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Last Night - soldiers of jah concert @ whitlows
last night was fuckkin awesome !, alexis, pat, nick, eric and I.. went to whitlows and saw soldiers of jah army play.. it was fuckin amazing !!!... soldiers rocked ! and i saw so many ppl from Arlington, !!!! it was amazing... i must of seen 30 ppl i went to wakefield and hb with...
tonight we are seein them again hopefully in adams morgan @ tomtoms, they are playin from 9pm to 2am... hollla
Album Review By Reggae-Review.com:
Add to the ever-growing list of impressive home-grown American roots reggae talent the band Soldiers of Jah Army (SOJA). This group of Washington DC-area youths, all only in their early 20s, performs with a confidence and proficiency well beyond their years, and on Peace in a Time of War, they present roots fans with a gift from above that may set a new benchmark for US reggae. Although thus far they have not really reached beyond the Mid-Atlantic region of the US, the quality of their material rivals nationally renowned American acts like John Brown’s Body and Groundation. Their music is full-band, live-instrument roots (except little or no horns; trust me, though, you don’t miss it) performed with a sincerity that comes through in their flawless performances. Their message is righteous and unifying, their tone ranging from fiery exhortations with slight dancehall strains ("Brothers and Sisters," "Creeping In," "Reality," "Forgive Don’t Forget") to muted, introspective odes with acoustic guitars and/or African drums ("Look Within," "True Love," "Rasta Courage," "Jah Atmosphere," "Mother Earth"). Lead singer Jacob Hemphill (insert your own hemp joke here) has a remarkable voice and passionate delivery seemingly made for roots reggae. He transitions effortlessly from a slightly raspy Marley-esque growl to a smoother, almost Ali Campbell-like wail that is mesmerizing. The songwriting too is amazingly strong and consistent, the quality not letting up until the last couple of tracks – which doesn’t dampen the experience in any way. I could pick any number of tunes as standouts, from "Non Partial Non Political" to "True Love" to "Look Within" to "Reality," "Rasta Courage," "Jah Atmoshpere," and "Revolution." Peace in a Time of War is truly a breathtaking, awesome showcase for SOJA’s talent. Although it isn’t their debut (this is their third release to date), this set could – and, if there is any justice, should – serve as their coming out party. It is a major statement that bodes well not only for the group’s potential, but also for the future of the American reggae scene.
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