MUSIC: Dennis Bovell Dub Band
ANYONE wandering down Friars Walk on Saturday night may have found themselves wondering what all the fuss was about as the Lewes whopped it up big-style for reggae legend Dennis Bovell and his mighty dub band.
The big man isn't one of the first names reeled off by your average reggae or rubber-dub fan but his pedigree is impressive and nearly 40 years of performing has given him a hugely impressive stagecraft, backed up by bundles of talent and charisma.
After an almost hysterical response to the bouncy support act Rebel Control (drinkers in the Lansdown must have felt the Beatles had reformed in the desanctified church) dub-master Dennis strode on stage and let rip with a Tarzan-style battle cry.
What followed was sublime dip into dark and dense bass-driven landscapes of immaculate dub.
I don't how exactly how long the band has been playing together but it sounded like several lifetimes.
In addition to years as ace producer, engineer and dub musician (including a long stint providing the music behind reggae poet Lynton Kwesi Johnson), Bovell was also one of prime movers behind Lovers Rock, a sub-genre of soulful reggae popular in the 70s and early 80s.
He dusted off a few lovers rock songs and their sweet and easy sounds provided a good counterpoint to the less immediate dub workouts.
The only slight criticism of the evening was the lack of bass in the sound-system, but given the close proximity nearby homes, I suppose the organisers of the gig couldn't crank up the bottom end without rattling the fillings of their neighbours.
The bass deficit certainly didn't seem to bother the adoring All Saints crowd who the Barbadan-born Londoner described as 'incorrigible' as he belted out some encores.
He fully deserved the plaudits but the near-rapturous response showed the Lewes is crying out for more top-class gigs, promoters could do a lot worse than look beyond Brighton every once in a while.
If you want to hear some of the music visit their MySpace page at http://www.myspace.com/dennisbovell
Steve Holloway
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Weather for Lewes
Thursday 24 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 14 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South east
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Sunny
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
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