ROCKERS! Original cast members from the classic feature make history at SESC Campo Limpo!

July 28, 2018 will go down in the history of reggae music on Brazilian soil. SESC, already known for the extreme quality of its shows and for supporting the arrival of legendary names such as Wailing Souls, Tiken Jah Fakoly and Barrington Levy, now outdoes itself once again bringing a unprecedented attraction on a worldwide level. It is nothing less than an official tribute to the 40 years of one of reggae's most iconic films, "Rockers, It's Dangerous", and still with the participation of the original members of the work, such as the iconic Big Youth, Kiddus I and the caricatured protagonist Leroy "Horsemouth" Wallace. The show is one of several artistic interventions driven by the "Jamaica! Jamaica!" exhibition. The presentation also featured the grand Lloyd Parks — with his band We the People — and Kush Art. After an imposing opening by Monkey Jhayam, delivering his lyrics over the greatest reggae riddims, the time came to witness history before our eyes.

THE 'DANGEROUS' ROCKERS

Even the most informed and prepared spectator was surprised in the first minutes of the show. What weight, ladies and gentlemen! We The People, especially with master Lloyd Parks, dictated the imposition of the rhythm, and Horsemouth — as a kind of 'master of ceremonies' — led the audience in the reinterpretation of the film in show format. And how emotional it was to see these songs wrapped in that film atmosphere, like "Money Worries", "Book of Rules" and the classic "Satta Massagana". As if the impeccable execution of the songs weren't enough, from time to time Horsemouth made appearances recalling striking passages from the film, such as the scene — recreated live — where after being pushed to the ground by Sunshine's character's father, he makes a brief speech about Rastafari. We are not violent. We are Rastas, we are PEACE! I don't steal, nor cheat. I serve SELASSIE continually! Let the weak of heart say what they will... We are like a tree planted by a river. And not even the dog that pisses on Babylon's walls will escape judgment! All children will witness the day... WHEN BABYLON FALLS!" The show continued heavy with soundtrack classics like "Slave Master", "Natty Take Over" and "Police and Thieves", brilliantly sung by bassist Lloyd Parks. At several moments Big Youth's participation as toaster was a toast to this facet of the culture. The setlist also wandered into the artists' own songs, which although not part of the film, were very welcome, like Big Youth's "Hit The Road Jack" and Lloyd Parks' "Mafia". A high point of the show was the performance of "Graduation in Zion" with Kiddus I's own vocals, considered the favorite song by many admirers of this masterpiece. In Horsemouth's already mentioned interventions, one especially marked the night. The drummer recites "Jah no Dead" with the sound of running water in the background. It is an allusion to one of the most beautiful scenes in this film, when Horsemouth, sitting beside a river, hears the great Burning Spear sing "Jah no Dead" a cappella (without any instrumentation). It was spine-tingling.

HORSE TIME! WHAT HAPPENED?

At a given moment in the show, Horsemouth announces "Horse Time", apparently the most prominent part of this figure from the film. Known worldwide as an exquisite drummer, Horsemouth, after taking the drums, missed fills, lost rhythm and other inadmissible and strange sins coming from such a competent musician. Things got even stranger when 'Horse' left the drums he was playing to take one of the microphones. Realizing there would be an "instrumental gap", Lloyd Parks' drummer ran to take the post at the instrument. That's when Horsemouth returned to the drums and practically expelled the musician amid a brief discussion. Apparently the other band members didn't like Horsemouth's attitude and the show went noticeably downhill. The performance, which had been impeccable until then, began to reveal tuning problems, rhythm errors, singer missing lyrics — in short, a situation no one could understand. Unfortunately, among the final songs were "We a Rockers" and "Tenement Yard", which were performed in a strange and careless way, and the show headed toward its end with this "sonic instability". Luckily, let's say only 15% of the show was affected. But one thing is certain, not even this adverse situation was able to take the shine off this historic presentation, which now heads to its second and final show in Brazil, at SESC "24 de Maio". Not to be missed!