Junior Toots' Album Party

By Ari Sandoval on Sunday, April 1, 2012 - Photos by Lee Abel - Comment

Junior Toots shares A Little Bit Of Love. Record Release Party in San Francisco on March 24, 2012.

Sampler

Junior Toots

On a rainy Saturday night, Pier 23 saw the record release of 'A Little Bit of Love' the new album from Junior Toots, the son of Toots Hibbert of Toots and the Maytals. The close and intimate setting made Pier 23 in San Francisco a great place to catch the show. It was a wonderful experience feeling warm and sheltered under tents while outside listening to the music and the rain fall. The weather even served as a blessing, as all who came did so for the love of the music and brought only the best vibes.

Midnight Sun Massive got the crowd warmed up with tracks ranging from roots reggae, dancehall, to all out African sounding dance jams with full on percussion including timbales, congas and even agogo. Sugar Boom was just one of the infectious rhythms that got everyone in the place moving.

In between sets Jah Warrior Shelter Hi-Fi was spinning, keeping the vibes groovin. Before Rocker T came to the stage, Bishop Gad performed a couple songs.

“Burn, Burn, Burn Apartheid!”, Rocker T belted with an Acapella intro to his set. He worked the mic skillfully, chanting riddims and even playing the melodica in a dub-stylee groove. In an aside, T reminded the crowd of his ceaseless mission to promote the full de-criminalization and legalizing of herb.

Junior Toots moved onto the stage with the energy of a lion, starting off with Solid As a Rock and kept the crowd moving all night. Backing him as they did Rocker T was The Fyah Squad Band, who played to perfection, with bluesy guitar solos and a rhythm section as steady as it was precise. Taking advantage of the proximity of the crowd Toots invited on stage a few queens throughout the night, respectfully dancing with them. Toots' diversity was shown moving from grooving rocksteady jams to full on dancehall, and even a song featuring Sol Atash singing in Farsi. Truly genuine, he even announced the birthday of one of the crowd members (Tara). Rocker T joined Junior Toots onstage for an encore song, sending the crowd home in higher spirits in the perfect climax to an irie night.

'A Little Bit of Love' Junior Toots' new album, is as full of soul and diversity as his performance was. From rocksteady to dancehall Toot's delivers a truly enjoyable and uplifting audio experience.