LIVE SHOW Review
Full Moon
and Full House as Midnite plays Denver Reggae Series
Denver Reggae Series feat
Midnite
w/I and I Soundsystem and Lion
SoulJahs
October 15, 2005,
Cervante's Masterpiece ballroom
Story by Matthew Allen
Oct 17, Denver, Co -
Originally scheduled for Quixote’s, overwhelming demand for Midnite at
the latest installment of the ReggaeMovement.com’s
Denver Reggae Series this
past Saturday caused the show to be moved to Cervante’s, Quixote’s
sister venue next door.
“We just felt that due to the
demand leading up to the show, the worst thing we could do is to keep
people from the experience that is
Midnite,” Larry Leiber of Reggae Movement, the show’s organizer,
commented on the events of the night.
“What started off as a show,”
he proceeded, “quickly became an event that everyone will talk about for
a long time. Unexpected and amazing, and save a couple of snags, it was a beautiful show all
around.”
Clear and concise, those
sentiments may be shared by all those who had the opportunity to wait
until past midnight to catch
Midnite, as they were treated to a performance of uniquely subdued revelry which is hardly matched in today’s reggae music.
As Cervante’s filled to near
capacity, the energy slowly grew from the early evening continued
through the
opening acts, I and I Soundsystem and Lion SoulJahs, towards Midnite. A
roots based reggae band from St. Croix,
Midnite has been receiving rave reviews from critics around the
world for their roots based music, producing a certain appeal hardly
found in much of today’s music.
Midnite puts on a powerful,
repetitively monotone show, with subtle and continuing rhythms and sounds based upon the
roots of music itself. With Vaughn Benjamin as the front man, the focus of
solidarity and band togetherness combined to alleviate fans from
emotional ups and downs and lets the crowd settle into the experience
for the next few hours. Rather than a show, the experience of
Midnite is best felt by allowing
the consciousness to soak in from start to finish.
"At first, i thought <Vaugh
Benjamin> was a warm up singer, as i had not seen
Midnite before," commented
Jeff Kuhns of Denver, "but then i realized that he was part of the
experience, combining with the solidarity of the band to provide the
smooth performance and experience, rather than the 'show' one might
expect. Overall, one of the better experiences I've had in music
the past few years."
Playing until nearly 3am,
Midnite provided the crowd with a
semblance of roots, flowing rhythms, snaky bass lines, and a powerful
performance before leaving abruptly, letting their performance speak for
itself.. Easy on the ears,
Midnite was a solid tight band capable of impressing the most
discernable of critics to rejoice in their conscious and spirituality
delivered through music.
Lion SoulJahs, Denver’s most
recognizable reggae band, opened the show with some difficulty due to
some sound issues, one of the only complaints anyone would have on this
beautiful night of roots reggae music. I and I Soundsystem roots rocked
the crowd with a mix of eclectic and popular reggae music from today to
yesteryear. “I had no idea who these guys were,” one dedicated fan
commented, “but I tell you, some of the best music I’ve heard in a
while.”
The
Denver Reggae Series
is a cognitive approach by ReggaeMovement.com to methodically bring
Reggae Music to the fans of Denver, Colorado. Seeking to expose
Reggae for the variety and beauty that it both holds and gives, the
organizers plan to provide everyone with the widespread and
diverse genre that has become reggae in today's modern world.
Former performances include Steel Pulse on June 25, and The Itals both
in August and on Feb 4th, Marley Gras! Reggaemovement.com's Bob Marley
Birthday Celebration.
Story by Matthew Allen
for ReggaeMovement.com
Comments can be sent to
ReggaeMovement
