Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've heard about them and listened to them, but last Thursday I saw them. Man they blew my fucking mind. They are the best reggae band I have ever seen. I read an article that they are on the Billboard charts in Guam, which is pretty wierd. Anyways just curious if any of you guys know them, or seen them, they are form Missouri like myself.

i don't know about that. I actually think they are kinda lame. Bob Marley and Peter Tosh wouldn't be to happy about it i don't think. especially, the signing with the fake accents. Exactly, they are from missouri. Also, do you think they actually believe in Jah, or know who Ras Tafari is? I think it is interesting that white americans want to portray themselves as Rastafarians, when they don't have any idea what its about. It is sad that people, like this band and SOJA, have for all intents and purposes, robbed a culture and religion and used it for commercial purposes. Now, it is important that i explain reggae is a wonderful genre of music, and it is not that i think white people shouldnt play reggae. It is just that i think they should keep they're real accents, and not try and be jamaican. furthermore, they shouldn't name themselves JAH roots, when they are the furthest thing from Jah's roots, and an oppressed ex-african slave population. Jah's roots are in ethiopia, not missouri. But to each is own i guess. I just think it is lame that's all.
Also, if you are looking for a good reggae band to go see a band called Midnite. they are great

Damn I never thought of it like that. You bring up some very good points man. You sound well educate din that department. I just had such a good time there, and enjoyed their music extensivley. I did not analyze all that stuff, but I see were your coming from. But what about all the people who are in dead cover bands, and try to sound like Bob or Jerry, thats not their real voice? Just playing a little Devil's advocate.

Never heard the aforementioned BUT if I were to start a reggae band (which I am doing now actually), and I could sound jamaican then I would totally go for that sound. Leave religion and all that jazz out of it man, Its just music.

Thanks Blob. I totaly agree. You don't have to live the actual life to make the music. It's just all about good vibes, and good music, no need to get all politically correct about it.

yeah THE foundation and biggest part of traditional rasta culture is hatred of the white man. Thats why i almost pee my self when i see a white kid in green, red and yellow "rasta" clothes and dreeds.

BlobWeird wrote:Never heard the aforementioned BUT if I were to start a reggae band (which I am doing now actually), and I could sound jamaican then I would totally go for that sound. Leave religion and all that jazz out of it man, Its just music.

i wouldnt want to listen to any kind of music without religion and all that jazz, well i could give or take reliogion , but all that jazz is the reason i listen to music

Though I am unfamiliar with Jah Roots, Candyman mentioned Midnite, and I'd agree that they are good. They're from St. Croix, if I'm not mistaken, so sometimes it can be a bit difficult to get their stuff.

However, my favorite band in this vein of music would be "Groundation." They're a Bay Area band, and Harrison Stafford (the lead singer) taught a course on the history of Reggae at Sonoma State University from 1999 to 2001. When he sings, he takes on an accent/growl, and I personally enjoy it. I recommend checking them out. I only wish they'd tour on the east coast more often.

Jah Roots music & message are about one love, no religion, not rasta, not christian, nothing, just PURE LOVE FOR ALL PEOPLES & CULTURES set to a reggae beat.
No fake jamaican accents, which is clear if you listen to their music, watch 1 interview on youtube or listen to any radio interview they do or just talk to them in person.
Just 6 guys from the midwest promoting LOVE & UNDERSTANDING and yet still getting bashed daily by people who have not really done the research on the band. Please read their bio, lyrics in the blogs on their myspace for their new album "JOY" which coincidentally contains 2 tracks Featuring Junior Marvin from BOB MARLEY & THE WAILERS.
Reggae isnt about hating white people AT ALL, its about spreading a message of one love and one understanding of all peoples and cultures regardless of race, check the Selassie speech/Bob Marley song "War" lyrics !!
By the way Jah Roots & Groundation have worked together in Washington DC where they recorded their new album at Lion & Fox Studios also where Midnite has recorded a few of their albums along with many other world reggae bands from every race & culture embracing the message of one love !! Reggae is huge worldwide, being played and listened to by all colors and all cultures. Check out Gentleman in Germany, Gondwana in Chile, Alpha Blondy out of the Ivory Coast, Katchafire from New Zealand, I could list a million because there is conciouss positive reggae all over the world and people of all colors love it because it is a positive message.
Not trying to start any shit just wanna stand up for my boys and let people know they are good people and not the stereotype everyone keeps making them out to be.
Thanks

fupa wrote: Reggae isnt about hating white people AT ALL

ummm, did someone mention that or did you infer that from the previous posts?

ker1227 wrote:yeah THE foundation and biggest part of traditional rasta culture is hatred of the white man. Thats why i almost pee my self when i see a white kid in green, red and yellow "rasta" clothes and dreeds.

yup right here

yeah, missed that, either way he is talking about rastafari and not reggae (those the two came to be closely tied)

i'm also going to have to disagree with his statement. more of a mindset to embrace all things african rather than hating white people

steve wrote:yeah, missed that, either way he is talking about rastafari and not reggae (those the two came to be closely tied)

i'm also going to have to disagree with his statement. more of a mindset to embrace all things african rather than hating white people

Yup...Hating white people just comes with the territory of being an oppressed nation, along with slavery. The real religion behind it has nothing to do with that. Either fuckin way though, music is music, its NOTES people. Thats it! Not fuckin religion or anything else. Sorry but religion really should not play a part in music. Maybe I say this because I dont believe but still. Id be pretty pissed if I was in the band Jah Roots right now and read this post.

Yeah, so i agree. religion should not play a part in their music. however, they did name themselves, JAH Roots, which would imply, at the most basic, a religious tone. Jah, is of course, a shortened version of jehovah. Therefore, their name, purposefully or not, would imply a religious oriented tone. Again, i am not saying that white guys shouldn't play reggae music. I a m just saying that naming your band JAH roots is clearly a misinterpretation. Thats all. Six white guys from central missouri cannot be JAh's roots. It is fundamentally impossible.

Candyman1984 wrote:Yeah, so i agree. religion should not play a part in their music. however, they did name themselves, JAH Roots, which would imply, at the most basic, a religious tone. Jah, is of course, a shortened version of jehovah. Therefore, their name, purposefully or not, would imply a religious oriented tone. Again, i am not saying that white guys shouldn't play reggae music. I a m just saying that naming your band JAH roots is clearly a misinterpretation. Thats all. Six white guys from central missouri cannot be JAh's roots. It is fundamentally impossible.

I definitely see your point here. I agree and all but I dont think they meant it that way. I think they prolly just thought it sounded like a cool name.