Rebelution Concert

Rebelution_04_flatIts been close to a year since I’ve been to a good concert here on Guam, so I made it a point to attend the Rebelution event which was held at the Yigo Amusement Park last night. As usual the park was packed, the vibes were good, and the music was great.

For those of you who have never listened to Rebelution, they are are Reggae band based out of Santa Barbara, California. Their music is pretty distinct from most other reggae artists I have listened to, and in fact most people refer to their style of reggae as California Reggae.

“Apparently, California Reggae is hot. Stemming from a foundation of local support, Rebelution soared into iTunes Reggae Top 10 (album downloads), amongst some lofty company. Lofty like Bob, Stephen, and Damian Marley.” — Santa Barbara News-Press

The band was so successful with their “Courage to Grow” album, that within a week of its release it became one of the most downloaded albums on Itunes and eventually won the iTunes Editors Choice: Best Reggae Album for 2007.

To be honest, I don’t recall the names of any of the opening acts for the event. When I arrived, my wife and I along with some friends went looking for a nice spot to “camp” and I found myself doing more socializing than actual listening. From what I did hear, all opening acts sounded good and I distinctly remember a band with an actual trumpet section which I thought was pretty sick. Overall, it was a good showing from our local community.

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Artist Review – Rebel Lion (Guam)

Rebel Lion LogoOne of Guam’s hottest reggae bands, Rebel Lion has taken the local radio waves and music scene by storm. With such musical talents as Jon Palau and Chris Unchango, I am truly hoping for an album release in the near future.

So far I’ve heard two outstanding singles released on Guam’s local airwaves. One includes Palau’s acoustic ballad Wishful Thinkin’ and the second is a anti-war statement performed by Unchango entitled Bossman. Both songs can be heard regularly on Guam’s local radio station I94 FM.

Palau’s Wishful Thinkin’ is an excellent ballad who’s lyrics carry a powerful yet simple meaning. With the use of a single acoustic guitar and a clean skank behind it, this was definitely one of my favorite tracks produced by Palau in recent memory. Its one of those few local tunes that can easily take you away from reality even if for just a few minutes. Definitely a favorite of mine.

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