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.

Native Guns: Ammunition for the Mind

On the advice of one of my students, I ventured to the Elbo Room to see Native Guns on April 2, 2007, in the heart of the Mission District in San Francisco. Native Guns are a politically aware and intelligent Filipino hip-hop duo. MCs Kiwi and Bambu carry the performance with their chemistry and lyrical prowess. Their smooth flow and delivery was heightened as they played off one another's energy and lines. Native Guns had the entire upstairs section of the Elbo Room moving to the beats and rhymes. The group clearly has a very strong following in the Bay Area, which makes sense with the Bay Area's large Filipino population. The group is ironically both political and anti-political in their stances on the war, the President, and the government, railing against all three while spurning the political process at the same time. Ah, the beauty of free speech. While I do not speak tagalog, Native Guns makes me want to so that I can understand their entire message. The group also went through a catalog of early 90s hip-hop hits from the East to the West Coast, which gave a bit of nostalgia for those of use who grew up on that era of rap and a history lesson for those who didn't. Much of mainstream rap is dragged down by materialism, superficiality, misogyny, and general irresponsible content, the awareness and social commentary found in the music of Native Guns is refreshing. Champions of independent hip-hop, Native Guns' social consciousness and intelligent lyrics demand attention and
recognition.