Online Reggae Magazine

Articles

Articles about reggae music, reviews, interviews, reports and more...

Protoje in Los Angeles

Home
Articles
Reports
Protoje in Los Angeles

Protoje in Los Angeles

By Jan Salzman on Friday, July 6, 2012 - Photos by Jan Salzman - Comment

Protoje performed at La Cita, Los Angeles on May 27th. Report!

Sampler

The club La Cita was an intimate venue and very packed for the premiere performance by Protoje in Los Angeles. The stage area was small and the DJ’s took up one side leaving about ten by four area for Protoje to move around. He utilized the space to the fullest as he chanted out his songs to the audience that were jammed against the stage. I got stuck in one spot for most of the show but was right up front snapping pix for the duration of the over an hour show. The crowd knew the words to most of the songs and yelled out requests in between songs.

Protoje chanted his lyrics with perfection! He did many songs from his debut album including Dread, Wrong Side of the Law, JA and Roll. The audience cheered as he launched into Rasta Love, which was his massive hit dueting with Ky-Mani Marley. His pitch reminded me of a young Damian Marley. Protoje mentioned his cousin the famous producer Donovan “Don Corleon” Bennett as he went into Roll. The club was rocking throughout the night and loved Protoje’s performance! At the end of the show Protoje was called back to the stage for an encore…the audience shouting out requests (including me). He decided to do “After I’m Gone”, a heartfelt lyric about after we leave this planet.

Protoje greeted fans at the front of the club after the show being very available, conscious and friendly. The handsome lad had many pretty female admirers. I was wishing I could dissolve a few years of my age to flirt a little too. He’s so sweet!

I drove home listening to his CD 'Seven Year Itch' recalling the wonderful show of the night. If Protoje comes to your town mark your calendar for an exciting evening.