Heart of a Punk Soul of a Rasta

Jimmy Cliff / Toots and the Maytals
(Dennis Lloyd - Vivian Jones)
Civic Hall Wolverhampton 4th September 2011

People have been telling me for years that roots reggae is dead. I tell them to "go away"- in nice way - but using very colourful language and a whole plethora of unprintable expletives. You see as far as I'm concerned this is September 2011 and REGGAE LIVES. As long as the four corner stones: BURNING SPEAR, BUNNY WAILER, JIMMY CLIFF & TOOTS HIBBERT are strong and holding firm - all is well. Tonight "we the people" turned up hoping to see not one but two of the four granite pillars of REGGAE: Jimmy Cliff and Toots Hibbert and the Maytals. But as with "the best laid schemes of mice and men" things weren't going to go exactly to plan.

Wolverhampton had done its bit though. Black & White, Mods & Modettes, Rude boys & Rude girls, Punks, Skinheads and Rasta's; every age and denomination of human life filed expectantly into the Civic Hall. And most attired in their finest duds. There would be no need for security tonight. Things were going to be mellow. Them guys knew we'd have to burn a little corn. The vibe was positive, IRIE! Whatever that means? Daddy Skippa & Countryman were at the controls to start proceedings off. For a goodly time they stress tested the venue using the bass line as their weapon. "Picture on the Wall" by the NATURAL ITES came closest to making the whole of England Shake.

Dennis Lloyd was first up, representing reggae Britannia with backing tapes and two fine backing singers. For twenty minutes or so he held sway with a batch of easy on the ear spiritually specific songs, before handing the mike onto Vivian Jones. The sweet scent of Sensi suddenly wafted across the stage as Jones sung "Satisfy My Soul" by RNM OM, unaccompanied musically, but not vocally. The crowd didn't need asking twice to join in with the communion. Jones then did a clutch of his own Lovers tunes [for those who, unlike me, have something more than a swinging brick for a heart, and need to know] they included sweet sweet "Sugar Love". Jones had hit the spot, gauged the mood, as he left the stage everything was moving along nicely.

Unfortunately though, after Vivian Jones, things went a bit awry. The stage was all set for Toots & the Maytals. The Maytals came on and sound checked. Toots Hibbett's daughter Leba led the way with a couple of tracks. Then Toots arrived, with promoter in tow, to announce that unfortunately he'd lost his voice and wouldn't be able to perform. There was a certain amount of disbelief in the crowd. Was this a wind up? Apparently not. Toots was whisked away and the Maytals struck up "Pressure Drop" - Leba attempted to carry on.

There were a few grumblings in the crowd (KA$H had been spent) and a minor scuffle broke out by me, but was quickly rectified by the dignified. The realisation soon hit home. However wonderful Leba maybe, she ain't ever going to be TOOTS, and TOOTS was what the folk had paid to see and hear. Leba and the Maytals soon picked up the vibe and gave up the ghost. It was a sad moment. No "Monkey Man", no "54-46", no "Funky Kingston" - shame. The last time I saw TOOTS & THE MAYTALS live it was at WOMAD four years ago. I thought that it had been a long gap between helpings tonight. Seems I'll have to be hungry a bit longer. Shit happens - no one died.

There is an old adage that proved to be true tonight, it goes: "to prevent disharmony and dishonour if one legend doesn't show, always make sure you have another legend waiting in the wings". [this adage is so apt and true - and yeah you're right, I made it up].

To get things back on track there were some more ramped up bass quake inducing tunes, while the road crew, at break neck speed, set about opening up the stage for Jimmy Cliff's nine piece band. 9.30 came, the house lights went down, and Jimmy Cliff OM bedecked in red gold and green and topped with a bejewelled headdress bounced onto the stage. For the next hour and twenty minutes he would be unrestrained, unquenchable and unstoppable. Starting the set with the ultimate outpouring of positivity "You Can Get It If You Really Want", the Toots disappointment was instantly forgotten. "Miss Jamaica", the duet "Let your Yeah be Yeah", "I Can See Clearly Now", "Wild World" and "Treat the Youth Right" which he sung for the UK's politicians, all followed - Cliff's voice was as clear and as pure and as vital as ever, matched only by the moves of his gold sequined shoes.

The humanist spiritual "Many Rivers to Cross" held centre point in the set. Cliff, his eyes closed, hands on his headdress, index fingers pointing up towards the heavens, cried out like a voice from the wilderness, and brought the house down. A multitude of artists have tried to cover "Many Rivers" - only a few passably. The cover version that for me is most interesting is the one done by Harry Nilsson and John Lennon in '74. Even with their combined talents, a string arrangement penned by Lennon, and an all star band including Ringo and Sneeky Pete on slide guitar - they still fell well short of capturing the essence of the song. Take a moment and listen to it. The song is mighty, but with Jimmy Cliff, it is mightier still.

"Vietnam" was re-fashioned into "Afghanistan"; Cliff marching back and forth in a military style - For me every word needed saying, and underlining. "We don't want Afghanistan to be another Vietnam". The message is implicit. [And while I'm on the subject Mr Cameron says we should be "very proud" of what they've achieved in Libya. As far as I'm concerned when one human being asks another human being to feel proud about the killing of 15,000 other human beings words fail me].

The seminal "Harder they Come" and "One More" concluded the set. Encores followed. The entire band took up the drum for the Rastaman chant "Bongo Man" which segued sublimely into "Rivers of Babylon"; before "Wonderful World, Beautiful People" closed things down. With dignity and poise; with the message intact; with a voice indented by time; Jimmy Cliff lives, reggae lives - pass it on. Infused and invigorated the journey is not over. FORWARD WE MARCH IN PEACE & UNITY!