Macka B at The Owl Sanctuary
You can’t really argue with someone that only refers to himself in the third person, something I’m hoping to do myself one day.
Is there anywhere finer to be than at the Owl Sanctuary on a Saturday night for a sold out show featuring legendary British reggae artist Macka B? I think not. With the crowd packed into the gig room and Rebel Lion Soundsystem laying down some bass heavy tunes the scene could not have been more set. Macka B’s 4 piece Roots Reggae band shuffled on stage for a couple of numbers before the man himself joined them to rapturous applause. It really was one of those nights where everyone was smiling and the audience immediately became a grooving, undulating mass.
Macka B has been performing his own brand of reggae for over 30 years now, putting his uniquely British slant on Jamaican DJ culture, mixing toasting with ragga and roots reggae. Most importantly though, he makes music to dance to. Despite never having really broken through into the mainstream, the fact that this show was a sell out proves that to those in the know he is still a star.
There was a theme running through many of his songs – Ganja, Natural Herb, Ganja Ladies, Legalize The Herb and most amusingly of all new song Medical Marijuana Card. He is clearly a fan and judging by the cheers there weren’t too many in the audience disagreeing. I loved the way before starting each song he’d give a little speech explaining what it was about, and who could argue with his topics. Whether urging the crowd to fulfil our potential and not over indulge in alcohol, praising Bob Marley and Nelson Mandela, extolling the virtues of his vegan diet (including a high speed list of the many foods he enjoys!) or dissing McDonald’s we were all pretty much in agreement. You can’t really argue with someone that only refers to himself in the third person, something I’m hoping to do myself one day.
There was nothing preachy about the night though, it really was laugh out loud funny, he loved performing and we loved watching him perform. The Roots Reggae band were excellent too, with the keyboard player doing an especially good job filling in for where, in an ideal world, a horn section would have been. They delivered a one hour and forty five minute headline set which really can’t be faulted.
Well done to the brilliant Owl Sanctuary for continuing to put on great shows, long may it continue. If you’ve yet to visit, and you like excellent music, good beers and friendly staff what are you waiting for?
