Last Friday night we left the cosy confines of S.O.B towers to get our skank-on at Motion Nightclub for a special evening of dub fueled mayhem!
From the minute we entered the club, it was apparent that this gig was a crowd-puller and after taking the obligatory tour around each of the four rooms, found the overall energy to be something undeniable. The music was a good mix of slower dub tempo riddims, skank infused hip hop, Bristol's own speciality dubstep and hardcore jungle for the ravers. This meant something for all musical tastes and a chance for us to sample some otherwise unexplored genres, as we partied towards the events climax.
At around 2:00am excitement had begun to build in the main room in anticipation of the final act, Mr. Lee Scratch Perry. At this point getting backstage was as exhilarating for us as it was for Wayne and Garth at the Alice Cooper gig; we did not feel worthy-we suck! It did, however, enable us to get a perfect vantage point as The Upsetter himself ambled onto stage, mic in hand and ready to dub!
The music was rich and heavy with Perry sticking to his more traditional dub tempo back catalogue, (personal favourite, 'I Am A Madman' went down particularly well). At times the vocals were muffled over the weight of the band but this did not take away from the incredible atmosphere in the building.
The headliner's performance was generally graceful and laid back except for the occasional hop, skip and 'judo kick' thrown in to show us he’s still hungry to entertain. Throughout the performance he quietly made the stage his home by scorching various objects with his lighter and other bizarre behaviour that kept our eyes glued to him as he worked.
As the show came to a close the 76 year old Rasta humbly thanked the crowd, took hold of his ‘carry on’ sized suitcase and headed for the door leaving behind him a room energised by his timeless music and eccentric personality.
Lee Scratch Perry is a genuine legend who's creative genius pioneered the dub sound and helped to shape the careers of other musical talents including that of Bob Marley. To watch this man perform was an unforgettable experience and a true honour indeed! Look out for him in a town near you as he continues his European tour.
