I had the pleasure of seeing Ooklah the Moc in concert twice last week, and I can safely say they're one of the most impressive live acts I've ever seen. Though they stick to a specific sound that isn't particularly popular outside of Hawaii (Rick Anderson from eMusic's All Music Guide describes their music as "'70s-style roots-and-culture reggae"), Ooklah has clearly mastered it. Each of the band's four vocalists was stellar, the rhythm section the drummer and bassist provided was impossibly sharp and intricate, and the band's other members (guitar, trumpeter, saxophonist, and keyboardist Brad Watanabe of BW) added depth and energy to each song. I'd highly recommend seeing them live if you ever get the chance. I just hope one day I get to see them in Hawaii. Check out the Ooklah the Moc (and BW) Playlist on lala if you haven't already.
Showing posts with label ooklah the moc. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ooklah the moc. Show all posts
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Ooklah the Moc is Great in Concert
I had the pleasure of seeing Ooklah the Moc in concert twice last week, and I can safely say they're one of the most impressive live acts I've ever seen. Though they stick to a specific sound that isn't particularly popular outside of Hawaii (Rick Anderson from eMusic's All Music Guide describes their music as "'70s-style roots-and-culture reggae"), Ooklah has clearly mastered it. Each of the band's four vocalists was stellar, the rhythm section the drummer and bassist provided was impossibly sharp and intricate, and the band's other members (guitar, trumpeter, saxophonist, and keyboardist Brad Watanabe of BW) added depth and energy to each song. I'd highly recommend seeing them live if you ever get the chance. I just hope one day I get to see them in Hawaii. Check out the Ooklah the Moc (and BW) Playlist on lala if you haven't already.
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Ooklah the Moc Is Coming to California
Ooklah the Moc, my favorite reggae band, recently announced they'd play a few shows on the west coast, which means I'll get to see them in person for the first time. The band is based in Hawaii and seems to tour the islands extensively throughout the year, but they don't make it to the mainland all that often. Tickets to see them in San Clemente, CA are only $15, and a friend who saw them last year said he doesn't expect them to sell out even the small "grill and concert hall" they're booked at. I don't understand why they're not more popular than they are -- I'd literally rather see them live than any other active reggae band -- but I'm not complaining. Being able to see some of my favorite artists perform in small venues for less than $30 (you may recall I recently went to a Four Tet show, which was awesome) is quite a privelege. This week's Lala playlist features music by Ooklah the Moc and BW (the solo project of Ooklah member and friend-of-a-friend Brad Watanabe). If you enjoy the music, go check out one of their shows!Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Reggae
This episode's podcast available here.
What are the first images that come to mind when you think of reggae music? For me, it’s always been tropical islands, jubilation, and marijuana. Sure, these things are all wonderful in manageable doses--well, I guess it depends on whom you ask--but until recently I’d thought of reggae music as being valuable pretty much exclusively as background music for a summer beach party. It seemed to me that the message of an average reggae song could be paraphrased as, “Look how blissful life is! Isn’t it great that we’re all so happy?!” Call me a negative person (you wouldn’t be the first), but I often couldn’t relate to music that I thought was so uncompromisingly joyful.
On a recent trip to Hawaii, however, my thoughts about reggae were entirely changed, and now it’s a genre that I've incorporate prominently into my music listening rotation. The fact that I’m not sure I heard any other type of music the entire time I was in Hawaii, as that’s pretty much all they play on the radio or in any public space, isn’t what did it for me. I was driving along the coast during a tropical rainstorm when the song “Idren” by BW, a local reggae artist, started playing on the car stereo. The dark, dismal mood the squall had provided allowed me to perceive the ‘vibe’ of the song in a wonderfully different way. Suddenly, it all made sense, and I was completely engrossed in the song in the best possible way, yet……I didn’t feel ecstatically happy! I always knew that reggae had evolved in a world of poverty and misery as a sort of cultural coping mechanism, but I now realized that it was not, as I’d thought, about ignoring life’s hardships. Rather, reggae is about accepting that life can be tough, and striving to mellow out and appreciate its simple pleasures–love, beauty, nature and community. And that I can relate to.
During my trip I discovered two active local Hawaiian bands that blew me away in particular: BW and Ooklah the Moc. Given their talent, it still baffles me to think that these bands are essentially unknown on the mainland.
Since I’ve returned, I’ve discovered a handful of other reggae artists from all over the world whose music I simply can’t believe I’d previously lived without. This episode’s podcast features songs from the above-mentioned Hawaiian groups, and a few other of my favorite reggae songs. Oh, and if you happen to be in Hawaii any time soon, do yourself a favor and check out these bands.
-Greg
Download the podcast here (track information below).
1. Marcia Griffiths - Don't Let me Down (0:06-3:13)
2. BW - Idren (3:14-7:21)
3. Ooklah the Moc - You Light (7:22-12:56)
4. Rebel Souljahz - Long Long Time (12:57-16:42)
5. The Jahlights - Right Road to Dubland (16:42-19:39)
What are the first images that come to mind when you think of reggae music? For me, it’s always been tropical islands, jubilation, and marijuana. Sure, these things are all wonderful in manageable doses--well, I guess it depends on whom you ask--but until recently I’d thought of reggae music as being valuable pretty much exclusively as background music for a summer beach party. It seemed to me that the message of an average reggae song could be paraphrased as, “Look how blissful life is! Isn’t it great that we’re all so happy?!” Call me a negative person (you wouldn’t be the first), but I often couldn’t relate to music that I thought was so uncompromisingly joyful.
On a recent trip to Hawaii, however, my thoughts about reggae were entirely changed, and now it’s a genre that I've incorporate prominently into my music listening rotation. The fact that I’m not sure I heard any other type of music the entire time I was in Hawaii, as that’s pretty much all they play on the radio or in any public space, isn’t what did it for me. I was driving along the coast during a tropical rainstorm when the song “Idren” by BW, a local reggae artist, started playing on the car stereo. The dark, dismal mood the squall had provided allowed me to perceive the ‘vibe’ of the song in a wonderfully different way. Suddenly, it all made sense, and I was completely engrossed in the song in the best possible way, yet……I didn’t feel ecstatically happy! I always knew that reggae had evolved in a world of poverty and misery as a sort of cultural coping mechanism, but I now realized that it was not, as I’d thought, about ignoring life’s hardships. Rather, reggae is about accepting that life can be tough, and striving to mellow out and appreciate its simple pleasures–love, beauty, nature and community. And that I can relate to.
During my trip I discovered two active local Hawaiian bands that blew me away in particular: BW and Ooklah the Moc. Given their talent, it still baffles me to think that these bands are essentially unknown on the mainland.
Since I’ve returned, I’ve discovered a handful of other reggae artists from all over the world whose music I simply can’t believe I’d previously lived without. This episode’s podcast features songs from the above-mentioned Hawaiian groups, and a few other of my favorite reggae songs. Oh, and if you happen to be in Hawaii any time soon, do yourself a favor and check out these bands.
-Greg
Download the podcast here (track information below).
1. Marcia Griffiths - Don't Let me Down (0:06-3:13)
2. BW - Idren (3:14-7:21)
3. Ooklah the Moc - You Light (7:22-12:56)
4. Rebel Souljahz - Long Long Time (12:57-16:42)
5. The Jahlights - Right Road to Dubland (16:42-19:39)
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