Reggae Cowboys with The Yayhoos, North By Northwest, 7165 Germantown Avenue, 215.248.1000, www.nxwphl.com
I imagine myself at a tiki bar with a frozen cocktail in hand, loaded with rum and topped off with an umbrella, somewhere on a warm, sandy beach. The Reggae Cowboys are on stage, the tepid sea air blankets my arms and legs, which patter to the rasta beat. These countrified islanders rattle and roll beside the crystal clear current and amidst the orange glow of the sun, setting just beyond a passing cruise ship.
Perhaps that’s only a glimpse into one of my daydreams, but listening to the Reggae Cowboys fifth release, “Stone Ranger” (the name of lead singer, guitarist, and producer), summons visions of white sand and bottomless brews. Based in Toronto, the Reggae Cowboys bring a mixed bag of influences – island hop, southwestern sizzle, and rock roots. They roll through southwestern tracks seared with a Jamaican jerk flavor, yet bestow heaps of homage to blues rock roots.
The 11 tracks on "Stone Ranger," blend the tropics with the bayou with the heartland with the desert with the Big Apple for a perfectly laid-out reggae utopia. There are also some European highlights within the group’s formula, which is evident on the album’s repeated track, “Samedi Soir” (translates to “Saturday Evening”), done in both English and French.
The Reggae Cowboys’ ability to meld various genres onto a reggae backbone has afforded the group success in the U.S., Caribbean Islands, and in Europe, where their song, “Coce Dominique,” was a major hit in France. The band has continuously received heaps of recognition for their special reggae recipe, and they are sure to warm the cold souls of Philadelphians when they visit this week.
Caught in the path of impending snowstorms, and as my mind wanders towards warmer temperatures, rum drinks, and balmy salt air, the Reggae Cowboys will be the perfect winter soundtrack to pass away frosty nights in Philadelphia until I leave for vacation in mid-January. Their show on Friday night at North By Northwest should only serve to reinforce my longing for the tropics as my warm-weathered daydreams grow stronger for a place “where the weather suits my soul.”
Perhaps that’s only a glimpse into one of my daydreams, but listening to the Reggae Cowboys fifth release, “Stone Ranger” (the name of lead singer, guitarist, and producer), summons visions of white sand and bottomless brews. Based in Toronto, the Reggae Cowboys bring a mixed bag of influences – island hop, southwestern sizzle, and rock roots. They roll through southwestern tracks seared with a Jamaican jerk flavor, yet bestow heaps of homage to blues rock roots.
The 11 tracks on "Stone Ranger," blend the tropics with the bayou with the heartland with the desert with the Big Apple for a perfectly laid-out reggae utopia. There are also some European highlights within the group’s formula, which is evident on the album’s repeated track, “Samedi Soir” (translates to “Saturday Evening”), done in both English and French.
The Reggae Cowboys’ ability to meld various genres onto a reggae backbone has afforded the group success in the U.S., Caribbean Islands, and in Europe, where their song, “Coce Dominique,” was a major hit in France. The band has continuously received heaps of recognition for their special reggae recipe, and they are sure to warm the cold souls of Philadelphians when they visit this week.
Caught in the path of impending snowstorms, and as my mind wanders towards warmer temperatures, rum drinks, and balmy salt air, the Reggae Cowboys will be the perfect winter soundtrack to pass away frosty nights in Philadelphia until I leave for vacation in mid-January. Their show on Friday night at North By Northwest should only serve to reinforce my longing for the tropics as my warm-weathered daydreams grow stronger for a place “where the weather suits my soul.”
posted by Reggae Cowboys at 1:45 AM
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