Maxi Priest shakes Tom Brasil! Check out this British star's modern reggae.

Following the killer lineup of international shows in 2004, Maxi Priest is the big name at São Paulo's Tom Brasil venue. With "timid" promotion, the audience turnout was evident on the final night of October 22. Even with attendance below what you'd expect for an event of this importance, the energy did its part to make up for it. The opening act was Planta e Raiz, who with their old hits and the new tracks from their latest album, "De Cara Pro Mundo", got the crowd going for the man of the night. With a short set, it was time to catch your breath for the next act... believe me, you'd need it. The star was welcomed with an incredible instrumental intro. Drummer Paul Kastick, who played wearing a Corinthians shirt and at the press conference wore one from the Brazilian national team, had a groove that shook even the most discouraged soul throughout the venue. When rapper RedFox hit the stage, the place went wild! He and Maxi Priest didn't stop for a second, and the crowd's frenzy was uncontrollable. Maxi, this British artist with hot Jamaican blood, shocks the most purist reggaeman with his contemporary, modern, upbeat reggae... and what about that positive vibration? Yes, the positive vibration is strong. It hits, shakes, rattles! That's the sound, and the fervor is real. Hits like "Man with the fun", "Temptress", "Wild World", "That Girl", "Close to You" and many others had those present at Tom Brasil wearing out their throats and jumping like popcorn trying to keep up with Maxi and his skilled band. As the artist himself told us at Wednesday's press conference: We need to evolve, break free from the 60s and 70s... positive messages, upbeat songs, that's my music..." Many preconceptions surely fell at this show, allowing reggae to evolve with its great talents without ever belittling traditional reggae and its stars. Stay tuned to the Surforeggae schedule, because Inner Circle is coming. As for what already happened, well... we sum it up in one phrase: Maxi Priest is the Maximum! Click here to see photos from this event.

more information

Click here to read Wednesday's press conference. Click here to learn more about the artist.