Ryan ChartrandA reggae show seldomly sells out at Downtown Brewing Co. It’s not too often that a tribute show – and one without an opener at that – can achieve the status of a sell-out show. But this is just what Sonoma-based Groundation did with its Bob Marley tribute last Friday.
“We’ve been doing the Bob tribute shows since 2000; it’s just tradition,” said David Chachre, the band’s trumpeter and complimentary percussionist. “I was originally hired on to do only the Bob tribute shows, but then was asked to join the band permanently afterward. It worked out rather (nicely).”
“It has to do with our and everyone’s love for the music itself,” added Harrison Stafford, the band’s main vocalist and lead guitarist. “My style of singing is quite similar to Bob’s because of his influence on me, and I do my best to honor his phrasing and approach to every note.
“Our styles are so alike in terms of texture that we only feel it appropriate to do tribute shows to him; we could do a Peter Tosh tribute show, for instance, but it would be hard due to the diversity of styles.”
It was evident by the crowd jumping and dancing that the audience enjoyed Groundation’s approach to Marley’s music. The band’s gratitude for the crowd’s energy was also quite apparent, with Stafford taking the time to shake hands and give hugs to all who wanted them after the show.
The band’s set consisted of “a list of Marley classics spanning his entire musical career from 1961-1981,” according to the band’s Web site, and focused on such masterpieces as “Small Axe,” “Exodus,” “No Woman No Cry” and “Mr. Brown.”
These songs, and Groundation’s accompanying additional stylings, left the crowd cheering for more after the completion of its second set.
Most thought that the roar of applause that continued for almost two minutes after the band left couldn’t possibly get any louder.
This notion proved wrong, however, with the deafening thunder of approval that came from the crowd when the band reassumed the stage for its 20-plus minute encore. It was enough to leave everyone’s ears ringing for the rest of the night.
The humidity level inside the venue reached Amazonian jungle-like proportions when Stafford and the two female vocalists danced the span of the stage throughout the encore, encouraging the audience to follow suit.
“Yeah, I don’t know how those guys can dance like that,” said Chachre, shaking his head in disbelief. “It serves to get the crowd more into it, which is the good thing, but it puzzles me how they can do it for over 20 minutes in a venue like that.”
The essence of Marley’s cause and music permeated the venue for the entire set, as Stafford dedicated songs to the reggae great before performing them. He also got the crowd to cheer loudly to remember Marley.
“‘If each one could teach one, then everyone would learn something’ – remember that one, man,” remarked concert patron Steven Mandala as he passed by, reciting the lyrics to one of Marley’s more timeless songs. “You gotta spread it some way, dude.”
The band got its own face time in the show as well, splashing in its own brand of reggae with solos in the midst of Marley’s songs and having each band member give a solo during the encore.
The band frequently tours with guest musicians, and was joined this time by jazz guitar legend Will Bernard, who still rocked the venue despite being ill.
Bernard’s latest album, “Party Hats,” was nominated for the 2008 Grammys’ Album of the Year award, but jazz legend Herbie Hancock took the honor. Still, Bernard managed to find solace that it was Hancock who took the honors.
“I mean, if I’m going to get beaten by anybody, it’s great that it would be Herbie Hancock,” he said. “After all, if it weren’t for him I’d probably have had nowhere to start.”