Lee Scratch Perry @ Rio 10/19/18

[Drunk Monk]

The Rio is a short stumble from our bungalow. Less than 100 came out for a house that holds much more, like 7x more. It was oppressively loud but what glorious thunderous bass - so deep it was below threshold so more felt with your bones than heard with your ears. Stacy came out for Scratch but walked back home early. She was exhausted when she arrived. I saw it through. Twas irie. At 82, the upsetter still jumps and kicks and chants his madness. Big roots riddems - obidiyah, curly lox, funky reggae party to exodus, pop goes the weasel. Original dub master. Plus bongos, sax & dub dj. It was the 45 anniversary of blackboard jungle, arguably the 1st dub album ever, so they played it in its entirely, but it’s scratch so it was all over the place. Super ape rules those riddems, darting back and forth thru classic hip shakers - KB, you would’ve skanked your ass off if you can still take high volume like that.

[King Bob]

You and I (and maybe ED?) saw Scratch at the Maritime once. He was doing the incense headdress then too.

All that volume has killed my high-end hearing (although I could blame a lot of that on TG's amp that he used to set on top of mine at practice). In a loud setting, like a restaurant I have difficulty understanding women's voices.

DM, I was just thinking about old reggae shows in Santa Cruz. Were you at Burning Spear at the Civic, I think maybe '88 or '89?

[Drunk Monk]

Yes I have fond memories of the Maritime, even though it was a firetrap. Wasn’t that the show when Scratch came out with a birthday candle doing his Happy Birthday dub and then the whole thing kinda caught fire, and he hammed up his reaction for laughs?

I’ve had tinnitus for so long I can’t really distinguish my hearing loss. Maybe that’s just denial. Or an excuse. I still luv big bass and it has clearly cost me.

I’ve seen Spear inna Cruz around that time. I think it was the civic but I’d have to check my stubs to be sure.