Red-I and The Riddim Outlawz were set to roll up and blow out some roots, lover's rock and reggae at Luxy last night with the first of a new series of live gigs at the city center club.
The gifted and surprising Red-I, who is originally from Pingtung but grew up in Belize and speaks English with an Afro-Caribbean accent, will be the main event for a three-month residency every Thursday.
"We've been planting good seeds and we're harvesting this righteous music. I'm bringing consciousness, man-rhythm, thought and intention. It's good music with a good message, like medicine for urban people," Red-I said.
PHOTO: JULES QUARTLY, TAIPEI TIMES
He gets the nod of approval from The Vinyl Word after his performance at the Hoping for Hoping peace festival a couple of weeks ago and we expect more big things from the man who lists Bob Marley, Sugar Minott and Sizzla as his major influences.
Alan Hsia of Luxy said that in the following weeks there would be local support acts for Red-I and possibly
international bands. He said the reggae artist was the perfect first act.
"It's our first night and we're nervous about it but we want to keep making Luxy more colorful. So much of the music that's hot in every club has its roots in reggae, so this is the real thing we're putting on."
In other exclusive Luxy news, Hsia and his team of promoters will soon be opening a studio five floors above their fifth-floor club, to further develop the city's musical heads. "There's so much talent here but no real neutral creative ground. Our aim is for urban audiences to have access to a studio and bring out the good stuff that's out there."
Tonight Lee Burridge will be setting aside his trance records and spinning progressive house, beats 'n' breaks at Luxy; tomorrow it's TechnoPhonic with Vertigo.
Jody Wisternoff from the influential prog band Way Out West will be laying on the trance tomorrow at MoS. Mike Gibbs from Canada will be putting down progressive house and breaks tonight.
"Quest for Freedom" at Boven in Shihlin tomorrow marks the anniversary of the Tiananmen Square protest in 1989, when hundreds and possibly thousands of Chinese were killed by their own government. The Vinyl Word put it to promotor Pierre Bruwer that combining dance music and politics was rare.
"It's kind of unusual, but I guess it's like when someone dies you can have a party as a remembrance. And let's face it, there's no better way to remember something than to have a good solid knees-up."
Bruwer's Beat Symposium, which also includes Marc Kets and will feature Zoltan, will be playing music ranging from '70s funk to the latest neo-soul rhythms. Boven is at 437, Zhongshan N Rd, Shihlin, Taipei (台北市中山北路5段437號). For more information go to www.boven.com.tw.
The Vinyl Word: Taipei should be sweating again this weekend, starting last night.
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