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| Junior Kelly @ SOB's 5/30/02 By Steve Serpiente NEW YORK CITY - Six months
after a car accident in Jamaica nearly killed him, Junior Kelly delivered an uplifting
concert in lower Manhattan, looking fit and healthy. Taking the stage at 12:25 a.m.,
Junior sported traditional Bobo Dread garb: loose fitting white shirt and pants with his
dreads tightly wrapped under a white turban. Performing anthems and hits from
the handful of albums and plethora of 7" singles he has released to date, the tall
singjay commanded an authoritative stage presence with an intensity approaching
that of fellow Bobo artists Sizzla, Anthony B, Capleton and Junior Reid. Backed by a competent four piece
ensemble (bass, drums, guitar and keyboards),as well as two female backup singers, Junior
mesmerized the reggae enthusiasts who packed into the small club. New York's large
Jamaican population was well represented. Among the highlights of Junior's
one hour and 25 minute show were: "Sunshine" (during which he strutted around
stage waving two Ethiopian flags passed to him from the dancefloor); "Good
Tiding" (on which Junior skillfully rode Glen Brown's Youthman riddim); "Love in
All Races;" "Ethiopia" (on which Junior allowed the bassie, guitarist
and keyboardist to showcase their talents on extended solos); About halfway into the set, Junior
acknowledged his "big brush with death" in the late evening hours of November
26, 2001, when a taxi collided with the drivers side of the Honda Accord he was driving.
Kelly suffered several internal injuries as a result of the accident, including punctured
lungs, five broken ribs and a fractured pelvis. He was hospitalized for several days and
then underwent an intensive rehabilitation program. "Thanks to the most high Jah
Rastafari fi nah leave mi children fatherless," Kelly said. The encore consisted of "Clean
Heart" (from the Love So Nice album); "Juvenile" (which appears on the
album of the same name as well as on the Love So Nice release); "Rise" (the
title track of Kelly's 2000 release on the Jet Star label); "Black Woman" (also
from Love So Nice); and "Push a Fire" (from Junior's latest release, Conscious
Voice.) Junior was obviously feeling the spirit during "Juvenile," as his
chanting and facial expressions were reminiscent of those of the great Big Youth in
concert. UK based VC opened with a four
song, 20 minute set which began with the singer laying down fresh lyrics over Bob
Marley's Natural Mystic riddim and was capped with the song synomous with his name,
"By His Deeds." New York's Twin Sounds heated up
the crowd prior to the stage show with some righteous juggling strikingly punctuated by an
array of sound effects including sirens and echoes. Twin Sounds gave heavy play to
conscious new roots tunes by the likes of Everton Blendah, Tony Rebel and Sizzla. SOB's is a classy, smoke friendly
venue similiar to Chicago's House of Blues but about 1/3 the size. Contact reggae addict Steve
Serpiente at serpiente97@yahoo.com |
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