Last Night, Boulder's Fox Theater was blessed with the prescence of one of reggae music's superstars, Capleton.

 

It was an interesting night to say the least, for when we arrived at the fox, there was this band on stage playing something, that, doesn't really fit into any musical genre at all. Especially the Reggae genre. That was weird, to show up at a capleton concert to find some band thrashing on stage……

 

After they were done, an actual reggae band took the stage. None other than "The Jah Family Band" came on and played a solid One hour set, starting out with the classic medley style, they began to rinse tunes one after the other like clock work. After getting us ready for more, they gave us "The Taxi" and we all had a nice ride in there, After taking everyone down memory lane, the lead singer "Jus Goodie" initiated the Ganja segment of their set, so as not to leave out all of the ganja loving bredren and sistren, then appropriatley launching "The Revolution" with a wicked rendition of the D.Brown Classic. They closed their set with some more original tunes, that probobly could have been left out of their set, since they kind of lost the steam they had built up in the previous 45 minutes, All in all The Jah Family Band is tight, they play hard, authentic reggae.

 

They finished their set, and it was time for the main attraction to start!

 

Taking the stage at this time was the "Prophecy" band, one of "the best" reggae groups ever. They were joined by the legendary percussionist "Bongo Herman". Bongo is a percussionist who has played on more reggae albums then anybody. Hundreds and hundreds of recordings have the original "Bongo Herman on them and it was a privledge to have him present. Bongo also worked as the evening' MC and after a short introduction, he brought on stage, the first artist, Moses I.

 

Moses I is a singer from the "David House" crew, and part of capletons bobo entourage who opened the set "RED", and led to people into a frenzy of call and response, singing his lyrics back and forth. A concious rasta bredren, Moses I took time out to tell us that he "is a life supporter" and wanted to know, "What are we going to do about the children?" and then led the crowd in a melodic chanting of "LOVE"

 

He finished his set with a historical account of Jamaica, in his accapella rendition of a tune called "Rainbow Valley", It’s a crucial song, where by he encourages everyone to "Visit Jamaica" and come the the "Rainbow Valley"

 

Bongo Herman back on stage again, didn't waste any time bringing out the next act, JAH THUNDAH Jah Thundah is also out of the David House camp, and officially ignitied the fire that was to burn throughout the evening.

 

Burning everything from corruption to sodomites, Jah Thundah was hardcore, and he also seemed as if he had been burning the fire with one too many Heineken's back stage. None the less, The prophecy band busted out the "Mad Ants" riddim and Jah Thundah tore it to shreds, before leading into his big tune "Nah ave no fear", the people loved it and he finished with his hit tune "True True"

 

O.k.

Bongo Herman hits center stage and announces that capleton is next, the crowd goes crazy and bongo herman starts us off by playing  "Rastaman Chant" on his nyabinghi drum and the whole crowd sang along with him. Suddenly, the band breaks into the opening set and the show is ON! You begin to hear "The Prophet" from backstage and the excitement has reached its peak! You can hear capleton chanting "Burn Dem", "Buuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuurnnnnn DEEEEEEEEEEEM!"and he begins to "Burn fire on de slave master" and proclaim that its "Life we promote"

 

He enters the stage wearing a Silver w/Black velvet outfit with matching shoes! A crucial entrance, he opens with "Jah Jah City" everyone knows the words and he starts his trademark routine, letting the crowd sing out all the lyrics while he grins onstage, watching everyone sing his tunes. Capleton is well known for his signature command "MORE FYAH" which he commands the whole crowd to repeat after him.

 

The concept comes from a philosophy called "Word, Sound, Power", meaning that the "words" you use, and the "sound" they possess, have "Power" in creation and in the universe, and capleton is a firm believer in the power of his words.  In "Mashin up de world", it’s a hearfelt ballad that allows the power of capletons philosophy and intention to begin and after he is through, he begins to "Slew Dem" on the wicked "Bellyas" riddim, again, the PROPHECY band is soooo wicked onstage, and after the bellyas, Prophecy hands out a heaping helping of "Rice and Peas" and capleton sings "Why" on top. SAY MORE FYAH!

 

Next is the ladies segment, where capleton states "Pure Fat Woman we a go Cock up"

and sings "Baby don't cry no more, Wasted Days", into "Good in Her Clothes"

Back into the conciousness, its "Stand Tall" and the crowd errupts! The real alms house starts now, when they play a medley of Can't sleep ah night, Heathen Rage,Dis the Trinity,Tour,and Wings of the Morning. He leaves the stage in a fury, with everyones lighter ablaze in the crowd. When he returns, Wings of the morning starts again, and he creates a rendition of "Where you gonna Run", singing, "Yu gonna run to de rocks for rescue,but the rocks will be no rocks" and then "RAGGY ROAD" on the Satta Amassaganna riddim.

 

After a brief pause, he ignites another "Fire" and starts an Accapella of lyrics, speaking of everything from billions of nukes, to love goes out to all, and that rastafari is the ultimate. He ends this segment by telling everyone "No one can teach you anything that you teach yourself"

 

The band starts again, this time, with the capleton anthem "Stay Far" imploring everyone to stay far away from the corruption and iniquity in the world today, if you can. Again he went accapella and it was crucial. Repeating his lyrics twice and making it very clear for everyone inside to hear the knowledge and wisdom that the prophet came to share with boulder colorado that night. The crowd participation during this particular segment was epic, with the help of one particular Air Horn, wielded by my good bredren Brock Landers!

 

With an energy only possessed by Capleton alone, it was time to enter the "Danger Zone" , "Livin' on the battlefieeeeellllld!" and without stopping, went right into "Critics" and Prophecy brought out their big "M16" then "Eyes of the Beholder".

 

"where I come from, We have the Rooster and The Hen, Woman with Man, Man with Woman, not cock with cock, man and man, woman and woman and lesbian" He Proclaimed "I come from a Homophobic Country" and then played out the "bun out the chi chi" where he says "batty dem a fuck and a suck too much pussy", an he makes it all too clear that homosexuals,lesbians,etc., are considered sodomites and parasites, are not accepted and and that he is going to burn them all up with his "Badness".

 

Onto "Fyah" a huge hit for capleton in the dancehall, he brings out "Jah Thundah" in combination and they break it down hard.  After Jah thundah, Moses I comes onstage to sing another capleton blockbuster called "Crazy"

 

They all leave the stage. Bongo herman aggitates the crowd into chearing their heads off for the prophet to come back!

 

I must take this time out to recognize how loud the crowd at the fox was last night, I salute you all.  He did come back out.  Came back out playing "More Dem ah go Fight" and broke it down to everyone that the more dem a go fight, is the more we get stronger, and the more them try fe test we are the more we live longer, cant cool, the fire gets reddah!

 

A tribute to "The Gong" was next, and the Prophecy band started "Forever Loving Jah" and capleton recited his original lyrics on the riddim like no one but capleton can. It was an amazing rendition and one I will never forget. With this segment, he took time with each band member, starting the guitarist, bassist, keys, drummer, over to Bongo Herman, who had this whole table of sounds,percussives,bells,chimes,etc, and they went off together, and finally, the crowd, all clapping in time with his lyrics.

 

He leaves the stage again, and Bongo drives the crowd into a frenzy again!  After an exhaustable set, he returns AGAIN!  Going back in time, Prophecy starts playing the "Punanny" and capleton sings this rapid fire medley of hits from "Everybody needs somebody, dem no like we (and we no like dem), Bad Mind,Number One Upon de look good chart,Lotion, and Alms House! and Straight into the StreetSweeper riddim so that he could continue his "Mission"

 

The Ganja came out next, and capleton played us an exclusive version of "Highest Grade"

Freestyling over the riddim, he was spitting out lyrics left and right, unlike anything he  ever recorded in the studio, busting out lyrics from Bob Marley,Jacob Miller,Peter Tosh, and Sizzla. They then brought the house down warm, and easy, and proceeded to lullaby all of the ladies in the place with "In your Eyes".

 

Still not satisfied to leave the stage, they closed the night with "Ystic in the clouds" and again, filled the tune with nuff freestyle,adlib,improv lyrics, again giving boulder an exclusive session inside the fox theater.

 

It was a night to remember, and after all this I only have one question.

"Where was sweet sweet Cocoa Tea?"

 

Preshah