Rebelution w/ J-Boog, The Green, Stick Figure, and Through The Roots
Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA
08.05.16

Another sunny day in Marymoor Park led to a terrific night of roots reggae music for all.

Opener Through the Roots showed great great chemistry and musicality and got the show going with an infectious blend of hard rock and reggae. The sun rays shone through the black mesh around the stage to cast an awesome setting for the band from San Diego.

In between sets, a dog named Coco came to the stage and absolutely charmed the crowd. Donning a purple handkerchief, he stayed on stage until Stick Figure came out. Their songs blended together into one long reggae jam session while Coco kept an eye on the crowd beach balls travelled amongst the patrons.

Two artists from AnamorphisArt.com were doing live paintings throughout the night, adding a constant source of energy and spirit.

The park was transported to the Pacific islands by The Green & J-Boog. Wearing bright island shirts, their sound was even brighter with vibrant rhythms and grooves. Hailing from Hawaii, you would have to be deaf not to hear the island influences in the songs from this crew. Lead singer Caleb Keolanui had a sunny smile as he maneuvered through the band’s library. Halfway through their set, the lauded vocalist, Jerry “J Boog” Afemata, came to the stage and quite simply electrified. For a bigger guy, he hopped around the stage like a jack rabbit, pumping up the crowd with a spirited performance. After the set, everyone was instilled with aloha spirit.

As the sun started to dip behind the tall trees, the big “R” in the middle of the stage lit up and the boys of Rebelution took the stage. The band from Isla Vista, CA have been a mainstay on the festival and roots scene since the mid-2000’s. Their sound has a decidedly fusion feel of roots reggae mixed with funk and R&B, as demonstrated in their funky guitar and bass riffs, as well as their tight horn fills.  The energy of the entire band was palpable and their playful nature only further energized the crowd. They treated everyone to a performance that was musically tight, combined with a dynamic lighting setup; it was almost effortless, which speaks to their experience and refinement in their craft. “Count Me In,” the title track to their most recent album, was absolutely the highlight of the night. The song had a wonderful mix of late 90’s R&B along with modern roots reggae, evoking images of sand, sun, and summer love with its positive lyrics about the human connection.
We may not have too much sun in the Pacific Northwest, and while we have beaches, they are nothing like the tropical paradises we daydream about. However, if you ever want to bring that feeling among the trees of our part of the world, put these bands in a playlist, set up a hammock, and let the reggae flow.

Review and photos by Phillip Johnson

Rebelution w/ J-Moog, The Green, Stick Figure, and Through The Roots