Break out your rolling papers, incense and natty dreads, because the reggae band The Original Wailers is easy skanking at the Key Club on Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
What exactly is a Wailer, you may ask? More importantly, what is the difference between The Wailers and The Original Wailers? Don’t worry, I’ll explain.
Formed in 1963, The Wailers were originally billed as Peter Tosh, Bunny Wailer, Junior Braithwaite, Beverley Kelso and Cherry Smith. They were the first, and technically the original backing band for Nesta Robert Marley (aka, Bob). They were widely respected as the best line-up because seminal members Tosh and Wailer were still involved.
The revolving line-up for The Wailers and The Original Wailers more resembles a game of musical chairs than anything else. The two founding members have long departed, allowing it to grow and mutate into the surrogate sextet we have today.
By 1966, Braithwaite, Kelso and Smith departed, replaced by Aston “Family Man” Barrett and his brother Carlton. They performed as The Wailers until 1974, at which point two key players, Tosh and Wailer, departed the group after refusing to tour.
In need of another support group, Bob Marley drew from the best musicians around. Al Anderson was hired as guitarist for The Wailers and shared the stage with Marley until his death in 1981.
The Wailers then attempted to replace the late, great front man to secure a seat on his posthumous gravy train. It’s always tempting, but to resurrect a once successful band in the absence of greatness — Sublime, Alice in Chains and INXS take note — is a slippery slope. Some might say, it only defrauds loyal fans.
The remaining Wailers, including Anderson, have since been the subject of many bitter feuds and court battles over royalties, rights and merchandise profits. Years later, for legal reasons, Anderson re-named the band The Original Wailers. Though, by definition, they are the Third Original Wailers.
In 2009, Anderson set out to release some original material from T.O.W., assembling a reggae supergroup. He brought aboard lead vocalist Desi Hyson, vocalist Erica Newell, bassist Steve Samuels, drummer Francis “Paapa” Nyarkoh, and Marty Batista on synth and keyboards.
In 2010, that group’s first full-length LP was slated to include 11 songs, but after a long and drawn-out production nightmare, the resulting EP only included five tracks. It was aptly titled “Miracle.”
Anderson, the executive producer, felt that Desi Hyson’s songs on the album were more complete and that the lyrical content was superior. Four of the five songs that eventually made the album were penned by Hyson, who also was one of the album’s producers, which may have further influenced the selection.
Miracle is not groundbreaking, by any means. But it is a good reggae EP. Be sure to set it on repeat because the end is only a blink away. “Love Supposed To Do” is probably the most polished gem, closely resembling a hit single.
A laconic EP, yes. But it only allows more set time for classic Marley covers like “No Woman, No Cry” and “Three Little Birds.” (Which is why anyone still gives a hoot in the first place.)
Standard themes include Justice, Babylon, Haile Selassie, equal rights for the impoverished, etc. The music sounds remarkably similar to what it sounded like in the 70’s.
If traditional rocksteady roots reggae is what you seek, The Original Wailers certainly do it well. In light of Marley’s absence, they put on a great show.
They share the stage with SoCal locals Ital Vibes, Heights of Creation, Casa De Calaca and Las Vegas act HaleAmanO. For tickets, click here.
