The Kaya Festival - Day Two Of Rastaman Vibrations

Kaya Festival - Day Two!

I have to be honest here, and say that after the Kaya Festival Day One found us getting back to Venice at almost 4 a.m., I was kind of surprised when my brother texted to say he was on his way to grab me for Day Two. Once I got over the shock, I found my rally cap and we were back on the road. Knowing what we knew now about the event held at the NOS Events Center in San Bernardino, we knew we needed a proper meal before getting there, and also made some other minor adjustments - like not carrying a heavy-ass bag all day. We looked up "Best Breakfast in San Bernardino" and came up with "Kountry Folks Family Restaurant". I don't believe in chains on road trips, and this place was definitely a trip. There were Bible verses everywhere, and families tucking into big plates of chicken and waffles. Yep. We were good (I subbed the waffle for the delicious cinnamon roll french toast - excellent decision).

After getting as full as possible for another super long concert day, we headed over to the NOS, knowing we were even later than the day before - but at least we were there! The early bands we missed - and apologize to - were Jah Stix, Bambaata Marley (son of Ziggy, who I was told isn't reggae at all, but straight up hip hop, and now I'm bummed to have missed), Kabaka Pyramid, and most of Third World, who were playing as we rolled in. The good news was that the Festival was once again mega behind schedule, so we were in better shape than we had thought. De La Ghetto was the soundtrack in the background as we once again met up with the new Day One friends in the Irie Bird bus, comparing notes and getting caught up. I'm not sure who was playing at this point, but we heard an opera aria blasting, and it just elevated us all for a moment. A cool moment.

Zion Y Lennox were a reggaeton duo singing in Spanish, so I didn't know any of their songs, but they were all fun, celebratory jams that had everyone dancing in their colorful garb in the golden hour sunshine, feeling fine. They were from Puerto Rico, they had dancing girls in bright red outfits, and I dug them. That's the gist.

"Are you ready for Chronixx?!" This was asked no less than 10 times ... and dude still didn't come out. DJ Sway kept on asking, and Chronixx kept on lagging. It was good they were spinning classic Bob Marley tunes to keep everyone grooving, because it was getting ridiculous. "I don't want to wait in vain ... for Chronixx" was the new verse. FINALLY, "The voice of the future", Chronixx took the stage with a big Haile Selassie banner behind him. He has a rather feminine voice, I thought, and people were digging it, but I was kind of indifferent - as was he, it seemed. It was a sluggish performance, and it's probably because was stoned, which is probably why it took him so long to get his ass on stage. But it was cool, so was everyone else. Chronixx gave a JAH! Rastafari speech, and that set the tone for more Marley.

Stephen Marley - the organizer of the Kaya Festival - gave us a solo acoustic turn of the Kaya hits next, with a subtle opening of seated conga drumming to "Time Will Tell". This is my favorite, the traditional, the rootsy, the flag waver behind the son of Bob Marley singing one of his all time best tunes. It was sublime. "Excuse me while I light my spliff" ... which everyone did for "Easy Skanking", and you almost could close your eyes and imagine it was Bob, as I think Stephen sounds the most like him.

"She's Gone" was wonderful, and then Kymani Marley came out to join his brother for "Sun Is Shining", and then Julian Marley joined for "Running Away". No one could have loved it more, but then Stephen introduced "My youngest brother, Damian Marley" and the place again went insane. After playing "Kaya", Damian said, "We're here to celebrate kaya!" and then played his own "Medication" ABOUT kaya. All you saw in every direction were the widest smiles, and THAT is what this festival really is all about. Thank yous from the Marleys, and we were given another long break ...

Until the mighty Cypress Hill took the stage! I had to get into the pit for this, and after all of the Marleys, of course, this was my favorite act of the weekend. B Real, Sen Dog, and Mixmaster Mike tore the place up, kicking it off with "I Wanna Get High". Festival appropriate, for real. B Real exhaled a big puff of smoke from an onstage j to let us all know that "Dr. Greenthumb" was in the house.

"Hits From The Bong" kept the hits coming (musical and weed), and when B Real (in fine form, I must say. Prophets Of Rage is keeping him sharp!) yelled, "Are you having fun at the Kaya Fest with godddamn Cypress Hill?!", he could be sure that everyone was, based on the roar that went up. "Hand On The Pump" killed it, and led right into "Shoot 'Em Up", and as I watched Sen Dog I recalled how about ten years ago to the day the guy saved me from a righteous hangover with one of his medicinal remedies when we were on the same tour together. Never forget.

"The Phuncky Feel One" told me how B Real got the name for his Phunkcy Feel tips, and also showcased "Mixmaster motherfucking Mike!" Yeaaaaah. "We're gonna play this next one real aggressive", and play "Shots Go Off" aggressively they did. Phew. "Wanna do some Latino shit, Sen Dog?" asked B Real, and they did, but I don't know the name of that one. Lo Siento. "Rock Superstar" was classic and amazing, as is the fact that these dudes have been doing exactly this for over 20 years now. "We try to keep it hype in this bitch, alright?!" They sure did, when they hit us with the trifecta of "Kill A Man", "Ain't Going Out Like That", and "Insane In The Membrane" all at once! "Ain't no party like a West Coast party, 'cause a West Coast party don't stop!" It really did feel like it would never stop - and that we'd be more than o.k. with that. We all took a group photo with peace signs raised, and BAM. Cypress Hill was out of there, having taken no prisoners.

SOJA was up next, and though they're not really my thing, they are many peoples' thing, because there was a lot of singing along and female shrieking. The man next to me said, "OK ... It is what it is." I would have bet money that the white guy led reggae band with many members would have been from Colorado or Hawai'i, but it turned out to be D.C. Huh. Homie next to me said, "You gotta respect them just for playing. That's what this Festival is all about." He was right, and right when I was thinking that they should not have followed Cypress Hill (!), the singer said, "I went through high school listening to Cypress Hill! I had every t-shirt that there was!", so then I thought he was cooler. That's the thing about Festivals too, every act is someone's favorite.

I heard so many people singing along every SOJA word, and overheard a woman saying that they were the only reason that she had made the trip, so there really was something for everyone, and everyone was happy. Until we had to literally wait over an hour for Lauryn Hill to take the stage. UGH. It was the 20th Anniversary of The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill, an album that meant SO much to me that it was really WHY we came back out for Day Two. Now we were all standing there, packed in, sore, exhausted, hungry, thirsty (everything had closed down as it was now well past 1:00 in the morning), listening to DJ dude yell "Are you ready for Ms. Lauryn Hill?!" even more times than he'd asked if we were ready for Chronixx. YES. WE WERE. It was outrageous, and you could tell the DJ and the crew were feeling the heat as people in the crowd were yelling "Let's GO!" over and over (in between singing along to "Three Little Birds" to calm our asses down).

Ms. Hill must realize that the people that love and care about her seminal album the most probably have sitters and jobs and things to get back to on the next Monday morning that was fast approaching, and we were all still waiting for her in San Bernardino. "We apologize for the technical difficulties", said the DJ, but I'm pretty sure it was just diva stuff. It shortchanges the artist too, because now everyone was getting tired of it, and crabby, and when "Make some noise for Lauryn Hill!" was yelled for the 100th time without her showing, there was almost no noise left to make. "I can't hear you!" - yeah, because we're nearly dead. The band finally started intro music, that they kept having to repeat, to where we all really thought she wasn't going to show. Then, like a marvelous vision, Lauryn Hill (or we might have just been sleep-deprived hallucinating, but I'm pretty sure it was her)!

Clad in a long fur coat and a golden headdress, Ms. Hill came out to happy - and relieved - applause, and then said,"You're gonna have to bring the energy up!" Yeah, you're right, except that YOU are gonna have to do that, Lady. I love her, but I was pissed too. "Everything Is Everything" made sure that (almost) all was forgiven. It - and she - are still so so good. I gather that Hill is a bit of a control freak, based on her constant directing and giving orders ... the woman is IN. CHARGE. "Ex Factor" showed off a powerful woman in total command, and more gorgeous than ever. She was already dabbing sweat off of her face, so maybe the fur coat could have been tossed out to me to warm up in (San Bernardino gets freezing cold at night, we discovered). Anyway, her rapping was on laser point, and we all remembered just exactly why her album was such a monster hit.

"You can get the money, you can get the power, but keep your eyes on the final hour!" "Final Hour" got us all sweating, and when they said, "Ms. Hill at Kaya Fest is real!" we finally believed it. "Lost Ones" is one of my all time favorite jams, and I just heard it live! I was rocking out on that one, and my brother came out of the photo pit and gestured "Let's go" (it was after 2 a.m. and brother had to work the next morning - AND still drive back to Venice!), I was o.k. to, because this was a high note for me. I can't stand to - and almost never do - leave early, because you never know what you'll miss, but I knew that Hill was taking her whole show on the road this Summer, so I can catch it when we're not beat down reggae festival zombies.

We walked back to the car singing. We drove back to Venice singing (mainly to stay awake and alive). I'm still singing now, with memories of a sunny weekend in sunny California with reggae lovers and a whole bunch of believers in One Love ... because that really IS what it's all about, and this weekend proved it once again.

One more time ... JAH! Rastafari.

*All photos by Paul Gronner Photography
**Reprinted from Juice Magazine. 

Prophets Of Rage - The Debut Album Out Today!

Prophets of Rage are THE band for these times, as attendance at one of their shows clearly proves. It is pure energy, pure intensity, and pure rage aimed at the social injustices of now, delivered with the solid one-two-three punch of the classic rock sounds from three of rock and hip hop's biggest bands coming together as one.

Rage Against The Machine. Public Enemy. Cypress Hill = Prophets of Rage, and while we all miss the fiery teachings of Zack de la Rocha leading Rage, Chuck D and B Real bring a whole new vibe while keeping their own legendary personas front and center. It's something else.

The debut album, the self-titled Prophets of Rage is out everywhere today, and we finally get to hear the original songs that these music icons came up with together. I'm blasting it right now, and feel myself itching for either a big, crazy rock show, or an all out, take it to the streets monster protest. It will do that to you.

I was all ready to expose my Minneapolis people to this mind-blower of a rock show this weekend out at Canterbury Downs, but for some lame reason, the sponsoring radio station (93X) cancelled it. That's enough to start our own protest right there. Minnesota people will want to make the trek somewhere else to catch this. Lame.

The new album showcases each member of the band at their best ... from the power trio from Rage (Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, and Tim Commerford) to DJ Lord to Chuck D and B Real, all in firmly in their element. Standout tracks to me are "Hands Up", "Radical Eyes", "Smashit", "Unfuck The World", and "Strength In Numbers", but every song is gonna do some sonic damage, and absolutely rile up everyone within earshot.

There are very few recording artists putting their mouths where their money is these days, and POR doesn't care what anybody thinks - they just say it like it is. And they mean business. The music - and the movement - is crazy infectious, and unafraid to stand up and speak out to anyone or anything that is keeping the people down.

Guys ... Thank you. Thank you for Making America Rage Again. We need you!!!

Fans - Get it. And definitely catch it live if you can.

Related links:
http://www.blogtownbycjgronner.com/2016/06/prophets-of-rage-at-palladium-make.html

http://www.blogtownbycjgronner.com/2016/09/prophets-of-rage-make-forum-rage-again.html

http://www.blogtownbycjgronner.com/2017/01/the-anti-inaugural-ball-with-prophets.html

Prophets Of Rage At The Palladium - Make America Rage Again!

The country has collectively sent up the bat signal (or the fist signal, to be more precise), and Rage Against The Machine (minus Zack De La Rocha - no one knows why but him) has once again heeded the call. Reunited as Prophets Of Rage, with Chuck D of legendary Public Enemy and B Real of the mighty Cypress Hill filling in on vocals for De La Rocha, finally there is a Supergroup that is ACTUALLY super. Like, people almost can't believe it. But it's real and it went down last night at The Hollywood Palladium like maybe never before. I'm honestly surprised that the building is still standing (though I'm sure they're checking today for structural damage).

The show sold out in less than an hour, with people having to stand in line like the old days to get a wristband. Cash only, with ALL proceeds going to PATH (People Assisting The Homeless). As I said, these guys heed the call. It was THE hot ticket in town, and the excitement was palpable, even online. Once I arrived at the venue, it was evident that this was a show that was not only highly anticipated, but highly necessary. The marquee read "Make America Rage Again", and the people filing in were ready to do just that. Sure, there were lots of the usual rock show black t-shirts, many with Rage, P.E. or Cypress Hill logos, but there were also a whole lot of Bernie Sanders and Fuck Trump shirts in the mix. People are fed up. People are angry. People are scared. People want to DO something. And now they had a whole building of comrades feeling the same way, that love (and MISS) the same music ... you could just tell it was going to be something not just special, but HEAVY.

This was also a reunion of sorts, as Tom Morello is a mutual friend of many of us, so it was a party before even a note was played. We've all seen a lot of shows together, but everyone was as excited as ever, maybe even more so, because all these great musicians had never played before as one band (besides a small kick-off show at The Whiskey last Wednesday). By the time I got inside from gabbing out front, the floor was already completely full, front to back, side to side. The crowd was also already going OFF, literally jumping up and down to the D.J. spinning "Jump Around", and screaming along to "Walk This Way" - to mere recordings. We all looked at each other like "Uh Oh". There was going to be some lethal mosh pits tonight.

I first met my friend, Fred Armisen, at a game night at Tom Morello's, and when I heard about Prophets Of Rage having a show, I knew he had to be my plus one. We hadn't seen each other in a long time, so it was complete reunion time, but Fred is a busy guy and had to work late. As the energy was ramping up and you could feel the rock and roll tension building, he texted that he had just parked. I had to run t the door to give him his wristband to get in, and just prayed it wouldn't start before we got back. I love openings. We quick hugged and ran through the crowd back to the balcony (apologies to any selfie wanting people we ran past, but c'mon!) just as it went dark and the air raid signals started going off, letting everyone know this was a Rage show! Just as we found our place at the railing and the crowd was losing its ever-loving mind, Fred nudged me and showed me his phone. "Muhammad Ali just died" was the text. Whoa. I got chills and we just looked at each other big eyed, and then BAM! Chuck D. yelled "We are the Prophets Of Rage!" and this Supergroup launched into the song named for the band, "Prophets Of Rage". One greatest of all time left the Earth just as these greatest of all times began. Each man dedicated to social justice, and that itself is rare. Again, it felt super heavy in there, and that fact only made it more so.

A massive mosh pit instantly formed, never to stop until the lights came back on. It didn't matter that no one knew this new, original POR song yet, fists were raised the whole time. Fists were prominent in the merch, the posters, the backdrop ... Fists up is THE symbol for this revolutionary rock, and if this energy could be harnessed ... Hoo, boy. No more fossil fuels needed. Ever. Chuck D said, "We raise a fist in homage to the great Muhammad Ali!", and we all did. They had clearly just received that word as well, and it added even more heavyweight to the proceedings. The musical fist raised in homage was Rage's "Guerilla Radio", and when the People all screamed, "WHAT BETTER TIME THAN NOW?!" it was as if a spiritual molotov cocktail had been thrown, and it got even crazier. "ALL HELL CAN'T STOP US NOW!" was the God's honest truth in that moment, as was when Chuck D. yelled "POWER TO THE PEOPLE!" at song's end. Truer words were never spat.

"Bombtrack" was up next, and when People shouted "Burn, Burn!" I really thought we might, because by now it was so hot in there it was practically raining from the ceiling. Sweat poured off the performers and the audience alike, and no one minded a bit. Chuck D. said after that one, "Give Zack De La Rocha credit for those lyrics. They're revolutionary." Fact, and one of many respectful ZDLR shout outs. It only got hotter when they next threw down P.E.'s "Miuzi Weighs A Ton" and Chuck D. laid it all on the line. This time it featured a solo by Morello that scorched eyebrows, and the one-two punch of Tim Commerford on bass and Brad Wilk on drums made it all the harder core.

"People Of The Sun" went off, of course, and was immediately followed by "Take The Power Back" (maybe the theme song of the night), with extra thick bass from Timmy C. as Chuck D. told us all to "Bring that shit!" This was followed by a "Fuck Trump" chant, that was definitely another theme to the event. Red baseball hats reading, "Make America Rage Again" were an obvious riff on Trump's ridiculous theme, and a tip-off that, yeah, we're taking the power back. Thanks.

"Shout out to all y'all, this is too good to be true right now!", said an obviously stoked/touched B Real, as the Prophets Of Rage ripped into his Cypress Hill anthem, "Rock Superstar". The place went apeshit, for real, the second they heard the little xylophone intro. Whether this was your favorite jam back in the day or you were a kid hearing it for the first time, it was classic and we were all in it all the way together. This is when I began pondering the mosh ... then quickly thought better of it when I saw bodies and other materials flying through the air. I'm pretty sure there was blood and tooth shrapnel on that floor as it was being swept up at night's end. There had to be.

"For the motherfuckers that couldn't be at this show, you gotta tell 'em how dope it was. You know what that means?! You gotta testify!", commanded Chuck D as the band tore apart, yes, "Testify". This whole story is my testimonial, and I'm here to tell you ... America is beyond ready to RAGE again. Bar nothing. The joint was incinerated on this one. I'm telling you, it was nuts. Like we all looked over the railing at the roiling hurricane eye of humanity circling below us and could only say, "Whoa." - and pray for their safety. Insanity.

Appropriately insane, actually, because now the Rage guys left the stage to the two M.C.'s and P.E's DJ Lord, and we got a P.E./Cypress Hill medley that was honestly "Insane In The Membrane". It was also "Shoot 'Em Up", "Can't Trust It", "Bring The Noise" (my favorite P.E. jam!), "I Ain't Going Out Like That", and "Welcome To The Terrordome"!!!

It was a rapper's delight in there, and every damn word was shouted along with, punctuated by pointed fingers in the air, rock horns, and the omnipresent raised fists. People couldn't believe their dumb luck as they saw these rap MASTERS take the place apart word by word. It was really something else. Called MAYHEM. (Forgive all the caps. There is no way to emphasize these things enough without them. So there.)

The Rage guys returned then, and "Sleep Now In The Fire" fully slayed everyone all over again. Morello had a new solo for it, B Real took the vocals, and it was a remix for NOW. By now, the pit was as ferocious as the music, and when the band lit into another new one from POR, "Shut 'Em Down" - which is, I believe, exactly what they intend to do in Cleveland at the RNC. Look out. B Real took on the lead vocals for "Know Your Enemy" and it felt ominous. Like something brewing ... like maybe a riot ... but more likely an all out revolution. "They say jump, you say how high?!" Nope. Not anymore. We're not having it. Here, it needs to be mentioned that Morello was playing like he was being electrocuted from start to finish. It really was something to behold.

"You can change the singer, but you can't change the song," said Chuck D respectfully. "We're keeping a seat warm for you, Zack." Another tip of the hat to De La Rocha, who, as great as this all is, is still a pretty large void. Imagine them ALL together. No, visualize it. Then it will happen. When Chuck D. intoned, "All of which are American Dreams..." over and over, it was so cool with his authoritative bass tone, but you still hear De La Rocha in your head. You can't help it. And his lyrics remain as timely as ever, sadly but truly.

"The Party's Over" was the third and last POR original of the night, though it already sounded like a classic. It had the crowd chanting, "The Party's Done!" - DONE. The party system, the 1% party, all of it. Never was there a stronger reminder (except maybe at recent Bernie Sanders rallies) that the People have the power. No matter what the "Power" thinks. And we were all in there fighting that power. Hard. "There's lots of energy here tonight, let's see what we can do!", urged Chuck D, and what we could do was all fully freak out over "Kill A Man" - the Cypress classic that Rage covered on their Renegades album, but now it was live with both originals. SICK.

Now articles were being thrown through the air, in addition to the bodies. Full beers, hats, shirts, shoes, I don't even know what was being flung with abandon, probably because it felt like there was no limit to the nuts we could go in there. That was proven next by the combo of the Beastie's "No Sleep 'Til  Brooklyn" that merged right into "Fight The Power". Oh, my goodness. Oh, my GOODNESS. The only difference was that this time the city was changed to Cleveland. All I can say is watch out, RNC. I was there in '08 for the RNC with Rage ... and it's only more gnarly now, so .... !

"Bulls On Parade" was the one that Rage played through bullhorns a cappella when the cops pulled the power at the '08 RNC in St. Paul, and it was no less effective unplugged. In fact, even more so, because the People filled in. Last night's version suffered no lack of electricity, and when the "Rally 'round the Family!" chorus rang out, that's what it felt like. A big, global family of People sticking up for what's right - together. Plus, it's really rallying together when every red cent goes to help the homeless through PATH. What other "Supergroup" have you ever heard of doing that? You haven't.

"Raise your voices, Motherfuckers!" demanded Chuck D, just as a massive red banner unfurled behind the stage reading "MAKE AMERICA RAGE AGAIN!" to more thunder and lightning inside of this indoor storm. Prophets Of Rage began the opening chords of "Killing In The Name" - and that was that. The place was destroyed. My notes read simply "BEZERK!!!" And it was. "Some of those up in Congress," B Real spat, "Are the same that burn crosses!" It was SO heavy in there at this point, it was almost scary looking over the edge of the railing. There was so much testosterone flying around that it would be dangerous if everyone hadn't been so good natured about it. People were joyously taking elbows to the head, supporting bodies flying above them, and smiling all the while, like it hurt SO good (though I bet this morning might be a different story).

Just as the roof was about to fully implode on the proceedings, it was over. Chuck D shouted, "We are the Prophets Of Rage!", and the band took their bows amid total, complete, ecstatic mayhem of applause and fists raised in rock victory. With a purpose. Then they were gone, the lights came up, and Willie Nelson's "The Party's Over" came on over the p.a. There was no encore, which is probably good. People may have died, from the pit, dehydration, or from sheer happiness. Not a bad way to go, but it's better to be here to fight the power.

Everyone kind of stood there a moment, shell shocked, before they began to file out and check their rock show wounds. Overheard everywhere was, "Man, we NEEDED that!" Truth. Not just as fans of great rock music, but as a People. We need to know that we're not alone, that there are people fighting for justice, and for what's right, and what better way to do that than through an extra great time with all your People (I always capitalize People, because it should be.)? I can't think of one.

As everyone tried to recover upstairs, it was all excited chatter about what had just gone down, and how lucky we all felt to have witnessed it. But you'll have your chance too. The Prophets Of Rage are just getting started. They're already jetting off to New York for the Governor's Ball tomorrow (DO NOT MISS, NY!) and then ... stay tuned, but it's ON. Mary Morello told me she's gearing up for one of her famous band introductions, so you know there's more to come. Thank goodness.

Because it's time for America to RAGE against the machine again ... with everything we've got. And with the Prophets Of Rage as the revolutionary soundtrack, we've got more than enough to TAKE THE POWER BACK!

Thank you, Prophets Of Rage, for last night, and for hearing - and answering - the call. It's ON.


*Photos by special guest photographer Pete Halvorsen