Local
Musicians Gather at J-Alan’s
for a Night of Reggae to Support One of Their Own
By Jimmy Cummings
Sunday, May 29 was a very memorable evening. J-Alan’s
on Ludlow St. was the place to be for a night of reggae. Bands from around the
Miami Valley gathered in support of fellow musician Baba Kuti. Bands scheduled
for the event were Soul Rebels, Groove Therapy, Demolition Crew, and Seefari,
so there was plenty of great music on tap.
The night began with Soul Rebels from Yellow
Springs, Ohio. The band describes themselves as a Reggae/Groove/Jam band with
influences that run the entire spectrum of music; from Bob Marley to Johnny
Cash. The guys performed a collection of original material that set the groove
for the entire night. Next to the stage was Groove Therapy that featured a
special appearance by Sharon Lane on vocals. Sharon’s voice is amazing and was
a pleasure to witness. Another special moment featured Baba Kuti
on drums. The guys came together in the middle of the stage before their set
began and huddled to give thanks for this special gathering of amazing
musicians. It was a very cool moment. Seefari was up next and played to a
packed house. Accompanying Demolition Crew to the stage for one song was Jackie Dale. J-Alan’s
was electric before Jackie took the stage, but when she left, the electricity
in the place went from 110 to 220. It was an incredible performance; I can’t
wait to hear more from Jackie Dale.
While all the performances were great, the best
think about the entire evening was the people. And I’m not just talking about the
bands. Everyone at J-Alan’s that night had just two things in mind; to support
a friend and have a freakin good time, and that’s what we did. We met so many
wonderful people that night and made friendships that I hope will last a
lifetime. If you notice, I didn’t mention many names, that was intentional on
my part. There were so many special people there that night that I know I would
leave someone out. So to everyone Lisa and I met that night, thank you for a
fantastic night we will never forget. I do have to give a special shout out to
Danny Sauers for turning us on to the event and to Phil and his staff at J-Alan’s
for setting an atmosphere that was OFF THE HOOK!!!
J-Alan's is Located at:
|
121 N. Ludlow Street, Dayton, OH 45402 |
|
937-222-4811
|
2011 Reviews and Interviews 
