Concert Review: Lee “Scratch” Perry at the Beaumont Club

Better Than: the 2009 American Idols Tour at the Sprint Center.

I had second thoughts before I agreed to review the Lee “Scratch” Perry performance at the Beaumont Club on Sunday night.

“He’s a legend,” my friend said. “People are probably going to talk shit about your review, no matter what you write… and don’t even think about getting a setlist either,” he added.

Despite the warning, I decided to carry on, slightly fearing public backlash (i.e., Railroad Earth fans). I did some research, read interviews, learned the history of the Black Ark studio and listened to more than a few of his recordings (none of which sounded remotely similar). Going in, I felt properly schooled on the man who was at one time the fire to Bob Marley’s smoke and who was instrumental in the creation of dub music.

The first onstage for what would turn out to be a five-hour evening of music was DJ Jabberock. A month or two ago, I met this red-haired man (who answers to the name Patrick) at Czar Bar and he was telling me about a Kansas City reggae documentary he is piecing together. It sounded intriguing enough. This city could use a new genre to follow.

Jabberock closed with a very rough mix of Sublime’s “D.J.s.” I groaned inwardly. Even I, a LBC native, have decided to put Brad Nowell and his music to rest. Permanently.

The Jabberock beats continued as the members of 77 Jefferson came on stage, and Jabber stayed behind his turntables while the rest of the band dished out their sexy reggae tunes. Having just recently won in the Best Reggae category at the Pitch Music Awards, 77 Jefferson has came a long way since the first time I saw them, at the 2007 Crossroads Music Festival at the Brick. Back then, they were a scrappy three piece, passing out burned CDs. Onward and upward with the KC reggae revolution.