Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

The Abyssinians
Leamington Assembly 16th March 2011

The words legend and seminal like the words unprecedented and genius are banded about far too freely nowadays, but there is no doubting that The Abyssinians are both living legends and their debut album Satta Massagana is truly a seminal work; and if it doesn't appear in your top ten of favourite roots reggae albums then its time to trade in your ears, trade in your dancin feet and trade in your heart and your soul.

And so I took the long journey to Leamington Assembly to see The Abyssinians with only The Mighty Diamonds and The Viceroys Inner de Yard albums for company - they were enough. I've seen the Abyssinians several times over the last thousand years but this time is all the sweeter because last time I went to see them back in 2008 at the Buttermarket Shrewsbury (with Dillinger) I was denied. The tour had to be cancelled and I feel like I've been waiting the last three years not knowing whether I'd see them again, well in a way I have.

I should be overjoyed then at the prospect but instead fear grips the heart. After seeing Dennis Bovell play to an audience no more than 20 souls a year or so ago I'm wondering if there are still enough folk out there who want to receive. There was no need to worry. By the time The Rasites had come on "SOUND CHECKED" and then warmed things up with a couple tracks of their own including a soon to be single there was more than a mere gathering at the Assembly, there was a goodly sized crowd who were most definitely up for it and ready to hear the message.

Because yes The Abyssinians are living legends and yes they're conservers of the true faith of roots reggae music, but more than that they are the bringers of the word, bearers of the message, you don't have to be a Rastafarian to be filled with the spirit the vibe of positivity, you just need to open your ears move your feet and accept the truth. "The Good Lord" to start, Donald Manning in RED, Bernard Collins in GOLD & GREEN and David Morrison in BLACK all brought to their knees in an opening prayer "All my days I've lived in misery, Wishing one day to be free, Now I bend down on my knees and pray"

As Marcia Griffiths recently said "music is not just entertainment fun & dance it's a message that you're sending to teach, educate and uplift" and this is what The Abyssinians did. With a careful backing of The Rasites they played a set almost exclusively from "Satta Massagana" with a undeniable message: "Know Jah Today" Declaration of Rights" "Black Man's Strain" were all offered and gratefully received as folk danced and embraced the spirit. "Satta Massagana" closed the set, I was not alone in being uplifted. Worth waiting three years for? No question.

D&D Ed

Clips of "Abendingo" and "African Race"