THE WAILERS 25 YEARS AFTER BOB MARLEY

NOW That's REGGAE!

The Wailers...keeping the fiyah burning at the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland Ohio! The crowd was light as expected for a Tuesday night.   The hall was cold and drafty when I walked in. De Sol, a soulful Latin rock band, stoked the embers, ending their set with Santana's Oye Como Va. As the band broke down people started claiming their spots in front of the stage to receive The Wailers. I wasn't expecting much since I had seen them on several occasions in the past couple years, delivering Bob Marley standards and some old, less familiar to some, Wailers tunes. Aside from the crunching organ of Earl 'Wya' Lindo (former keyboardist, Bob Marley and the Wailers) that was truly missed, something seemed a little different. It was different...for this time around they stepped into their honor. By the end of the show I realized they came not just to deliver Bob's legacy of music, but The Wailers music.

Aston Barrett...let me correct myself, Aston 'Familyman' Barrett...the man behind the distinctively roots bass, pumped out his heartbeat all night. As the steady backbone of the Wailers, his bass playfully skipped thru Put It On, commanded attention on The Heathen , and caressed us thru No Woman No Cry. As the bass thumped; the keyboards bubbled; and the drummie dropped it on the one; a guitar wailed sweetly. A woman next to me turned and said "that's some dirty funky guitar playing" and went right back into her groove. She was speaking of none other than Junior Marvin, one of The Wailers original front guitarists, who added sweet flavor to our fiyah all night with roots rhythms. One fan cried out to the band, "Don't stop, don't ever stop!" I knew then the music and the lyrics are still moving spirits today. After returning for an encore lead singer Gary Pine, referring to the fan said, "The people say bring it then we gonna bring it!" The Wailers really brought it, playing few more heavy hitters before Gary did an acoustic version of Redemption Song with the backup vocal harmonies, cooling the audience's energy down. Even then we shouted for more reggae! The crowd was a mixture of young and old school Wailer fans. After all these years, the Wailers still gracefully pleasured their fans with Bob Marley's old songs. You better believe the audience knew the words to every song...sing-along...sing-along!

What some are unaware of is that Bob credited 'Familyman' as the man behind the music, the man who brought the true roots to reggae. I caught up with Aston right before they went on stage. "Why do you call yourself Familyman?"   He politely answered, "I wanted a name of somebody who was in charge, of you know... like keeping the family together." I further questioned him, "Are you answerable to the original sound of the Wailers? "Yes!" Can I quote you on that? "Yes" and he continued with a smile, "you can tell the people you sit down wit Familyman and hit mi up for dat!" "While some fans were already familiar with your contribution to the Wailers more and more are acknowledging and giving great respect to you. How do you feel?" I continued. "I feel honored I played with Bob two years before I started playing, in 1969. I knew Bob before he was Bob and after." After the show while relaxing in the break room with friends and fans Aston oddly sang a little something from Rufus and Chaka Khan's, Tell Me Something Good I'll tell you something, the show was GOOD! The Wailers after all these years are together and tight. 'Familyman' is obviously standing true to his name.

Before the show I had asked Mr. Junior Marvin how it was, after so many years of touring as The Wailers, to still be playing the music. He responded, "Mi love it still," bowing his head and clasping his hands as if in prayer. "Gotta pass it on, keep the fiyah burning!" And that's exactly what The Wailers did, brought the fiyah! Thanks for BRINGING IT! The music is not just Bob's, but yours', and now ours too. Blessings (and hopefully royalties, too) to 'Familyman', Junior Marvin, and the host of new Wailers that helped carry the torch to Cleveland once again.

Peace & Love,

Sojourner Tre