Michael Rose & Pyrex

Bare with me, Chico. I was looking for a thrifty way into the show and this review was my ticket in — although I knew the show would be worth the price of admission. The night was bitterly cold and I was wishing I was in my bed in the deep state of REM. Instead, I was sitting in my truck in the Chevy’s parking lot building a fat spliff to get my head open. As I eased out of the vehicle, shoved out by the cloud of ganja smoke, I bumped into the Don Dadda himself Michael Rose and we exchanged big ups as he went into LaSalle’s. I peeped the show late and missed the opening band, Pyrex. I was told they were energetic and gave out some energy to hype up the crowd. Before, between and after the sets Virgo High Power Sound played some wicked selections of Reggae on the wheels of steel for added pleasure.
Michael has been a strong force in reggae music since his first song release in 1972 with “Clap the Barber” and “Guess Who’s Coming To Dinner,” and has kept it nothing less than real, whether dealing with music or life. Michael got his career started in the Water House district of Jamaica before he was down with Black Uhuru, influencing others like Jr. Reid and forwarding what is known today as the Water House Sound. When Michael joined with Sly and Robbie Black, Uhuru blew up on the reggae scene, and went on to lay wicked tracks such as “Shine Eye Gal” and “Sponji Reggae.” Uhuru was the most predominate reggae sound of the ‘80s and kept the conscious music alive after Bob Marley wasn’t around physically, earning a Grammy Award for the album Anthem during the ‘80s, and though the band has broken up, he is still at it.
Michael got the crowd going with the first song “Stalk Of Sensei” and ran upon the 4:20 vibes with “Draw The Weed” and “Ganja Bonanza.” Michael did a great job of delivering some favorite Black Uhuru songs like “Solidarity” and “Abortion” and some of his solo music like “Too Short Temper” and “Shine Eye Gal.” As always, Michael gave out mad energy to the crowd with his power plant voice and his purely original style. One look into the crowd and you could see everybody shaking and grooving. By the looks of it, Michael seemed to be having a ball too, which is why it was a f show. As usual, Rose played a long set that was energetic the whole time and gave the crowd what they came for. Michael’s songs are messages of consciousness, songs that radiate living life within love. To me, Michael is one of Reggae’s most charismatic singers today. Side note for those who wondered, Uhuru means freedom in Swahili. To check out more Reggae in Chico, peep the U-Bar on Sunday nights from 9 p.m. till close. DJ Meadow Lark, Devastation Sound and Virgo High Power will be there spinning records for you and yours. For all those weak Reggae lovers (Brandon Gordy) who couldn’t shell out 12 bucks, ya missed out.
– Masud Wiggins
– photo by Myles Stenger

Bookmark:

Comments down for maintenance.