Ahh…Bob Marley.
The Rastafarian king of cool. We can all remember sitting in our dorm rooms, a thick cloud of green smoke lingering around the ceiling, and listening to “Buffalo Soldier” or any other of the reggae classics that filled the Exodus album.
Throughout the 1970’s, Bob Marley released a string of albums that brought reggae to the mainstream – while injecting a healthy dose love and political conscience into the mainstream lexicon. Marley’s songs are soulful and timeless: “Get Up, Stand Up,” “Redemption Song,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Three Little Birds,” “No Woman No Cry,” “Is This Love?” “Rebel Music,” “Stir it Up,” “One Love,” and “Stiff Necked Fools,” just to name a few of Marley’s classics. And throughout it all, The Wailers were his back-up band, standing behind him on-stage and in the studio and kept the groove moving.
And that is exactly what they are still doing…they keep the groove moving. Since the untimely death of their fearless leader Marley in 1981, The Wailers have continued on the road and making albums in an attempt to keep the love, message, and legacy of Bob’s music alive.
In the intervening years the band has worked with artists as varied as Sting, Stevie Wonder, and Carlos Santana – as well as continued work with former members Peter Tosh and Bunny Wailer and their various solo endeavors. Most recently they have worked with modern radio staples like Kenny Chesney, Colbie Caillat, and Jason Mraz. They’ve played all over the world from the Far East to Africa, in front of an estimated 250 million people.
Tonight, for one show only, The Wailers will be bringing their classic brand of reggae to Louisville’s own Mercury Ballroom. The show starts at 9:00 PM, and tickets are still available online and at the box office for $30.50 (all taxes and fees included).
