Love is the poor mans food ....

Those of you that haven’t gone through a phase of compassionate, empathetic emotional revelation and appreciation for West Indian music and its rootsy culture are perhaps missing out on what could be a viable and consecrated option to Sunday mass. Balanced between the wholesome loving and mystical traditions of east African customs and 400 years of servitude, racial discrimination , massacre , exploitation and strife, the musically charged side of Island music, like the phoenix rising up to the sky somehow emerges with a message sodden with optimism and promise for a brighter tomorrow. Lyrics of sincere and humble truths are woven into mesmerizing trance like “riddems”. Letting go, the droning bass line invokes your most guttural sense of time and the message, equally powerful reminds us of how good weave actually got it, what it means to persevere in and about everything we do , and how united we begin to understand the true meaning of life’s bounty and purpose that is clearly and simply to love.

Last Saturday, I made my way over to the Variety Playhouse here in Atlanta. Along with some industry devotees, and a shockingly small crowd of less than 200 people, Israel Vibration took stage and delivered their message of hope, contentment and triumph over the oppressive and predisposed. The music was magical..the band was as good as ever! The swooning sweet sensation created by a crowd full of smiling people capped this off just right,…just as it was meant to be.

An award winning local brewery, Sweetwater offers up a variety of their best bottlings at the Playhouse. On this night, the choice was simple,..420 indeed! A crystal clear, brilliant, aromatic, medium dry ale with floral aromas and a decidedly hoppy herbaceous finish. While the sheer meatiness of this beer took the place of what I normally might select..it was the sounds and the spirit in the room that reminded me that Love is the poor mans food….