Reggae Marathon was a mix of disorganization and Roots Rock Reggae that brought tears of emotion!

On December 14, the roots of reggae invaded the Anhembi in S\u00e3o Paulo. Leading this heavyweight cast of national reggae were two of the most important names in Roots Rock Reggae: the veteran Peter Broggs and the band that proves in every lyric that true Reggae Roots is more alive than ever... Midnite. Of course the masters of the night were left for the end of the party, but the start of the Marathon was well filled by the main national reggae bands such as: Leões de Israel, Rasta Joint, Djambi, Macucos, Reggae Style, and others. Planta&Raiz and Adão Negro also made an appearance. But one of the main characters of Saturday night at the Anhembi was certainly the downpour that fell mercilessly. Ask: Did anyone give up? Of course not... proving that the soul of the Brazilian reggaer, besides being faithful, is "waterproof". What everyone is tired of knowing, and I do not know why they insist on it, is that "mixing things up" at the level of organization is equal to chaos and heated tempers, just remember the controversy around the 2001 Tribute to Bob Marley. Not enough with these confusions, names such as Edson Gomes, Mystical Roots and Dionorina did not play. Dionorina was even going to play for free because of the financial mess around the event, but was prevented by the "magnates". Tribo de Jah, much awaited by the public, also missed. In short, the event needed good reasons to be saved. And it had them. The national bands fulfilled their role with competence and left the ground prepared for the lords of the night. Spotlights on the bands Leões de Israel, Reggae Style and Rasta Joint. Heavy national reggae, both in lyrics and arrangements. This time, Rasta Joint (MG) played without Charleston Reis, Charlin, who was a striking figure on stage. He currently works in Roraima and left the band... we hope temporarily. Bulldog, the bassist, took over the vocals, and with the beautiful voices of Fernandinha and Neguinha at the back, tracks from the cd "União" and even a song by Rita Marley energized the crowd present.

PETER BROGGS

The rain giving a hint of truce, we left the two stages of the Marathon for a while to check Leo Vidigal from Massive Reggae interviewing Peter Broggs (photo). Sharing life lessons, humility and great simplicity, Peter posed for photos with everyone who wanted (photo), and even voiced into the recorder mic. Even with low light, we had to capture that moment (video). Djambi was performing and warming up to share the stage with Mr. Broggs, whom they were chosen to be the backing band. With the Brazilian flag in his hands throughout the show (photo), "Jah Voice is Calling" paid tribute to the house, showing that the performance would be magical. Peter Broggs manages to mesmerize the audience with his songs and stage presence. Djambi accompanies the Man with mastery. "International Farmer" was another stone that set the crowd on fire. Thirty minutes of deep travel, and that feeling of "will it be worth it?" is turned to dust. Planta&Raiz performed their set properly, as expected, but everyone waited for the Roots Rock Reggae of Midnite. The only thing that was "a little different" in Planta's show were some insults from a young man at the foot of the stage. Zeider sent a message that was later directed to the subject. Kiko, the band's manager, gestured to the agitator and the situation was controlled. Rain, turmoil, quarrels, absences, in short, add it all together... Ready? Ron, Dion Hopkins, Philip Merchant, Abijah and Vaughn Benjamin ran over that and much more. Midnite dominates the stage.

MIDNITE

The roots embed themselves... at the very least chilling. "The Race so Far", "Pay Gone", "Hieroglyphics", and other hits made the Anhembi shiver with Midnite's humility, simplicity and power. Ron, the band's keyboardist, did not stop for a minute, no wonder, the sound that played was "Rasta to the Bone" (video). Electric on stage, he even sang a song alone (photo). And the drums? Do you know what it is to feel your heartbeats surrender to the rhythm of Roots Reggae beats? That is how we felt seeing the focused Dion Hopkins less than two meters away (photo). Abijah, the band's guitarist, shows that simplicity and friendliness are the prime ingredients to assume such a position (photo). Philip Merchant, the bassist, was one who did not lose concentration (photo), even with the delicious rowdiness of the members of Reggae Style, and other 40 people who watched the show without problems on the stage itself. It is worth remembering that a band from our own soil prevented some photographers from doing their job, "privileging" only some guests with access, quite contradictory to the so involving philosophy and magic of the moment. Now a special shout to Vaughn Benjamin (photo). The vocal that brings an energy... a special image. His expression, both bodily and facial, is so transparent and integral that it provokes a "feeling of hope...". Lyrics filled with messages and lessons that are so simple to understand and apply that sometimes leave us with an air of "Why do not I do this?". Neither the organization pressing to end the show, nor some disgruntled security guards in performing their role to the end, could prevent the incredible 90 minutes of spectacle that we had the privilege of witnessing. Those who went saw, heard, felt and above all were moved on the day when one man from Hanover and five more guys from St. Croix showed us that living, besides a gift, is to have humility and respect... things that unfortunately, once again, the "magnates" showed they do not have. Roots Rock Reggae prevailed and Haile Selassie must have been proud of those who absorbed all the magic present. Irie!

IMAGES OF THE EVENT

 Check out the photos from this great event.

MULTIMEDIA

Click here to see the band Midnite with "Ras to the Bone". Click here to see Peter Broggs with the clip of "Cease the War".