Review: The Wailers and Toots and the Maytals

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Getting a free ticket to a show from a friend is always great, but I never expected I would see Bob Marley’s old band The Wailers, and Toots and his band, the Maytals, at one show.

Even after arriving at the Crossroads District in Kansas City, I did not really understand how lucky I was until The Wailers started to play some of Marley’s classics and the crowd went wild.

Any fan of ska or reggae needs to see both bands to fully appreciate the styles of music.

The fun atmosphere and familiar tunes kept the crowd dancing for hours, starting with some of the songs Marley is most famous for, such as “Jammin’” and “One Love.” Although it may not feel the same as hearing Marley himself, the band is still amazing in its own right.

The singer, Elan Atias, led the crowd into a groove that didn’t stop between sets.

Toots and the Maytals took the night’s performance to a whole different level with their energy. Toots, the lead vocalist, has been performing since the early ’60s and he still leads the crowd in song and dance with a passion. The Maytals backed Toots up with groovy beats and wild solos. After their first grand finale, they came back for an unbeatable encore that left this audience member doubly satisfied.

I have no idea how often The Wailers or Toots and the Maytals come to Kansas from Jamaica, but these bands should never be missed.

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