knew that (1) she has killer seats, (2) it was Reggae Night with an awe-inspiring lineup, and (3) her bento boxes always inspire the envy and compliments from neighbors.


Here's a view looking up from Julia's box seats. There was one other box between us and center stage.


Wailing Souls went on first. The band has recorded with Coxsone Dodd and King Jammy and backed up Sly & Robbie and The Roots Radicals. Up front were four microphones for three old dreadlocked dudes and one younger guy. I wonder if the youngest guy started off as a little kid? Or is he a replacement? They played a strong set of roots songs, including "War," capped off with a cover of "Hey Hey Goodbye."


Julia, John, and the bento showed up about halfway through the set. They had come all the way from the South Bay. Not an easy drive.


Wendy and I are always blown away by the presentation and quality of the food, but John probably sees it every day!


Sly and Robbie were next. The drum and bass playing duo did an incredible job of replicating dub in a live set. They'd set up a groove, then start to tweak it--slow it down, speed it up, turn it inside out. Sly Dunbar had this unique echoing drumming technique and Robbie Shakespeare really cranked up the bass to outer-space proportions. I'd like to see him jam with Mike Watt and Bootsie. (Maybe Cliff Burton, too.) They were really low key, though, and happy to stay in back doing rhythm. No showboating or anything. The job of the rhythm guys is pretty much to keep things moving--not be the star--and they did it.


They sure know how to pick a front person, too. Cherine Anderson had the full package, with an amazing voice and stage presence. She came out with "Redemption Song" and pretty much killed it through the remainder of the set. Is she a star yet?

Unfortunately, Horace Andy didn't make sing due to visa problems... At least I got to see him with Massive Attack last year.


Burning Spear was the headliner, and the Rastaman played a long set of roots. He had a cool style of taking tiny steps around as if he were saving his strength and then breaking out into fast, Snoopy-style foodwork or rocking out at the bongos. I liked how he stuck the taped-up mic in his back pocket between verses, too.

Marcus Garvey + Bob Marley = Burning Spear.

Thanks, Julia and John and new friends from Blackout!