Toots and the Maytals Rock the Warfield

Toots Hibbert's reggae career spans from before there was reggae to 40 years later, yet his ability to put on a great show endures. On April 14, 2007, Toots and the Maytals rocked the Warfield in San Francisco for over a hour and a half. Toots did sing "Do the Reggay," which is the song credited with the invention of the term "reggae." He also sang almost every song a long-time fan would want to hear. My personal favorites were included in the show, especially "Monkey Man," "Funky Kingston," and "Take Me Home Country Roads." Yes, he did perform "54-46 Was My Number," which is not only a staple song in his catalog, but also a staple at a Toots and the Maytals concert. The latter track is of course a cover of the late John Denver's hit, but with a Jamaican twist. The acoustics at the Mezzanine were extremely good, which translated into clear, quality sound (my wife commented that this was the first show she didn't need earplugs). When he is not singing, the majority of the time Toots spends on the stage is done dancing. This reggae veteran not only knows how to move to the reggae riddims, he still shines as a vocalist and reggae legend. The next time he tours your area, make sure you put his show on priority.