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The Joint Label Launch Party |
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Well it's true say that the ring the alarm crew aint as young as we used to be so normally the raving is saved for the weekends, but when we heard about the joint launch party for two new Reading based independent record labels, Reality Shock and Tigerman we had to be there even if it was on a school night! We got there just in time to catch a couple of tunes from DJ Rudie Rich alongside the Classic Wonder crew before it was showtime and the Roots Imansion band kicked into life. |
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The show started in fine style with the excellent MC Deadly Hunta who opened with his new cut on Reality Shock's Stir It Up Riddim titled 'Oh Mama', he then took the pace down a little with the great 'Yes I Will' and picked it up again with the positive anti drug messages in his track 'Oh No'. Hunta finished his set by dropping what is truly a killer track called 'Speak My Mind', this is the title track for his forthcoming album and it certainly deserves that status. As most regulars to the site will know we've been a fan of Mr Hunta's for a few years now but the quality of his latest material and performances are on another level. |
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Next up was a man who recently has been found alongside the Roots Imansion crew backing Aqua Livi and others, Bird (aka Birdy or Big Bird) was doing this again today but he also stepped up to the lead mic to give us chance to hear just how talented he is. Starting out with his piece on the same rhythm as Beres Hammond's Come Down Father called 'Wonderful Time' he then moved on to the smooth 'Misunderstanding' followed by the uplifting 'Thanks & Praises', all of which he's recorded for Tigerman. Bird is a big guy and he's got a really big voice, while some singers have a big voice just because they shout Bird's voice is completely natural and controlled, really impressive stuff. |
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The next performer on the night was the conscious deejay Prince Livijah who opened his set with 'Spread Jah Love' before being joined on stage by singer Cheiftan Joseph who performed his excellent track 'Farmer Man'. Livijah then took the mike again and blazed the fire on Bush and Blair with the tuff 'What Have You Done' after which he gave us the seriously catchy 'Mama Africa' on Tigermans re-lick of the I'm Just A Fool riddim before finishing his set with the excellent 'Baby Mother'. Livijah continues to show us what it takes to be a conscious deejay in these times, he never strays from the cause and his lyrics are both well delivered and thought provoking, there's no doubt this is what also makes him so popular with the followers of the Jah Youth Sound System of which he's a member. |
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Next the band struck up 'Take 5', always a sure sign that Reading's original roots man Aqua Livi is about to take the stage, Aqua started his set with a great track titled 'How Can I Slip', followed by his excellent cut on Tigerman's Be Real riddim 'Stop The Shooting'. We were then treated to 'Love You So Much' followed by 'Peace Of Mind' and his cut on Reality Shock's Stir It Up riddim 'Most High Calling'. Aqua ended 'Most High Calling' by giving everyone a taste of the original Stir It Up lyrics which he then got all the crowd singing along to, Aqua then started calling all the artists back on to the stage to give us short performances on Reality Shock's Stir It Up riddim and Tigerman's soon to come Unchained riddim. Aqua is still writing great songs after many years in the business and he never fails to light up the stage. |
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This grand finale included performances from Unity sound veteran Mikey Murka and the Jewels from Jewels and The Jacuzzi’s alongside everyone else who performed on the night: Bird, Livijah, Cheiftan Joseph, Deadly Hunta and of course Aqua Livi. So all in all a great night out, and a great display of just how much talent there is in the local area, we wish both the new labels the best of luck for the future. A big shout must also go to all the Roots Imansion crew who did a great job backing all the artists on the night, they lined up as follows :: Lead Guitar - Gilly, Paul and Aqua :: Drums - Bob :: Bass - Ross :: Saxophone - Izzy :: Keyboard - Prash :: Percussion - Solo (Mr Tigerman himself) :: Backing Vocals: Bird and Jewels ::. |
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| Check out our Video Page to see some clips of this event |
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