Show Review by Puravida

TRIBUTE TO THE LEGENDS, SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA - February 18, 2008.

I had not been this excited for a show since Knaan and the Marley brothers visited San Diego a year and a half ago. The lineup for this 2008 Reggae fest contained both legends and up-and-comers highlighted by: Gregory Isaacs, Don Carlos, Barrington Levy, Culture, Cultura Profetica, and the much anticipated headliner - Alpha Blondy.

The festival, formerly known as Bob Marley Day, pays homage to arguably the most "conscious" musician ever who has left an indelible mark on modern music. This annual show is performed in recognition of the lionized leader of a musical, spiritual, and political explosion that still reverberates more than two decades after his death.

The show itself was a roller coaster of near chaos, great music, and disappointment... in that order. I'll take it chronologically.

I rolled to the show with a little 23 y/o hottie across the street, 2 of her friends, and my boy, Nate, who came down from LA for the festivities. We sparked admirable-sized spliff over-looking the pacific and were on our way. We pull into the sports arena parking lot, and Sarah's two friend go to pick up there tix at will call while she, Nate, and I walk across the street to pull money from the gas station ATM before entering. Our Internet-purchased tix are in my pocket... but not for long.

In Shane-esque stoner fashion, I then slice my finger off. Nah, I'm just fucking with y'all. I take out the tickets and my money clip, set the tix on the ATM machine, insert card, complete transaction, put cash in pocket, leave tickets on ATM maching, and turn and walk away. Not until we reach the entrance does my stoned ass realize the tickets are not in my pocket. We had no idea where they were. You can imagine how infuriated Nate and Sarah are with me at this point. I try to blame it on Sarah, but the look she gives me only says, "My lips will never touch your penis again." So, we start re-tracing our steps in desperation. Back to the car. Inside-out full search reveals no tickets. Back to the gas station, scanning the ground the entire way (my hoodie pocket had a hole in it and this was the primarily suspected means of escape). About 40 min later, we arrive at the gas station de nuevo with fading hopes of recovery. As we approach the ATM machine, I immediately recognize the the folded sheets of yellow paper from my office printer which decorated that cash dispenser like an angel on top of a christmas tree! Recovery baby! Miraculous grounds for celebration and an incredibly humbling shot at my intoxicated mental capacity.

Consequence: We completley missed Cultura Profetica. Upside: Still a great lineup of reggae music and our spirits were back.

As we walked through the gate, first glimpse of the stage revealed Gregory Isaacs jamming "if you want to be my #1" in front of a backdrop of lions and red, black, gold, and green everywhere. Definitely a tight set-up. However, the venue as a whole was disappointing. This show needed to be performed outdoors. I have never been in space this large that was so densly smoked out. It was so hot-boxed in there, I would rate visibility at about 50 yards. Remember how Sho's eyes would start to narrow and he would just kinda chill out a bit while sitting at the scrabble table at 607 while the blunt circled him? Well, Sho would have been laying on the floor searching for any two-letter word he could get upon entering this joint.

The next four hours were amazing. Highlights and songs you need to check out...

If you have not listened to Culture, you MUST check these guys out!! They were the best of the day BY FAR! Listen to these ridiculous beats from Culture:
- Garvey
- Sweet Freedom
- Humble African
- Vacancy
- Holy Mt. Zion

Don Carlos:
- Natty Dread Have Him Credential
- Hog and Goat
- Oh Girl

Gregory Isaacs:
- Storm
- Night Nurse
- My Number One

Steel Pulse:
- Steppin Out
- Worth His Weight in Gold (Rally around the red, gold, blk, & grn)
- Chant a Psalm

Barrington Levy:
- Teach The Youths

Max Romeo:
- Socialism

The Melodians:
- Rivers of Babylon (They weren't there... covered by various artists)

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE DAY... No Alpha Blondy. Extreme bummer.

Second biggest bummer of day. No David Pendergast. Our phx compadre was missed gets a definite pass excusing his absence b/c we at SGLLP clearly understand the demanding obligations our profession often springs at the 11th hour.

In conclusion, it was a great show, but did not even come close to fulfilling expectations.

Recommendation, SGLLP representative must travel internationally to catch Alpha Blondy en vivo and remedy the tragic ending to SD Reggaefest 2008.

out...