Culture drops the stones at DirecTV Music Hall in an emotional show! Check it out!

On October 9, at DirectV Music Hall in São Paulo, heavy tunes rolled freely at a simply unforgettable show. It's hard to resist that opening — the emotion is still very present, since we're writing this article at exactly 3:48 AM. Let's contain ourselves and do our "homework." Scheduled to start at 9:00 PM, DirectV Music Hall wasn't as packed as we had imagined, perhaps because it was a Thursday... perhaps because of the heavy afternoon rain or, more certainly, because of the 50-real ticket. With opening act Planta & Raiz, the event was already shaping up for what was to come. We ran into the folks from NetMusic, a site with vast music content and many videos. We even caught a bit of the filming explaining what Surforeggae is and how it came about. With a flawless show, Planta does, as always, its job very well, presenting the new songs that were well received by the audience present. These songs are from the new CD, the band's second, which is in the final stages of production. The band's already established songs were also part of the show and the crowd's chorus. Zeider and his striking performance (photo) made the show flow harmoniously to its end. Now the energy begins to emerge. The living legend of Roots Rock Reggae, Culture, was about to enter. Static, they await the first sound from the band to embark on a journey that would only end at the final encore and farewell.

CULTURE

The start is explosive. Still without the trio on stage, the band makes people cry playing, right off the bat, the beautiful Satta Massagana... in DUB version. What a powerful instrumental. The guitar solos were hypnotizing (video). "Helmets on," because the trio Albert Ralph Walker, Telford Nelson (substitute for Roy 'Kenneth' Dayes) and the charismatic and legendary Joseph Hill (photo) are ready. Their entrance is spine-tingling (video), and the honors of the house are paid by the magnificent "Love Shine Bright" from the album "Harder Than the Rest". Incredible how Culture's stage presence makes us question reality. "Behold I Come" sets the pace of the spectacle, another heavy tune from the great album "Baldhead Bridge". Next, "Fussing and Fighting" lifts spirits, not only of the crowd but also of our great Joseph Hill (photo). We found some members of two of Brazil's main reggae roots bands who were also infected: Leões de Israel and Reggae Style (photo). The keyboards gave the special touch, and the atmosphere "weighed pleasantly" to the sound of "Dog A Go Nyam Dog". That gem is from the 1995 album "Production Something". Culture's avalanche continued, and now "World Peace", a song from the band's 30th album titled after itself, was responsible for our cardiac arrhythmias. This show celebrates the album release and once again Joseph is the highlight (photo). His grand voice was leading everyone at Directv. He likes the receptivity of the Brazilian people and repeatedly praises the state of São Paulo for it. Joseph insists on audience participation in his performance (video), and the crowd doesn't disappoint, answering his call. The show was establishing itself as one of the best when, to give us absolute certainty of the facts, a sequence from the album "Cultural Livity" arrives to wipe out whatever little sanity or energy remained: "I'm Not Ashamed" and "Two Sevens Clash". How emotion can escape our control in certain situations. "Calling Rasta Far I", "Pretty Face" and "Tribal War" are clear examples of this. The band had full command of the stage (photo). The musicians' dedication was evident (video), and Joseph Hill showed how important he was not only for Culture (as Albert Griffiths for the Gladiators), but also for the entire history of world Roots Rock Reggae. They even delivered Peter Tosh with extreme competence on "Equal Rights". The band's farewell was seen as a goodbye by some, given how rare visits by great bands to Brazil, like Culture, are. And furthermore, at the current dollar exchange rate, it becomes very expensive to bring international attractions and their respective backing bands. Even so, Culture's band Moja Nya came complete. Those who missed this great spectacle can catch everything we mentioned above in Vinhedo, on the 12th. For those who were at this Culture at DirectV, the question remains: Will we have the pleasure of seeing such a performance again? The simplicity on stage (photo)... the humility with the audience (photo)... Jah willing, yes! (photo)

EVENT IMAGES

Click here to see the event photos.

MULTIMEDIA

Click here and watch Culture live with "International Herb".