My first BOB
I remember telling everyone that I could, even if no one was my true friend, that there was a reggae concert at Mayo Island. I had reggae as a friend. Even though I knew they were not my friends, reggae was the reason that we were or would all be there together, and that was what it was about. However, I knew when the music was over, as the lizard king said, it would be lucid that there never was a relationship between anyone I told and even the people I came with. But there was a relationship with the music because, as Bob sang, “One good thing about music is that when it hits, you feel no pain.” Oh man, was there pain and not just teenage pain? I was fifteen, and it was not because I would not have my Jake and his Porsche picking me up to help me blow out my sixteen candles; it was different. So the reggae concert was my first reggae concert, and it was like I had been waiting for it before I was born.
The whole ride to the concert, I was filled with a different type of energy. I could not believe it was actually going to happen, and by the part of nature that was so often my great escape from suburban angst, aka the river. I dove into the ticket counter gates like I was diving into the pool or river I remember walking past the porta potty and not smelling a thing, Reggae was about to happen and to me LIVE. But I was also really thinking could I smoke some ganja behind them? I found myself overlooking the river and toking my life away, then it started to rain the water was faint but enough to scare the hope of me seeing my first reggae concert. I think now of how it was kismet how the rain stopped and this girl got on stage and started dancing to the music even though there was no one playing. Then it happened I saw an extension of Mr. Marley come on stage it was regal in his now-grown children. They opened up with three little birds I will never forget it. Then my body does what it does with no other genre but at Pow Wows, I just move and become one with the music. I can’t be disturbed or stopped the music owns me and owes me a good time for my the future of my survival.
So Seeing Ziggy Marley and the Melody makers for that matter made it no ordinary reggae concert. Because I got there because of my first bob. Bob Marley tape that is.
This is where reggae started for me, well with a lifeguard who drove this CJ7 Jeep and was so hot, and I was not alone in this discovery. I think everyone had a crush on him, I know I did. He would let me come with him to get lunch for the other lifeguards. And you darn right I felt cool. I have always been drawn to older kids like way older. They let me be. But one day on the way to the local sub shop, I started singing along to the music but this time it was different. I stopped in mid-chorus and demanded who was it on the radio. He looked at me like there was something wrong. He told me I knew who it was. I replied I didn’t and he told me to look in my mom and dad’s record collection and I would see I had been listening all along. I did just that and went to my dad’s collection where I found my first Bob tape which was Survival. I have played that tape so much and think of that hot lifeguard to this day. Then I think have I been listening to reggae since birth? Probably so for I found in my dad’s records and tapes, U-Roy, Jimmy Cliff, Fela, and a lot of tapes of drumming from Congo to music from Cameroon and just all over Africa. I later found out my mom got most of the Reggae for my dad. How cool is that?
That was the day I found reggae or it found me in a limited edition Jeep on a perfect summer day with a breeze as cool as the music that was playing and that lifeguard. Or it had always been with me. Reggae that is.
I used to cry so much that you couldn’t tell music was playing in my room let alone reggae, but with reggae with BOB, PETER and BUNNY it was like with each guitar lick, bass, drum kick, hit on the congo, laced with the lyrics they all combine to dry my tears and wrap my soul in amour from the current trauma that was giving me drama that made depression not a common visitor but an endearing friend in a bad way. To say the most and too much.
I left that concert like it was a holy outdoor church, my soul had an uprising something in me was lifted where I would never be the same. I still have my first bob tape and I still have my first reggae concert as the means to the end in finding out reggae has always been one of the best friends I have ever had like with all great music.
I highly suggest an LP until you find people who respects you for you and understands you. It is what got me through and using music to heal. Until you find a real friend, music is a great friend. No, it’s family. Music is when it is grand because a great friend should be like family and not judge you and love you unconditionally. Friend and Family both start with a f maybe for some reason higher than all of us like music is higher and is a gospel it is for a reason.
Disclaimer: Depression doesn’t care if you have friends or do. It comes to wreak havoc on your life. If you are dealing with depression get help and talk about it. I know that sounds easy, but do it for your survival and listen to some music until you do.
I can not say enough about how reggae is not just a genre of music but a life saver.
