On Wednesday night, the reggae powerhouse the Wailers played to a packed house at the Student Union Ballroom. The Wailers, a ten-piece band, is comprised of three musicians from the original Wailers band who performed with Bob Marley before his untimely death in 1981. By the huge crowd that they pulled in and the music that they made it is obvious that they are carrying on in his spirit.
Lead singer Gary “Nesta” Pine certainly casts a likeness to Marley, with his performance style and smooth, Rasta-fied voice. As for the music, I was unsure coming in if we were going to be delighted with the wonderful music of the Wailers of old, or if we were there to just see a very good reggae band. I am glad to say that we got both.
The show opened slowly with a smooth, jazzy jam highlighting the great skills of original member Al Anderson on guitar. His strong, wailing solos throughout the night added a new dimension to this type of music, which cannot be heard from listening to an album. We are introduced to the raspy voice of “Nesta” from the start as he laid down, “This is Reggae Music” with two “soulful sisters” on back-up vocals. Next came a smattering of old Marley favorites as the band gracefully worked through a grooving “Trenchtown Rock,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Rebel Music” and “Natty Dread.” These songs were cut very similar to the album versions with a little soloing segment, especially noticeable on “Natty.”
After a little sarcastic anti-ganja message to the college crowd of about 1300 by “Nesta,” the Wailers ended their set with another trifecta of Marley classics with “Stir It Up,” “No Woman, No Cry” and “Jamming.” Towards the end of the show, the band allowed the crowd to get involved with the music as the lead singer went back and forth chanting the lyrics with the crowd.
After a quick break, the band returned onstage for the encore which began with a spirited “Redemption Song” dedicated to Haile Selassie, an Ethiopian Emperor who was a strong advocate for Black Rights and equality. To end the show, the band whipped out a great rendition of “Get Up, Stand Up,” which ended the show on a very high note. I am extremely glad that this show was well attended, as I have seen many shows in the area falter. This success can be attributed to the hard work and solid planning of UPC, who should be applauded.
