Anthony B & Rootz Underground... LIVE REGGAE September 19, 2008

Anthony B & Rootz Underground
Northern California Tour
Sept 17-21

Sept 17 - San Francisco, DNA Lounge - ALL AGES
Sept 18 - San Jose, VooDoo Lounge - 21+
Sept 19 - Berkeley, DownLow Lounge - 21+
Sept 21 - Santa Cruz, Moe's Ally - 21+

ANTHONY B
Direct from Jamaica
http://www.myspace.com/officialanthonyb

ROOTZ UNDERGROUND
JA's #1 Roots Band
http://www.rootzunderground.com/

EMPIRE ISIS
Toronto's New Sensation
http://www.empireisis.com/

YOUNG FYAH
California's Newest Dancehall Star
http://www.myspace.com/youngfire1 

THE PYRX BAND
Hightimes Magazine's "BEST NEW ARTIST"
http://www.myspace.com/pyrx

Tickets: AngelMagik.Inticketing.com
Info: Myspace.com/AngelMagikEntertainement
Poster: http://s60.photobucket.com/albums/h7/angel-magik/?action=view¤t=anthony_b_poster_v2.jpg

Wednesday Sept 17
DNA Lounge, San Francisco
ALL AGES
375 Eleventh Street, San Francisco
415.626.1409 Doors @ 9pm
dnalounge.com/

Thursday Sept 18
VooDoo Lounge, San Jose 21+
14 South Second Street, San Jose, 95113
408.286.8636 * Doors 9pm
voodooloungesj.com/

Friday Sept 19
DownLow Lounge, Berkeley 21+
2284 Shattuck Ave, Berkeley
510.548.1159* Doors 9pm
shattuckdownlow.com

Sunday Sept 21
Moe's Ally, Santa Cruz
1535 Commercial Way
831.479.1854 * Doors 9pm
moesalley.com/

Live direct from Jamaica ANTHONY B hits Northern California for a rare debut performance backed by ROOTZ UNDERGOUND.  Supporting Acts: EMPIRE ISIS, PYRX & YOUNG FYAH. An incredible night of music Angel Magik Style. Get your tickets while you can and come see the original fireman up close and personal.

ANTHONY B:
Draped in the rich colours of African cloth, his trademark staff in hand, and his dreadlocks wrapped regally on his head, Anthony B embodies all that it is spiritual and proactive about Reggae music. This artiste has been steadfast in his mission to represent the poor and oppressed, using sharp lyrics to confront political injustices and bring the issues of the people to the forefront. In the process, he has raised the quality of performance standards and lyrical content for the industry, through the release of 10 albums, over 1000 singles and appearances on over 100 albums in the last 13 years.  
Anthony B’s musical journey started in the church, back when he was still called Keith Anthony Blair in Clark’s Town, Trelawney. In this part of rural Jamaica, Anthony B was immersed in the thunderous chants and rhythms of Revivalism and the Seventh Day Adventist church where he honed his soon-to-be signature vocals. In his formative years, the artiste also cleaved to the music of Otis Redding and the incomparable Peter Tosh.
In 1992, Anthony B left his home-town and set out to make his fateful mark on Kingston’s music scene. He rebuked the trend of girl and gun lyrics popular at that time and remained faithful to words of spiritual consciousness and social conviction. He started working with singer Little Devon, who introduced him to Richard “Bell” Bello, of Star Trail Records, producer for Garnet Silk and Everton Blender. Bell saw the talent of the youngster and shared his commitment to conscious music. The partnership produced a slew of records and releases, such as "Repentance time", "Fire pon Rome", “One Thing”, “A De Man”, "Rumour" and"Raid di barn”. Anthony B followed up with critically acclaimed albums such as “Real Revolutionary”,"Universal Struggle", “Black Star” and “Untouchable”. He also struck out on his own to produce 3 albums independently, started his own label, Born Fire Records, and released two collaboration albums “Too Strong” with Sizzla and “Three Wise Men” with Sizzla and Luciano.
Anthony B’s lyrical genius and his captivating, energetic performance style have caused him to be heavily requested for performances in the Caribbean, North America, Europe and Africa. In 2003 and 2004, he was given a king’s welcome in Gambia and Senegal. In 2004, he sold out shows in Switzerland, Austria, Sweden, Belgium, France, Italy and Germany; closing for such greats as Israel Vibration and Burning Spear. He also opened up new regions for reggae music through his performances in New Dehli, India and on France’s Reunion Island, in the Indian Ocean.
His heavy touring schedule has not slowed Anthony B’s stream of releases. Over the years, he has collaborated with Bone Crusher, Akon, Wyclef Jean, Snoop Dogg, R. Kelly, and, on his latest album, Martina.
Anthony B’s rich vocals and audacious lyrics carry a depth and substance which is rare in the industry. Internationally, his fan-base has grown because he speaks about the universal concerns of suffering and salvation. “The greatest thing about reggae music is that it’s about concepts and ideas,” says the artiste, “you are speaking to people on issues they live and can relate to.”
Anthony B’s latest hit singles include “Mr. Controversy”, “Suffering Man”, “Condom”, and “More Passa Passa” and come from his highly-anticipated 10th album, “The Suffering Man”. In February 2007, Anthony released yet another album with Greensleeves Records, “Higher Meditation”.  Come out and see one of the most prolific artists in reggae history backed by an all-star live band

ABOUT ROOTZ UNDERGROUND
Revolution reggae music - edgy, raw, natural, roots... They are Rootz Underground. That is their sound. 

Since their start in 2000, performing at live jam sessions in Kingston, Jamaica at Harry's bar, to RE Unplugged at Weekendz and then becoming the main act at Mystic Urchin's Tuesday Nite Live at Village, Rootz Underground have gained notoriety for their live performances. The group performed live for five years before beginning the recording process for their debut release MOVEMENT. The band has had the opportunity to perform at such Jamaican festivals such as Reggae Sumfest, Reggae Sunsplash, Welcome To Jamrock, the Air Jamaica Jazz & Blues Festival and Flashpoint Film Festival. 

The six-member group unites Stevie G Newland (lead singer), Charles Lazarus (lead guitar), Jeffrey Moss-Solomon (rhythm guitar), Colin Young (bass guitar), Paul Smith (keyboard) and Leon Campbell (drummer) to form a revolutionary roots, rock, reggae band. 

Rootz Underground built its live show and readied the songs for MOVEMENT after the tremendous response they received from their community. Their shows rapidly became an institution in Kingston and throughout Jamaica. The group developed a fan base that was fertile for this growing “reggae rock" music scene that has now taken "root" in Jamaica. Employing the dynamic combination of a contemporary roots, rock sound, universal messages and energetic and compelling stage shows, Rootz Underground goes beyond a niche definition - reaching across reggae boundaries into pop music realms. 

MOVEMENT has benefited from a sophisticated team crafting some of the greatest recordings in reggae today. Each track of this 19-song set tells a vivid, nuanced story with moody - Jazz influenced guitar solos, nimble keyboards, ethereal segues, delay effects, traditional African/Jamaican hand drums, razor sharp mixing and call and response chorus vocals that find members harmonizing in agreement with the lyrical message. A rich sound, full of careful layers, serves as a comfortable bed for some of the most universal and honest lyrics to rest in a reggae mix. This sound doesn't rest alone in the reggae genre, the songs have a serious rock music sensibility with breakdowns into hard-hitting grooves, intense builds and smooth transitions back to the one-drop reggae rhythm. The album’s use of interesting vignettes takes us into the realm of the underground and beyond to position ourselves in the movement for a closer listen. 

First released to radio and as a video is the compelling VICTIMS OF THE SYSTEM, produced by Wayne Armond (as is the lion’s share of the record) that preps us for the mindset of a modern Jamaican “underground” twenty-something. The current single and companion video for HAMMER features the production talents of Bobby Digital, an influential reggae and dance hall producer. The dreamy TIME IS AN ILLUSION is produced by Rory Gilligan of the legendary Stone Love sound system who makes memories of dancehalls past come to life on the album intro vignette taken from a 1990’s session shout out that introduces the 19-song set like a night on the town that lasts through the wee hours until dawn. 

The lead singer Stevie G has an urgent and focused stage presence reminiscent of Bob Marley in its reverent passion and plaintive, sincere delivery. But the fact that he shares vocal duties with other members and takes an ensemble role makes him stand out from the “front man” role in the reggae genre, stating his message with the energy of the group and the compositions at the forefront of the mission. The group members share the stage with timely instrumental solos or choreographed dance and vocal portions from other members forming an integral part of the Rootz Underground show. 

At no other time in the history of reggae have its players been so widely accepted as the present. People from cultures all over the world look to the music and message of Bob Marley and the Wailers for sustenance, enjoying the standards of reggae excellence. Artists and bands such as Sean Paul, Damian Marley, Morgan Heritage, Culture, and Burning Spear tour continents filling stadiums and selling out festivals devoted to this revolutionary art form. 

Now the younger generation has decided to take up their "arms" and come as warriors with words, sound and power to hip clubs in Kingston and subsequently to radio, TV and festival stages outside their island of Jamrock. The band members of Rootz Underground have been schooled in the institutions of higher learning and mentored by present-day musicians and producers in Jamaica. Their signature sound is inspired both Bob Marley's contemporaries in '70's traditional rock as well as modern giants in pop music. 

Like the founders of reggae and their offspring who fuse elements of traditional reggae and ska, R&B, Jazz, Latin, rock and then punk rock, Rootz Underground uses elements of revolutionary Rasta-influenced reggae, trance, rock, Jazz, and dub to forge a modern reggae rock sound. Reggae afficionados, critics, promoters and DJ's alike concur that Rootz Underground is a group that can make an impact as large as their predecessors in ensemble reggae recording and song writing, inviting comparisons to bands such as Midnite, Steel Pulse, Black Uhuru, Third World, and the legendary Wailers. 

Many of the finest musicians in reggae are found on stages and in the studio as "backing bands" for touring artists. What this meant around the turn of the millennium was limited live music scene in reggae's homeland of Jamaica. Musicians would assemble in order to record music or back other artists, or perform recording session work for popular rhythms that multiple artists record over. The vacuum created by this tendency set the stage for the rise of Rootz Underground as a band whose originals present a fresh sound and paint a vivid canvas for the future of Jamaican music.
 

Official Website: http://www.Myspace.com/AngelMagikEntertainement