The next exciting show coming up at The Westcott Theater is the exquisite, Ithaca, New York and Cambridge, Mass-founded John Brown’s Body. This incredible eight-piece band plays some of the best sounding modern, complex reggae music you can hear right now. The show is this Friday, January 18th and you won’t want to miss it if you love reggae! If you’re trying to figure out what to do in Syracuse this week, JBB is a top pick.
John Brown’s Body has actually been around for quite some time, starting back in 1995. The first album, All Time, dropped in ’96 and since then the band released eight albums and is now a world-touring group. Early on John Brown’s Body was focused on the foundational roots of reggae before moving in the direction of the more hybrid sound of today. Nowadays they cross the genres of reggae, dub, dancehall, dubstep, electronica, and hip-hop. The sound is so varied, in fact, that they’ve performed with groups like Dave Matthews Band, Jurassic 5, Broken Social Scene, and–one of my all time favorites–The Flaming Lips. They’ve been written up in such publications as the Village Voice and the New York Daily News, among others. This reggae group is doing big things in the name of past greats like Bob Marley whilst remaining revolutionary even today. It’s not often that a band bridges such a wide gap and the result is absolutely stunning, perfected reggae fusion that demands to be experienced live. Not to mention the fact that a live show includes a three-piece horn section, live drum and bass, and beautiful, chill melodies.
For those of you who enjoy the DJ and electronic side of things, JBB’s dub tunes have a vibe very similar to Thievery Corporation, which just so happens to be one of my favorite groups ever. Needless to say, I can’t wait to head to this show and be swept away in the chilled out rhythms of JBB.
John Brown’s Body recently released JBB in Dub, an EP which contains seven amazing, instrumental dub tracks that are perfect for anytime listening. I recommend checking it out.
John Brown’s Body hits the Westcott!
Friday, January 18th
Doors 8:00 p.m. Show 9:00 p.m.
BUY TICKETS NOW! – just $15! – available at door as well
Wellington from JBB in Dub:
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