by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Greetings from Durban, South Africa… Burning Spear, Culture, and the Wailers… three the hard way…!!! We're here on the coast of the Indian Ocean… right on the waterfront… sweet vibes… I'm here with George Kouakou, keys man with the Wailers and Culture… we are doing the internet thing… yunno… smile… up here in the business center of the Holiday Inn… yeah… big up to all the crew…
So everyone wants to know what the shows were like here in Africa huh? smile… well let me tell you it was nothing less than MASSIVE!… yeah… Imagine a triple bill like this in the states… man…!!!
Firstly… we hooked up in Kennedy in New York for the flight to Capetown… which is a sweet coastly town on the south… noted for where the two oceans meet… and the Table Mountains… where the clouds drip over the edge during the day… we took a ride… Virgo… Tedo, Gene, Cecil and myself… went up and take nuff pictures and things… laugh a lot… and realize that we hit the rock… our first time for all of us… we had a good time…
Sound check was dope too… the hit was out in a spot called Century City… under a tent… a huge tent mind you…
We had a nice time during our outing during the day… but around 6:00 p.m. the time difference… jet lag… it hit hard… I had to take a nap… and ended up deep in the "cave"… had to have water thrown on me to get up…
Oh… but before I go into that… I need to tell you about the welcome party… yeah… when we arrived at the hotel… we had a nice greetings… African style… with cool drinks… and smiles… and lots of good vibes… all of us… in there… let me tell you it was great just to be rubbing shoulders with Familyman Barrett… and Wya Lindo… and these great men from Culture… Joseph Hill and Spear conferencing on one end of the hall… Wya and men… it was a cool vibes… yunno…
Later some of us took off into town to a little dance hall… where they kept a session… we had some fish cooked up spicey and nice… with rice… and salad… we took nuff pictures… sure it was like a reunion of sorts… even though it was only a few weeks since we have been off… Its always good to get back into the swing… the Spear Swing…
We ate nuff… and drank two African beers… and had a nice time… very nice time listening to some local reggae on the sound system… and sure… even a few Bob tunes… and Spear tunes… it was a nice flow…
So… back to the first show… off the hook… most of us from the Spear crew arrived early to catch Culture tear up the place… the people went crazy… as they kicked into tunes like Two Sevens Clash and International Herb… yunno them tunes… Tedo and Sylvan and myself dancing in the wings… nice flow…
Later Wailers came in and tore up the place even more… just continuing with the hardcore vibes… phat bass up all in the place… and the bubbling keys and the vocals soaring… nice vibes…
Bout half way through the Wailers… Spear and the rest of the crew showed up… I greet Mr. Rodney backstage in the dressing room… and got in a bit of quiet time before the hit… sipping some energy drink and things…
The tension mounted as we set up… we were ready… some minor tech problems… we had to just let go of that… and hit it… and as we went into it… everything… the anxiety… sure… all that just melted away…
We kicked into our set… and it was so so phat… I mean the sound was huge!!! Spear just soared on top… and the crowd went into this mystic skank… we could see them… the first few rows… with huge african smiles… a melting pot of folks… white, black, mix… everybody just melted away into a mystic stew…
I must be honest… after a few moments… it was just the most high guiding my hands… I was just witness to things… it was a sweet feeling…
Later after the gig… we cool out on a pleasant ride… with the window open in the van home… where we hung out in the lobby chatting to folks… into the wee hours of the morning… occasionally Cecil, Mikey, Stewart and a few others would pass by… we were on a mission for some grub… some food… but couldn't get a menu for a good while…
Finally… after what seemed eternal patience… we got a menu… and ordered some grub… me and Cecil… Ken Joseph, drummer from Culture enjoyed some food in the lobby brought to us on a rolling tray… we tore it up…
The next day… we all took off to the airport and flew out to J-town… where we stayed at intimate and stylish hotel… another holiday inn… but had some nice vibes… with sofas… and overstuffed chairs in the living room area… a nice little pool with a fountain… and birds walking on the grass… strange birds to my eyes…
No sound check… time to rest… which is what I sure did… pulled the curtains and just knocked out… later we took off to the venue… I forget the time…
I think that show sounded even better than the first…!!! Spear was flashing his locks… and struck an almost prophet like pose… with his head bent… his fist thrust in the air… shaking his head…
We kicked off our first show with Marcus Garvey… this show began with Door Peep and a few others… wicked vibes… I can feel people gasping for air… as Spear took off into flight…
He made mention of coming home… and sent greetings to all South African…
It was a special vibes in J-burg… the hot hot city…
Back stage before the show… Spear, Mrs. Rodney, Myself… Professor Robinson, and James… and Cecil go over an interesting run down on the connection among all Africans… it was nice… backstage… as the floor rumbled to Fams bass… and the like of the drums… Spear explaining how his experiences and Africa have been… from his time in Senegal… to Nigeria… and here… South Africa…
We had a nice flow… backstage flow… private… Sylvan gave me a flag… and asked me to control it… thanks Sylvan… I fly the flag from the Ampeg rig I've been using…
Stewart came with some new lines to work into our intro… I like these guys… talk about discipline… all of us have it… it runs from the top down… a change…? no problem… we can hang with it… we anticipate anything… sometimes when you hear us hit from one tune to the next… with no break… that decision came quick and fast… and we all adjust…
J-burg was nothing less than mesmerizing… but the strange thing with the African experience so far… even up to this point… is that it doesn't feel much different than being in Europe or the States… this place is so "developed" the highways… and byways… what makes this special… for me and many of the others… like Stewart, Clydie… and Sylvan… Mikey… as we sat in the lobby after the stadium affair last night… was the people… the people… the diverse mix… we met Zulu's who gave us new names… and just everyday folks… like the sort that Professor Robinson was playing ball with… basketball… at the waterfront… the Indian Ocean… He said… "yeah man… I played a few games with them… they got game too!!" smile… yunno… the brothers in the hotel here who played reggae for us… a local band… as we arrived… or the multitude we met in the airports… dreads, afro's… all sorts… who waited for us… flying the red green and gold…
love to all… this is bassie… time to take a little break from the touring business… I love you all… that's right… the band… you guys are the best to work with in the business… its an honor… Mrs. Rodney… thanks so much for everything… so many folks along the journey we have made this year from New Zealand to Africa… and finally to Mr. Rodney… thanks father for the opportunity to share… and to build… and to support you… and your message… thank you…
Love up… live well… and with Jah guidance and protection we can meet again… like we never met before… smile…
Gregory…
December 18, 2000
November 25, 2000
Maryland, USA
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Bassie's vacation spot in Maryland… checking in… reflections on the last few dates on the north america tour…
Some time has passed… and to most of you… the Spear tour is completed… but not just yet… smile… For us… the past few weeks have been something else… we really put our all out there for you in North America… Northampton, Boston, D.C. and New York… we put it out there… we did… I must say that… these few months have been a long and consistent trip… no one… I mean no one in our crew complained about it… about rising early in the morning… 4 or 5 a.m. drives… sometimes 3 a.m. drives… cause this is what we love to do… just ask Cacique… or James… We live to come out and give you the music… and with Mr. Rodney… it goes without saying… but I must say… that Mr. Rodney is a hard working man… and he loves all of you… otherwise… would we be here?
So… it brings us to this point… the North America leg is complete… Northampton… funky artist town… nice to meet some folks from up New England… thanks y'all for the love…
A nice gig… felt good up there… I felt my bass bins really kicking up there… a nice feeling I tell you… although at the end of the set… my chords to the amp began to fry… and crackle… and hiss… and I had to do a quick replacement… during a dub section… Mikey… the drummer… he was looking at me with a sly grin… cause he knew that stuff drives me crazy…
Hey… let me say thanks to everyone in the band and crew too… cause… y'all some wicked professionals… and some characters too…
You got the G3 mac crew… Stephen… Prof… and James… chuckle… lap tops and things… Stephen… the night owl… what you doing late at night anyway… ebay? smile… Prof and James… the dynamic duo…
proud to say guys… that I have my G3 too… no more kinko's and things… happy now? you can write me… and I can write…
I'm up in the D.C. area now… cooling out before Africa… in my bedroom on the G3…
So… continuing… Boston… The Roxy… what a hip spot… love it… gotta thank Teo… from the House of Blues… cause he always sets up things nice… and Joshua from Heartbeat… nice to be with you… and the record signing thing you set up at Tower Records… it was fun… meeting all y'all… meaning the folks… the Spear supporters… I didn't have a seat so I didn't sign a whole lot… but i was there showing love same way… and the gig… sweet… I love the sound up there… I think the guys would say the same… Spear was in form…
Hey… you folks notice spear wearing a tie recently… yeah… told you he had some wicked gear… the tie's man… check for the tie's… it means he loves y'all… just show you know…
From the Roxy down to D.C. keeping the flow in our bones… Dr. Dreads crew was professional as usual… with the transport… and the dressing room… thanks to the fans for selling out the joint… We felt the energy… and gave you our all… and man… did they improve the p.a. in there or what… I can't wait to get back up in there…!!
Tedo was sporting a new hat… nice brown leather joint… Real Natty up in the place too… haven't seen him heating up sardines in a while… so it means he is getting some good yard food… laughs…
The victory ride to New York… last show… nuff champagne… and laughter… and jokes running for the entire trip… we had a good laugh about the tour… and it is nice to have a few words from everybody… giving thanks and things…
By the end of the trip… I realized why so many of us don't drink… smile… I won't tell much… but Cacique… you are one funny dude… and happy to see you sleep so well… on the floor… laughs… and Prof… you gotta remember which bunk is yours… laughs…
Its all love… and seeing the big apple again was sweet… we checked into a midtown spot… and many of us who make the area home took off… save for the miami, yard, and jersey posse… spear too… he stayed…
I got to hit mannny's… and ran into some old friends… including Lauryn Hill's engineer… Terry… hail up!!
The New York show was nice… a real solid show… have you checked out the pics on the pic post? Asher… you are great man… if you don't know… Asher is from Connecticut… and a big supporter… many of the pics you see on the post are from Asher…
Lots of New York fam… and it was good to see you all and feel y'all…
We did it with a lot of meaning that night… I hope y'all felt it…
Its hard to leave after the last gig… I noticed Mikey holding court with some of the guys in Miles Davis's band… good seeing y'all… and Commissioner Gordon, glad you came out… and so many others… after a while… it was just time to go… cause we could have stayed for a long long time… till morning…
But it really isn't over… things just enter a new phase… we melt into a new position… further down the road… yunno… as spear would say…
so next stop is South Africa… and what a happy day that will be…
Greetings to all crew…
jahloveeternal…
Gregory…
Bassie's vacation spot in Maryland… checking in… reflections on the last few dates on the north america tour…
Some time has passed… and to most of you… the Spear tour is completed… but not just yet… smile… For us… the past few weeks have been something else… we really put our all out there for you in North America… Northampton, Boston, D.C. and New York… we put it out there… we did… I must say that… these few months have been a long and consistent trip… no one… I mean no one in our crew complained about it… about rising early in the morning… 4 or 5 a.m. drives… sometimes 3 a.m. drives… cause this is what we love to do… just ask Cacique… or James… We live to come out and give you the music… and with Mr. Rodney… it goes without saying… but I must say… that Mr. Rodney is a hard working man… and he loves all of you… otherwise… would we be here?
So… it brings us to this point… the North America leg is complete… Northampton… funky artist town… nice to meet some folks from up New England… thanks y'all for the love…
A nice gig… felt good up there… I felt my bass bins really kicking up there… a nice feeling I tell you… although at the end of the set… my chords to the amp began to fry… and crackle… and hiss… and I had to do a quick replacement… during a dub section… Mikey… the drummer… he was looking at me with a sly grin… cause he knew that stuff drives me crazy…
Hey… let me say thanks to everyone in the band and crew too… cause… y'all some wicked professionals… and some characters too…
You got the G3 mac crew… Stephen… Prof… and James… chuckle… lap tops and things… Stephen… the night owl… what you doing late at night anyway… ebay? smile… Prof and James… the dynamic duo…
proud to say guys… that I have my G3 too… no more kinko's and things… happy now? you can write me… and I can write…
I'm up in the D.C. area now… cooling out before Africa… in my bedroom on the G3…
So… continuing… Boston… The Roxy… what a hip spot… love it… gotta thank Teo… from the House of Blues… cause he always sets up things nice… and Joshua from Heartbeat… nice to be with you… and the record signing thing you set up at Tower Records… it was fun… meeting all y'all… meaning the folks… the Spear supporters… I didn't have a seat so I didn't sign a whole lot… but i was there showing love same way… and the gig… sweet… I love the sound up there… I think the guys would say the same… Spear was in form…
Hey… you folks notice spear wearing a tie recently… yeah… told you he had some wicked gear… the tie's man… check for the tie's… it means he loves y'all… just show you know…
From the Roxy down to D.C. keeping the flow in our bones… Dr. Dreads crew was professional as usual… with the transport… and the dressing room… thanks to the fans for selling out the joint… We felt the energy… and gave you our all… and man… did they improve the p.a. in there or what… I can't wait to get back up in there…!!
Tedo was sporting a new hat… nice brown leather joint… Real Natty up in the place too… haven't seen him heating up sardines in a while… so it means he is getting some good yard food… laughs…
The victory ride to New York… last show… nuff champagne… and laughter… and jokes running for the entire trip… we had a good laugh about the tour… and it is nice to have a few words from everybody… giving thanks and things…
By the end of the trip… I realized why so many of us don't drink… smile… I won't tell much… but Cacique… you are one funny dude… and happy to see you sleep so well… on the floor… laughs… and Prof… you gotta remember which bunk is yours… laughs…
Its all love… and seeing the big apple again was sweet… we checked into a midtown spot… and many of us who make the area home took off… save for the miami, yard, and jersey posse… spear too… he stayed…
I got to hit mannny's… and ran into some old friends… including Lauryn Hill's engineer… Terry… hail up!!
The New York show was nice… a real solid show… have you checked out the pics on the pic post? Asher… you are great man… if you don't know… Asher is from Connecticut… and a big supporter… many of the pics you see on the post are from Asher…
Lots of New York fam… and it was good to see you all and feel y'all…
We did it with a lot of meaning that night… I hope y'all felt it…
Its hard to leave after the last gig… I noticed Mikey holding court with some of the guys in Miles Davis's band… good seeing y'all… and Commissioner Gordon, glad you came out… and so many others… after a while… it was just time to go… cause we could have stayed for a long long time… till morning…
But it really isn't over… things just enter a new phase… we melt into a new position… further down the road… yunno… as spear would say…
so next stop is South Africa… and what a happy day that will be…
Greetings to all crew…
jahloveeternal…
Gregory…
November 08, 2000
Northampton, MA
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Hummmm… cheap internet… so here I am… a few minutes prior to sound check… Northampton Mass… I wrote a few lines on the ride up… a long two day journey from Fort Lauderdale… here goes…
The final days… are upon us… the last moments of the North American leg of the tour… today is day two of the long haul… from southern Florida… to Northampton… a victory ride…
Last night we drove from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m… stopping for the night at a small hotel in South Carolina… between two… no three fireworks dealers… painted with bright carnival colors… bright red and yellow paint… clowns… dancing…
Early to bed tonight… dozing to cable t.v… Clyde leaning against the hotel bannister… yunno… one of those outdoor hotels… where you walk across a field past a pool, covered up for the winter… with a few leaves on top… chimney red… and halloween orange…
Clyde was chilling… asked me where Virgo's room is… I didn't know… the sky… full of stars… golden orbs… the stillness of the night… broken only by the sound of foggy voices in the distance… laughter…
stillness… quiet… no load in tonight… no monitors… no sound check… just the carolina night… and the passing truck… peaceful… shsssshhhhhh…
We have some big shows coming up… I suppose this is the quiet before the storm… yeah… I like that vibe… D.C. Boston, Philly… New York… the megalopolis awaits… yeah… we are coming… can you hear us… the Spear is coming… smile…
Mr. Rodney's words echoing in my head…"its important gentleman… to end the tour as we began… burning hot…!!! are you ready?!!!"
Yes… we are ready sir… we are…
thoughts in our heads… as we pass fields of corn… past road signs… dried grasses… a stack of fire wood… hazy skies… under cooler climes… out come the jackets… more warm drinks at truck stops…
We are ready sir… as we pass homes were I suppose folks are sitting in their kitchens… sipping their morning tea…
a man with his dog… power lines… the whistling air through the mesh in the window… Tedo asks me to close it… its too cool now for that… he says…
Hotels… inns… all whizz by in a blurr…
James is peeling an apple with his teeth… Tedo is fiddling with the remote… Mikey is riding shotgun with Tom… up front… headphones on…
a sudden turn… and the frig opens… luckily nothing flies out… Sylvan… the sardine king… enters his kitchen… soon there will be the smells of steaming hot food…
as we pass a meandering river… a red lion supermarket…
the silver streak is on the road… heading up to the big big city…
see you soon…
Gregory
Hummmm… cheap internet… so here I am… a few minutes prior to sound check… Northampton Mass… I wrote a few lines on the ride up… a long two day journey from Fort Lauderdale… here goes…
The final days… are upon us… the last moments of the North American leg of the tour… today is day two of the long haul… from southern Florida… to Northampton… a victory ride…
Last night we drove from 8:00 a.m. till 5:00 p.m… stopping for the night at a small hotel in South Carolina… between two… no three fireworks dealers… painted with bright carnival colors… bright red and yellow paint… clowns… dancing…
Early to bed tonight… dozing to cable t.v… Clyde leaning against the hotel bannister… yunno… one of those outdoor hotels… where you walk across a field past a pool, covered up for the winter… with a few leaves on top… chimney red… and halloween orange…
Clyde was chilling… asked me where Virgo's room is… I didn't know… the sky… full of stars… golden orbs… the stillness of the night… broken only by the sound of foggy voices in the distance… laughter…
stillness… quiet… no load in tonight… no monitors… no sound check… just the carolina night… and the passing truck… peaceful… shsssshhhhhh…
We have some big shows coming up… I suppose this is the quiet before the storm… yeah… I like that vibe… D.C. Boston, Philly… New York… the megalopolis awaits… yeah… we are coming… can you hear us… the Spear is coming… smile…
Mr. Rodney's words echoing in my head…"its important gentleman… to end the tour as we began… burning hot…!!! are you ready?!!!"
Yes… we are ready sir… we are…
thoughts in our heads… as we pass fields of corn… past road signs… dried grasses… a stack of fire wood… hazy skies… under cooler climes… out come the jackets… more warm drinks at truck stops…
We are ready sir… as we pass homes were I suppose folks are sitting in their kitchens… sipping their morning tea…
a man with his dog… power lines… the whistling air through the mesh in the window… Tedo asks me to close it… its too cool now for that… he says…
Hotels… inns… all whizz by in a blurr…
James is peeling an apple with his teeth… Tedo is fiddling with the remote… Mikey is riding shotgun with Tom… up front… headphones on…
a sudden turn… and the frig opens… luckily nothing flies out… Sylvan… the sardine king… enters his kitchen… soon there will be the smells of steaming hot food…
as we pass a meandering river… a red lion supermarket…
the silver streak is on the road… heading up to the big big city…
see you soon…
Gregory
November 02, 2000
Gainesville, FL
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Its been way too long… I realize that… busy busy… thanks everyone… and you too Adam… for all the encouragement… Joshua up in Mass… and so many others… Morty out in Arkansas… and the Mighty Spear… Mr. Rodney…
At this moment Cecil and I… are at Java shop out in Gainesville Florida… back in the sunny climes… the smell of roasted coffee… the taste of the remains of the latte'… the hiss of the espresso machines… students mingling and chatting… as they click away on laptops… nice flow… save for this lame muzak… playing… but hey… free internet…
Let me say these past few weeks have been sweet… so many different environs… from city to town… from north to south to west… ummmmh…
Where have we been? sometimes it is like a blur… soldier vibes we call it… that's when we make the show… and then push out at 3:00 a.m. ummmmh… its all part of the flow… all of us must have a lot of discipline… and do the things we must do to get up…
These contrasts I will call Chiaroscuro… contrasts… that's what the word means… been reading a lot from a book on Da Vinci… yunno… some brain food… and its a word that comes up again and again… what it means to explain… is that there is contrast… it is part of the world we exist in… from city to town to country… from night to day… from the snows to the rains… the dry dry parched earth… its all part of the continuum… yunno…
It illustrates boundaries… relief… change… it reminds us all… in our own way… that there exists a summit… a personal summit…
Madison Wisconsin… a pleasant vibe… intimate show… then off to Detroit… where we had a chance to do the city thing… yeah… big venue… and lots of yardies… Glen Washington… big up to ya chief… and a few others… Chicago… what a surprise… every man has a single room… you should have seen us run to get our keys… smile…
Seems when we are in the House of Blues… there is always some magic… and that night was no exception… the men dem love to pull out ties and suits and things… Trommie Lee… aka Micah is good for that… but also Mr. Rodney… recently he pulled out some incredible ties… to show us he has his ready too… Oh… but did you all catch Steven Stewart… ummmh… now you all know by now that his thing is wearing all black… its only once in a blue moon you will see him in anything but black… and House of Blues was no exception… but that night… ummmh… out came the black suit jacket… no shirt… ouch!!!!… look baaddd man… onward forward in the silver streak… from Detroit to St. Louis… talk about strange vibes… we checked into a hotel that was more a medieval castle… actually more like 18th Century England… with original wood and structure from a mansion in the U.K… it has a peculiar odor… at least to me it did… there was a giant bear… stuffed heads… animals… and a bunch of other things… even the gun in a display case that was used to shoot the bear… lots of old dark woods… a few of us went next door and had some Chinese… and we gigged in a brand spanking new theatre… contrasts… what was that word…? Chiaroscuro…
From there to the college town of Columbia… lately the silver streak is laden with the sounds of doo wop… courtesy of Tedo… the original doo wop king… chuckles… seems he got this collection of video's while in San Fran… and he is hooked… been cleaning up the doo wop collections at all the local c.d. shops… and the college town are big for that… now you got Deep… aka Sylvan… he is the soul man… and the "real natty"… but we call him deep… don't know where that came from… I think Tedo… we enjoy it when they are sparring… lovely… on the bus… over this or that… even today… while watching Third World Cop… as we pulled in hear to Gainesville… sparring over the result of the movie… who would have chosen what to do… in this or that situation… just straight up fun…
Anyway… Deep… he's the original soul man… nuff Ojay's up there… and don't forget the man in black… Stewie… you get him going… and he's going to go into his box… and pull out Heatwave… and Confunkshun… and lots of classics… and tell you a thing or two…
In the mean time… as we make all these runs… you got James… and Micah… running all the c.d.'s on the bus intotheir laptops… collecting everything in sight… James be bopping with them headphones too… so if you bump into him… you are going to have to speak up… cause he is travelin… just like the Spear tune… "more than 2,000 miles…" Wicked tune… have you heard that one?
So anyway… bouncing and bopping into Columbia… college town… and a wicked show… Spear had that place in a trance… and the system really held up to our power needs… cause we really pump in some watts… with the live horns… and the keys… and the power even just from the vocal… we use a lot of juice… some places nearly run to melt down… the amps… a few times they nearly did… and you gotta hand it to Virgo… our engineer for keeping things in check… Columbia… things held up sweetly…
Onward to Lawrence Kansas… and Fayatteville, Arkansas… where we have some of our biggest fans… Morty and his wife really made us feel comfy… an intimate dinner in there home… setting everything up for us… and handling things well… both of them are some of the nicest people you can meet… check for them anytime you are down there…
More contrasts… onward to Austin TX… what a town!! it was like the wild west out there… the strip… ummmmh… another intimate affair… the club… but what vibes… and a strong sound… Phat…
Since Clydie… sax man got his new remote mic… you see him walking around stage… doing his solo's… like on tumble down… have you checked that one out… he does the circular breathing… and just blows… and blows… now he walks across stage… and comes right up to the front… giving me a wink as he passes by… Tedo makes a joke every now and then… cause it seems he doesn't dance… as he plays… but hey… that's how it goes sometimes… right? smile…
New Orleans… House of Blues… simply wicked… Mrs. Rodney arrives… and the vibes are elevated even more… greetings and blessing Mrs. Rodney…!!!
Houston, TX… the silver streak pulls into another Double Tree… warm cookies… and what? free internet… there is Virgo up there… Sylvan… Cecil… and me… yeah… I should have put this diary at the time… but I didn't… smile… no hard feelings… right… Cecil pulls out the acoustic guitar in the lobby… and begins to sing and play… nice vibes… roots vibes… yunno…
The Spear is burning strong… and the more we travel… the deeper the dimensions of this experience reveal themselves to me… its interesting… and its a growing experience… which is very positive…
There is a reason we are hear… and a role we all play… and its clearer to me… about the longevity… more things reveal themselves… and yet… there are more and more elements within…
I hope some of the things I have shared have heightened your interest in the Spear experience… and can help you relate this experience with you own life…
Chiaroscuro… its a word I took from reading Da Vinci… a man from antiquity… but who's reasonings still add meaning and inspire thinkers and artists to this day… and yes… there is a reason for longevity… same like the Spear experience… don't you think? sure…
till next time…
jahloveeternal…
Gregory Dale Jackson… aka Mr. Bassie
Its been way too long… I realize that… busy busy… thanks everyone… and you too Adam… for all the encouragement… Joshua up in Mass… and so many others… Morty out in Arkansas… and the Mighty Spear… Mr. Rodney…
At this moment Cecil and I… are at Java shop out in Gainesville Florida… back in the sunny climes… the smell of roasted coffee… the taste of the remains of the latte'… the hiss of the espresso machines… students mingling and chatting… as they click away on laptops… nice flow… save for this lame muzak… playing… but hey… free internet…
Let me say these past few weeks have been sweet… so many different environs… from city to town… from north to south to west… ummmmh…
Where have we been? sometimes it is like a blur… soldier vibes we call it… that's when we make the show… and then push out at 3:00 a.m. ummmmh… its all part of the flow… all of us must have a lot of discipline… and do the things we must do to get up…
These contrasts I will call Chiaroscuro… contrasts… that's what the word means… been reading a lot from a book on Da Vinci… yunno… some brain food… and its a word that comes up again and again… what it means to explain… is that there is contrast… it is part of the world we exist in… from city to town to country… from night to day… from the snows to the rains… the dry dry parched earth… its all part of the continuum… yunno…
It illustrates boundaries… relief… change… it reminds us all… in our own way… that there exists a summit… a personal summit…
Madison Wisconsin… a pleasant vibe… intimate show… then off to Detroit… where we had a chance to do the city thing… yeah… big venue… and lots of yardies… Glen Washington… big up to ya chief… and a few others… Chicago… what a surprise… every man has a single room… you should have seen us run to get our keys… smile…
Seems when we are in the House of Blues… there is always some magic… and that night was no exception… the men dem love to pull out ties and suits and things… Trommie Lee… aka Micah is good for that… but also Mr. Rodney… recently he pulled out some incredible ties… to show us he has his ready too… Oh… but did you all catch Steven Stewart… ummmh… now you all know by now that his thing is wearing all black… its only once in a blue moon you will see him in anything but black… and House of Blues was no exception… but that night… ummmh… out came the black suit jacket… no shirt… ouch!!!!… look baaddd man… onward forward in the silver streak… from Detroit to St. Louis… talk about strange vibes… we checked into a hotel that was more a medieval castle… actually more like 18th Century England… with original wood and structure from a mansion in the U.K… it has a peculiar odor… at least to me it did… there was a giant bear… stuffed heads… animals… and a bunch of other things… even the gun in a display case that was used to shoot the bear… lots of old dark woods… a few of us went next door and had some Chinese… and we gigged in a brand spanking new theatre… contrasts… what was that word…? Chiaroscuro…
From there to the college town of Columbia… lately the silver streak is laden with the sounds of doo wop… courtesy of Tedo… the original doo wop king… chuckles… seems he got this collection of video's while in San Fran… and he is hooked… been cleaning up the doo wop collections at all the local c.d. shops… and the college town are big for that… now you got Deep… aka Sylvan… he is the soul man… and the "real natty"… but we call him deep… don't know where that came from… I think Tedo… we enjoy it when they are sparring… lovely… on the bus… over this or that… even today… while watching Third World Cop… as we pulled in hear to Gainesville… sparring over the result of the movie… who would have chosen what to do… in this or that situation… just straight up fun…
Anyway… Deep… he's the original soul man… nuff Ojay's up there… and don't forget the man in black… Stewie… you get him going… and he's going to go into his box… and pull out Heatwave… and Confunkshun… and lots of classics… and tell you a thing or two…
In the mean time… as we make all these runs… you got James… and Micah… running all the c.d.'s on the bus intotheir laptops… collecting everything in sight… James be bopping with them headphones too… so if you bump into him… you are going to have to speak up… cause he is travelin… just like the Spear tune… "more than 2,000 miles…" Wicked tune… have you heard that one?
So anyway… bouncing and bopping into Columbia… college town… and a wicked show… Spear had that place in a trance… and the system really held up to our power needs… cause we really pump in some watts… with the live horns… and the keys… and the power even just from the vocal… we use a lot of juice… some places nearly run to melt down… the amps… a few times they nearly did… and you gotta hand it to Virgo… our engineer for keeping things in check… Columbia… things held up sweetly…
Onward to Lawrence Kansas… and Fayatteville, Arkansas… where we have some of our biggest fans… Morty and his wife really made us feel comfy… an intimate dinner in there home… setting everything up for us… and handling things well… both of them are some of the nicest people you can meet… check for them anytime you are down there…
More contrasts… onward to Austin TX… what a town!! it was like the wild west out there… the strip… ummmmh… another intimate affair… the club… but what vibes… and a strong sound… Phat…
Since Clydie… sax man got his new remote mic… you see him walking around stage… doing his solo's… like on tumble down… have you checked that one out… he does the circular breathing… and just blows… and blows… now he walks across stage… and comes right up to the front… giving me a wink as he passes by… Tedo makes a joke every now and then… cause it seems he doesn't dance… as he plays… but hey… that's how it goes sometimes… right? smile…
New Orleans… House of Blues… simply wicked… Mrs. Rodney arrives… and the vibes are elevated even more… greetings and blessing Mrs. Rodney…!!!
Houston, TX… the silver streak pulls into another Double Tree… warm cookies… and what? free internet… there is Virgo up there… Sylvan… Cecil… and me… yeah… I should have put this diary at the time… but I didn't… smile… no hard feelings… right… Cecil pulls out the acoustic guitar in the lobby… and begins to sing and play… nice vibes… roots vibes… yunno…
The Spear is burning strong… and the more we travel… the deeper the dimensions of this experience reveal themselves to me… its interesting… and its a growing experience… which is very positive…
There is a reason we are hear… and a role we all play… and its clearer to me… about the longevity… more things reveal themselves… and yet… there are more and more elements within…
I hope some of the things I have shared have heightened your interest in the Spear experience… and can help you relate this experience with you own life…
Chiaroscuro… its a word I took from reading Da Vinci… a man from antiquity… but who's reasonings still add meaning and inspire thinkers and artists to this day… and yes… there is a reason for longevity… same like the Spear experience… don't you think? sure…
till next time…
jahloveeternal…
Gregory Dale Jackson… aka Mr. Bassie
October 18, 2000
Madison, WI
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Greetings everybody… again… thanks for all the positive vibes… and feedback along this journey… but I turn it around and thank you… and Spear… and the band… everyone… for the possibility… that this could happen… yunno… I'm a bit embarrassed by all the responses… smile… and I never realized… but maybe I should have… realized… that this account… may have increased the capacity for you… everyone… to feel this experience… The Spear experience more deeply… to allow it to resonate in another way… to open a door to the Spear that you may not have realized was there all the time…
hummm… maybe I'm just talking out of my head… but I read somewhere… that the capacity of hope is the most significant fact of life… it gives human beings a sense of destination… and the energy to get started… who said that? anyway… I realize more and more… that the Spear is one of the few men… in this music scene today… that offers that to such a wide cross section of people… sure… I didn't do any research… but hey… it's my vibe on it… just from my eyes… amazing… the cross sections of people… as we make our way across the heartland of America… and Canada… and so many other places… I can see the diversity… that is humanity… not just in race… or creed… but in age too… it's amazing to me to see so many generations of Spear fans… and in a way… it's a reflection of the leadership… musically… and otherwise of the Spear… the vibe… Mr. Winston Rodney… a leader… a true leader…
I've been reading about Da Vinci… yeah… stuff for the bus… yunno… those long rides… chuckle… anyway…
Da Vinci… from way back in the ages… yunno… but something connects these two… seems funny huh… your probably wondering… what am I getting at… ok…
from the beginning of time… those who become leaders were not necessarily the strongest, or the fiercest even… but rather those with the unique ability to make connections… to connect with people… and that comes back to the Spear groove… yunno… that Spear swing… that we sometimes sit and discuss into the early hours… sometimes… we don't discuss it… we just feel it… the connection with something deep inside us… like a brother last night… who asked me to share with Spear his story about how his music connected with him in a way… to help him get through years of incarceration… how it offered him hope… humbling to hear these things… yunno… smile…
Humm… last I left off… we were in Aspen… we played a downstairs place, full of Aspen party folk… intimate… that's what we call it… we never call them small venues… and let me tell you… The Spear puts everything into these shows… again… the connections… the connection with the people… it's part of the vibes… the flow… like the relationship with the sea and the surf… the ebb and flow… the tides… yunno…
Mikey… Cecil… and a few others loaded up on C.D.'s out there… before we head out to Vail… we stayed at a sweet hotel nestled at the foot of some majestic mountains… finally I got a signal on my new cell phone… made a bunch of calls… most of us drifted about… I saw Stewie making his way up to the Post Office… Riddim guits… me… and some others… yeah… later that night… we played the club… with the bouncing floor… what an experience… as we hit the first few notes of The Youth… which we have used to open up this tour… the floor just started bouncing… we had to hold on for dear life… not really… ok… I'm taking that a little too far… but we had these silly grins at first… cause it was a strange feeling at first… I don't know how Mikey kept from falling off his drums… and I remember James… Clydie… and Micah talking about how the shaking effects pressure… yunno… horn stuff… anyway… it was a killer gig… Spear rocked the place… it got steamy… very steamy… and that's a good sign… Spear loves it hot…
Next night was at the Fox Theatre… talk about phat sound… yeah… that room had a nice phat sound… booming… after the gig, we enjoyed milling about in the crowd of mostly students… nice energy… Fort Collins the next night was special… after the 2 hour show… Spear ended by improvising at length on Happy Day… trance inducing vibes… yunno… sometimes we go into new unique realms at these moments… and it happens often… I think it is part of the artists way… something I respect a great deal from Spear… let me explain…
I call it Sfumato… the literal translation means up in smoke… but I would describe it as a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox… and uncertainty… it's taking flight on the groove… yunno… when the maestro… spear… gets onto that flight… it's so sweet… truly sweet…
So that night at the aggie… he took off… and before we landed… he had introduced every band member… and shouted… play something… and we each took a solo turn… sure… even me… bassie… later… Virgo came up to me… as he was taking care of loading up our things… he had a chuckle about the look on my face… ok Virgo… laughs…
but getting back to Sfumato for a moment… the music… the sound is part of this embrace… this sweet embrace… but check the lyrics too… the combination of joy and sorrow… intimacy and independence… humility and pride… life and death…
Some heavy vibes… timeless… eternal… something we all can relate to… and for us… the band… I suppose we look deep into ourselves… each night… to get into a space where that comes out…
I realize… and again… a lesson from the Spear… that sometimes if you are quiet for a moment… a few moments prior to the show… and just focus…focus… that space will reveal itself… it's ethereal though… it knocks softly… but it's there…
Onward to Omaha, NE… and another solid show… Spear was doing that dance that just free's your soul… Minneapolis… Cecil got some new tubes for his amp… and Clydie got him a new mic system for his sax…talk about smiles… and a wicked sound… daag Clydie… slow down… you are moving too fast for me… chuckle…
Now we love Minneapolis… hanging in the lobby with the Mingus Big Band…Tore up the place… that's all I can say about Spear's gig that night…
Iowa City was a hot one… after that… most of us were wet from head to toe… just as the audience I suppose… chuckle…
We were together… one being… flowing together… like water… till I couldn't tell the audience from the music… we drink each other… like cool refreshing waters…
Ok ok… time to make my leave… I'm enjoy the gold dust of this afternoon… as I suppose most of the band… some cats are going out for Ethiopian… I saw Clydie coming in with bags of food… along with Tedo…all smiles… big bags… one in each hand… I shouted out… "General!!!" As I made my way down the street… my knap sack over my shoulder… I saw Stewie coming up… wearing black… as usual… "where you coming from…? " "An arts supply place man…" Where you going?" "To find some supper… yunno…" Stewie pointed the way down State street… said… "nuff things down there… just turn left down where the red car is… going… see it? " uh huh…
Time for me to leave… I"m in a laundry mat… yeah… with a computer… one day I will get my own… but till then… I find a terminal where I can… and use it… chuckle… but it's loud here… somebodies stuff is on spin now… and they must have some sneakers or something in there… banging… bugga buggah… bugga boom…!!!
yeah… till next time… peace out to all the Spear fans… The Spear is hot… come check it… yunno… see ya… Madison… Detroit… Chicago… see ya…
Gregory… signing out…
Greetings everybody… again… thanks for all the positive vibes… and feedback along this journey… but I turn it around and thank you… and Spear… and the band… everyone… for the possibility… that this could happen… yunno… I'm a bit embarrassed by all the responses… smile… and I never realized… but maybe I should have… realized… that this account… may have increased the capacity for you… everyone… to feel this experience… The Spear experience more deeply… to allow it to resonate in another way… to open a door to the Spear that you may not have realized was there all the time…
hummm… maybe I'm just talking out of my head… but I read somewhere… that the capacity of hope is the most significant fact of life… it gives human beings a sense of destination… and the energy to get started… who said that? anyway… I realize more and more… that the Spear is one of the few men… in this music scene today… that offers that to such a wide cross section of people… sure… I didn't do any research… but hey… it's my vibe on it… just from my eyes… amazing… the cross sections of people… as we make our way across the heartland of America… and Canada… and so many other places… I can see the diversity… that is humanity… not just in race… or creed… but in age too… it's amazing to me to see so many generations of Spear fans… and in a way… it's a reflection of the leadership… musically… and otherwise of the Spear… the vibe… Mr. Winston Rodney… a leader… a true leader…
I've been reading about Da Vinci… yeah… stuff for the bus… yunno… those long rides… chuckle… anyway…
Da Vinci… from way back in the ages… yunno… but something connects these two… seems funny huh… your probably wondering… what am I getting at… ok…
from the beginning of time… those who become leaders were not necessarily the strongest, or the fiercest even… but rather those with the unique ability to make connections… to connect with people… and that comes back to the Spear groove… yunno… that Spear swing… that we sometimes sit and discuss into the early hours… sometimes… we don't discuss it… we just feel it… the connection with something deep inside us… like a brother last night… who asked me to share with Spear his story about how his music connected with him in a way… to help him get through years of incarceration… how it offered him hope… humbling to hear these things… yunno… smile…
Humm… last I left off… we were in Aspen… we played a downstairs place, full of Aspen party folk… intimate… that's what we call it… we never call them small venues… and let me tell you… The Spear puts everything into these shows… again… the connections… the connection with the people… it's part of the vibes… the flow… like the relationship with the sea and the surf… the ebb and flow… the tides… yunno…
Mikey… Cecil… and a few others loaded up on C.D.'s out there… before we head out to Vail… we stayed at a sweet hotel nestled at the foot of some majestic mountains… finally I got a signal on my new cell phone… made a bunch of calls… most of us drifted about… I saw Stewie making his way up to the Post Office… Riddim guits… me… and some others… yeah… later that night… we played the club… with the bouncing floor… what an experience… as we hit the first few notes of The Youth… which we have used to open up this tour… the floor just started bouncing… we had to hold on for dear life… not really… ok… I'm taking that a little too far… but we had these silly grins at first… cause it was a strange feeling at first… I don't know how Mikey kept from falling off his drums… and I remember James… Clydie… and Micah talking about how the shaking effects pressure… yunno… horn stuff… anyway… it was a killer gig… Spear rocked the place… it got steamy… very steamy… and that's a good sign… Spear loves it hot…
Next night was at the Fox Theatre… talk about phat sound… yeah… that room had a nice phat sound… booming… after the gig, we enjoyed milling about in the crowd of mostly students… nice energy… Fort Collins the next night was special… after the 2 hour show… Spear ended by improvising at length on Happy Day… trance inducing vibes… yunno… sometimes we go into new unique realms at these moments… and it happens often… I think it is part of the artists way… something I respect a great deal from Spear… let me explain…
I call it Sfumato… the literal translation means up in smoke… but I would describe it as a willingness to embrace ambiguity, paradox… and uncertainty… it's taking flight on the groove… yunno… when the maestro… spear… gets onto that flight… it's so sweet… truly sweet…
So that night at the aggie… he took off… and before we landed… he had introduced every band member… and shouted… play something… and we each took a solo turn… sure… even me… bassie… later… Virgo came up to me… as he was taking care of loading up our things… he had a chuckle about the look on my face… ok Virgo… laughs…
but getting back to Sfumato for a moment… the music… the sound is part of this embrace… this sweet embrace… but check the lyrics too… the combination of joy and sorrow… intimacy and independence… humility and pride… life and death…
Some heavy vibes… timeless… eternal… something we all can relate to… and for us… the band… I suppose we look deep into ourselves… each night… to get into a space where that comes out…
I realize… and again… a lesson from the Spear… that sometimes if you are quiet for a moment… a few moments prior to the show… and just focus…focus… that space will reveal itself… it's ethereal though… it knocks softly… but it's there…
Onward to Omaha, NE… and another solid show… Spear was doing that dance that just free's your soul… Minneapolis… Cecil got some new tubes for his amp… and Clydie got him a new mic system for his sax…talk about smiles… and a wicked sound… daag Clydie… slow down… you are moving too fast for me… chuckle…
Now we love Minneapolis… hanging in the lobby with the Mingus Big Band…Tore up the place… that's all I can say about Spear's gig that night…
Iowa City was a hot one… after that… most of us were wet from head to toe… just as the audience I suppose… chuckle…
We were together… one being… flowing together… like water… till I couldn't tell the audience from the music… we drink each other… like cool refreshing waters…
Ok ok… time to make my leave… I'm enjoy the gold dust of this afternoon… as I suppose most of the band… some cats are going out for Ethiopian… I saw Clydie coming in with bags of food… along with Tedo…all smiles… big bags… one in each hand… I shouted out… "General!!!" As I made my way down the street… my knap sack over my shoulder… I saw Stewie coming up… wearing black… as usual… "where you coming from…? " "An arts supply place man…" Where you going?" "To find some supper… yunno…" Stewie pointed the way down State street… said… "nuff things down there… just turn left down where the red car is… going… see it? " uh huh…
Time for me to leave… I"m in a laundry mat… yeah… with a computer… one day I will get my own… but till then… I find a terminal where I can… and use it… chuckle… but it's loud here… somebodies stuff is on spin now… and they must have some sneakers or something in there… banging… bugga buggah… bugga boom…!!!
yeah… till next time… peace out to all the Spear fans… The Spear is hot… come check it… yunno… see ya… Madison… Detroit… Chicago… see ya…
Gregory… signing out…
October 11, 2000
Aspen, CO
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Back in Aspen… and happy to be here… truly… it was quite a journey… these past few weeks… been through every sort of weather pattern you could imagine… don't think we aren't tough… cause we travel in a huge tour bus… ummmmmmh… sometimes it's many many hours… so many hours… that you get tired of laying in your bunk… of sitting down… of standing up… it takes some imagination… and concentration to make the time go… and stay focused… yeah… no joke y'all… we are a bunch of soldiers up in here… smile… big up to Spear… and the band… yeah…
Jackson, Wyoming… we went through some wicked storms… the road from Bozeman… closed… snow… blizzard… standing outside a post of park rangers… had to take a ten hour de-tour… and as we made our way… what do we see… but a car… sliding outta control right at us… if it wasn't for quick work on Tom's behalf… well… I won't go into that… we got through it with a bit of a dent on our sweet silver bullet… but she's fine…
We drove all day… into the twilight… and arrived in time to set up… and jump start the show… but as usual… the Spear vibes… just lit us up… and by the end of the show… we kept dancing… out in the audience… till well into the night… dancing… and having a great time with the folk in Jackson… a funny moment was when we arrived to the club… and realized there was no dressing room… Spear was laughing had us rolling too… we just said… ok… and went to the stage… set up… and waited for the rest of the men… and got the ball rolling…
The next day… misty morning… ice and snow… flurries… easing outta town on the silver bullet… Micah plays some Tom Waits on the system… as most of the men sleep… its still dark out… early hours… I can still hear the lyrics… "I got money to spend on my baby… yeah…"
The road to Calgary… what a trip… from the coolness… the cold and mists… suddenly a burst of huge sky… sunshine… and warmth… yeah… amazing…
Calgary was a sweet gig… the hotel across from the venue… always sweet… and what a treat… they knew how to sweet us up… want to know… curious… ok… simply hire a yardie to fire up the skillet in the kitchen and have some fish… and rice and peas… and maybe some chicken too… for the men… after soundcheck… you should have seen the happy faces… Tedo served us up nice… fixing heaping portions… leaving himself last… oh Tedo… take care of yourself too bro… smile
From Calgary to Eureka… and more weather patterns… amazing… we drove through Rogers Pass in Canada… its along the border… from Calgary going to the coast… Seattle way… yeah… beautiful land… mountains… snow peaks… and cool crisp weather…
Mr. Rodney riding co-pilot with Tom… and us… between the lounge and our bunks… mostly in our bunks… but those moments in the lounge… viewing pleasures… sweetness… rivers… tall trees… and hills… mountains… life…!!!
Rode into Eureka… seems the weather couldn't make up her mind… we got in under sun… but the mist rolled in… I recall it was a sweet gig… nice system… John Brown's Body joined us too… nice youth… opened up…
Seattle… cool vibes… let me tell you… big Bro'… James Smith… happy man… why you ask? seeing him with his beret to the side… locks dripping down his shoulders… and with a cup of coffee… Seattle coffee mind you… well… its a picture of bliss… smile… chuckle…
Some of us got the internet bug… check sylvan… real natty… yeah… first time on the net… now he walks up into soundcheck with printouts of e-mails… and Cecil… can't stop him… he's clicking away next to me hear… can't forget Prof… he's got a new G3… and is glued to that baby… likewise James… we got some internet brothers up in here… Tedo… when are you going to get on board man… even Gene got e-mail… Gene who is on riddim guits…
Seattle… wicked show… hot though… so hot we were all covered in sweat… me… down to my boots… yeah… but I love it that way… means there is some vibes up in there…
Portland… nice show… again the weather was a mixed bag… some of us where coming up with a bit of a cough… noticed more tea being consumed… and a bottle of this and that in the lounge area… Virgo is sipping some Mexican roots drink… Spear does the roots drink too… good stuff… even seen Tedo smiling with some Guiness mixed up with this and that… but maybe that is for something else… smile… I took a sip…
Ashland… Portland… and Sacramento… back into the heat… yeah… and a sweet show… should have seen Cecil… driving them wild on the left side of the stage… Mikey on drums says he can't watch him too tough… says it throws his riddim off… we laugh about it… but Cecil got some moves… original… I'll leave it at that… chuckle…
Eukiah… now that was sweet… nice cafe place set up for the Spear movement… intimate… Tedo fired up the skillet and set us up for dinner… nice to sit down as a band… and enjoy some food… and some cool drinks… and later… to play some pool… and have a few laughs…
Chico… what a show… I mean… it was ramming… the sound system was something Virgo dreamed about… power… power… power… the ground was shaking by the time we closed that one… and the weather… sweet like honey… ever watch Virgo dance as he mixes? what vibes…
Greetings Mrs. Rodney… San Francisco… almost a homecoming… Mrs. Rodney and many other friends…!!! Backstage… nice vibes too… Muta and Pato Banton… others… nice flow…
Onward to Santa Barbara… nice weather too… lots of our peers… its always special to be on a bill with our peers… man like Bunny Wailer… last day of the warmth though…
We hit the road… and drive through the desert… yunno… like in the movies… cactus and all that… nice laughter and vibes on the bus… we enjoyed a Spear show recorded in Germany… 1981… Mrs. Rodney rode with us… and shared little tid bits… about that time… we all enjoyed that… yunno… sometimes you have to remember where you came from… its true… she reminded us… that Spear has built this business through hard hard work… and experience… I respect him so much… he teaches us a lot… if we are willing to keep our minds open… the man… the music… the vibes… nothing comes easy… being on the road… is simply an example of that…
Durango… cold… and rain… ummmmh… more colds springing up… the soldiers holding things together… nearing the last leg of the tour… we want to end hard… and with heavy vibes… got some pep talk from the boss… its important… yeah… being with y'all… the people is pep too… meeting on the street… in shops… and other places… is very uplifting… and regarding this humble journal… I give my respect to everyone who has encouraged me… thanks… thank you everyone…
signing out… going to get some tea… and work on this cold a bit more… its 3:20… sound check in a few hours… lovely sweet Aspen… yeah…
stay tuned for more…
guidance and protection as you make your movements…
jahloveeternal…
Bassie… Gregory
Back in Aspen… and happy to be here… truly… it was quite a journey… these past few weeks… been through every sort of weather pattern you could imagine… don't think we aren't tough… cause we travel in a huge tour bus… ummmmmmh… sometimes it's many many hours… so many hours… that you get tired of laying in your bunk… of sitting down… of standing up… it takes some imagination… and concentration to make the time go… and stay focused… yeah… no joke y'all… we are a bunch of soldiers up in here… smile… big up to Spear… and the band… yeah…
Jackson, Wyoming… we went through some wicked storms… the road from Bozeman… closed… snow… blizzard… standing outside a post of park rangers… had to take a ten hour de-tour… and as we made our way… what do we see… but a car… sliding outta control right at us… if it wasn't for quick work on Tom's behalf… well… I won't go into that… we got through it with a bit of a dent on our sweet silver bullet… but she's fine…
We drove all day… into the twilight… and arrived in time to set up… and jump start the show… but as usual… the Spear vibes… just lit us up… and by the end of the show… we kept dancing… out in the audience… till well into the night… dancing… and having a great time with the folk in Jackson… a funny moment was when we arrived to the club… and realized there was no dressing room… Spear was laughing had us rolling too… we just said… ok… and went to the stage… set up… and waited for the rest of the men… and got the ball rolling…
The next day… misty morning… ice and snow… flurries… easing outta town on the silver bullet… Micah plays some Tom Waits on the system… as most of the men sleep… its still dark out… early hours… I can still hear the lyrics… "I got money to spend on my baby… yeah…"
The road to Calgary… what a trip… from the coolness… the cold and mists… suddenly a burst of huge sky… sunshine… and warmth… yeah… amazing…
Calgary was a sweet gig… the hotel across from the venue… always sweet… and what a treat… they knew how to sweet us up… want to know… curious… ok… simply hire a yardie to fire up the skillet in the kitchen and have some fish… and rice and peas… and maybe some chicken too… for the men… after soundcheck… you should have seen the happy faces… Tedo served us up nice… fixing heaping portions… leaving himself last… oh Tedo… take care of yourself too bro… smile
From Calgary to Eureka… and more weather patterns… amazing… we drove through Rogers Pass in Canada… its along the border… from Calgary going to the coast… Seattle way… yeah… beautiful land… mountains… snow peaks… and cool crisp weather…
Mr. Rodney riding co-pilot with Tom… and us… between the lounge and our bunks… mostly in our bunks… but those moments in the lounge… viewing pleasures… sweetness… rivers… tall trees… and hills… mountains… life…!!!
Rode into Eureka… seems the weather couldn't make up her mind… we got in under sun… but the mist rolled in… I recall it was a sweet gig… nice system… John Brown's Body joined us too… nice youth… opened up…
Seattle… cool vibes… let me tell you… big Bro'… James Smith… happy man… why you ask? seeing him with his beret to the side… locks dripping down his shoulders… and with a cup of coffee… Seattle coffee mind you… well… its a picture of bliss… smile… chuckle…
Some of us got the internet bug… check sylvan… real natty… yeah… first time on the net… now he walks up into soundcheck with printouts of e-mails… and Cecil… can't stop him… he's clicking away next to me hear… can't forget Prof… he's got a new G3… and is glued to that baby… likewise James… we got some internet brothers up in here… Tedo… when are you going to get on board man… even Gene got e-mail… Gene who is on riddim guits…
Seattle… wicked show… hot though… so hot we were all covered in sweat… me… down to my boots… yeah… but I love it that way… means there is some vibes up in there…
Portland… nice show… again the weather was a mixed bag… some of us where coming up with a bit of a cough… noticed more tea being consumed… and a bottle of this and that in the lounge area… Virgo is sipping some Mexican roots drink… Spear does the roots drink too… good stuff… even seen Tedo smiling with some Guiness mixed up with this and that… but maybe that is for something else… smile… I took a sip…
Ashland… Portland… and Sacramento… back into the heat… yeah… and a sweet show… should have seen Cecil… driving them wild on the left side of the stage… Mikey on drums says he can't watch him too tough… says it throws his riddim off… we laugh about it… but Cecil got some moves… original… I'll leave it at that… chuckle…
Eukiah… now that was sweet… nice cafe place set up for the Spear movement… intimate… Tedo fired up the skillet and set us up for dinner… nice to sit down as a band… and enjoy some food… and some cool drinks… and later… to play some pool… and have a few laughs…
Chico… what a show… I mean… it was ramming… the sound system was something Virgo dreamed about… power… power… power… the ground was shaking by the time we closed that one… and the weather… sweet like honey… ever watch Virgo dance as he mixes? what vibes…
Greetings Mrs. Rodney… San Francisco… almost a homecoming… Mrs. Rodney and many other friends…!!! Backstage… nice vibes too… Muta and Pato Banton… others… nice flow…
Onward to Santa Barbara… nice weather too… lots of our peers… its always special to be on a bill with our peers… man like Bunny Wailer… last day of the warmth though…
We hit the road… and drive through the desert… yunno… like in the movies… cactus and all that… nice laughter and vibes on the bus… we enjoyed a Spear show recorded in Germany… 1981… Mrs. Rodney rode with us… and shared little tid bits… about that time… we all enjoyed that… yunno… sometimes you have to remember where you came from… its true… she reminded us… that Spear has built this business through hard hard work… and experience… I respect him so much… he teaches us a lot… if we are willing to keep our minds open… the man… the music… the vibes… nothing comes easy… being on the road… is simply an example of that…
Durango… cold… and rain… ummmmh… more colds springing up… the soldiers holding things together… nearing the last leg of the tour… we want to end hard… and with heavy vibes… got some pep talk from the boss… its important… yeah… being with y'all… the people is pep too… meeting on the street… in shops… and other places… is very uplifting… and regarding this humble journal… I give my respect to everyone who has encouraged me… thanks… thank you everyone…
signing out… going to get some tea… and work on this cold a bit more… its 3:20… sound check in a few hours… lovely sweet Aspen… yeah…
stay tuned for more…
guidance and protection as you make your movements…
jahloveeternal…
Bassie… Gregory
September 21, 2000
Bozeman, MT
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Greetings from Bozeman, Montana… what a day…!! the first snow of the tour… the sun is playing hide and seek with the clouds… it's misty and cool… the guys and crew have busted out the winter gear… Clydie… Spear… the heat pumping something fierce in the bus… Tedo, James, Cecil and Sylvan… in the front lounge… cruising across Montana… with the windows cracked… for a little fresh air… some vintage Spear tapes kicking up the system… 1981… from a live video in Germany… yeah… wicked grooves… check out that Roland Tape Delay on the mix… Virgo shouts…
As we groove… Virgo bangs out chords on a keyboard hooked up to our module… and Micah is banging away with him… headphones… laughs and smiles as we accompany the tape… Tom… his foot pressing down on the gas… making movements… Bozeman… yunno…
Hey… its been a while since the last entry… felt I needed a little space… but let me say… I appreciate all the feedback… the boss does too… and the band members… thanks to all… blessing… yunno…
Last I wrote… we were in Aspen headlining the Jazz festival… it was a nice vibes… Michael Douglas and his wife up in the hotel… Mikey and Stewie vibing with them… I think they came to the gig… but I wasn't looking… smile… that show was one of the magik moments… It threatened rain all afternoon… and it did drizzle a bit…
But as we settled into a penetrating groove… I mean… groove y'all… it was magic… the vibes with the audience… they really had us burning too… smoking… they danced and danced… and even tore down a fence… and danced in the photographers pit… it was something… very earthy vibes… yunno… up above… as we launched into African Postman… two huge rainbows blessed the scene… hanging above the majestic mountains… Cecil nudged me and I noticed it… I tried to get Mikey's attention… but he thought I was pointing to someone in the audience… chuckle…
Spear amazes me more and more… he busted out some new lines to Postman… the jam section… I won't say what it is… that means you got to come out and check it, check it… smile…
From Aspen… we bounce to Salt Lake City… the guys…many of them load up on some fresh gear… leathers… and shoes… and boots and all that…
Me and Cecil bounce to Mars… and load up on guitar gear… drum machines… and other things for our home studios… yeah… what a few days… and the shows… intimate vibes… the Zephyr club… down the road… around the corner… two nights… what a hip scene… don't let anyone tell you Salt Lake doesn't have a vibe… we enjoy it there… tremendously…
Next stop is Truckee… the first taste of some cool, cool weather… I think most of us wore our coats outside by the lake… it was a nice show… I remember the stillness of the evening… the peacefulness…
From the stage… we couldn't see the faces of the audience… but we felt you… we felt your presence… many souls… tuning in…
I have to say something… one thing that we all can relate to… as the Burning Spear band… yunno… about the role of the senses in what we do… some call it vibes… yunno… sensazione… the continual refinement of the senses… it is a magical process… which encompasses more than the five sense… but the inner senses… too… these are the keys that open the doors to the experience… the Burning Experience…
That is what the maestro teaches me… smile… and what we are reminded of… by Stewie… and the other veterans… Tedo… yunno…
Mr. Rodney is a master of sensazione… what is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? the most sweetest sound to your ears… of nature perhaps…? so many things become ministers to the soul if you tune in… and as you check Mr. Rodney's lyrics… and the timing… the placement… and the gravity of what he is expressing… on top of the groove… the band… and the vibes… the environment… then you know what I'm talking about… sensazione… and you… it teaches us something… yunno… Truckee… and Aspen… meant a great deal… the vibes… the environment…!!
L.A… what a place… as usual we stayed at the Hyatt… and simply had to walk across the street to get to the gig… we love that…
the moment we touched down… we had a bunch a men out on the town… mostly at guitar center… and up and down sunset blvd… soaking in the sunshine… the warmth… and the pace of the place…
House of Blues has a great sound… and we were waiting for it… counting the days… Cecil got a new guitar… a silver bird… he calls it… Mikey got some sticks… I don't know what else the other guys got… but they were kicking it when we hit the stage…
Mr. Rodney had some new shoes on the bus… I think Chris asked if he was planning to were them… he said… "maybe…" and smiled…
the vibes were strong… and we rocked it… nope… no shoes for that night… smile
Next day was San Diego… Buju kept the vibes warm… and we went up in there and played under a canopy of golden orbs in the night sky… nice vibes… nice… after the gig… Mikey and I went looking for juice… and found James in the dressing room… post gig… doing pushups and crunches and things… these guys are no joke… laughs…
A few more dates in southern California… then up to Eugene… for a big city holiday gig… nice vibes… and again under a canopy of stars… it seemed the whole town came out for that one…
Up in Vancouver the next night… sensazione… again… you can't sleep on this stuff… not with Mr. Rodney… the place had an electricity… Mr. Rodney came out in a white suit… locks tied in a bun… and some wicked shoes… those shoes… and he worked them shoes…
We… the band… put are all into keeping them shoes working… dancing… Mr. Rodney lit up the place… and the place lit us up too… vision, sound… the scent of ganja up in the place… and the red hue… and blue hue… embracing the stage in a magical glow… how could you not dance… how?
Clydie… and Micah busted some new moves… check this out… they stepped off the horn riser… and out to the audience… as they blew their solo's… yeah… at Mr. Rodney's encouragement… they stepped up off the riser… as we slammed it hard… and man… it was something… the crowd went crazy… as they soloed… Mr. Rodney laid into some trance inducing conga… wicked… iya…
Victoria… nice cool, cool vibes… nature in its splendor… the cool weather… creeping and creeping in…
Missoula, Montana… Idaho… man… these places embraced us… they did…
Sensazione… the majestic mountains… the warmth of the people we meet… smiling faces… irie vibes…
In Idaho… man they can party there… we got there… about 10:30 or so in the evening and grooved with the d.j. and things… and let me tell you… sistah and brothah were out there dancing up a storm… sweating and things… chuckle… by the time we got up there… they were hitting it hard…
an intimate show… people in front… back… sideways… I stood by the bar… people peeking behind my bass bins… I stood next to Micah… whispered to him… "now I'm in the horn section… how about that - I'm wicked eh?…" he said… "no… you are not in the horn section…" laughs… straight face… then busted out laughing…
Post gig vibes were crazy fun too… on the bus… Tedo had our numbers… calling us out for everything… he was on a roll… so we just shut up and let him go on… so as to avoid him calling our number too…
Mr. Rodney was cool as ever… as the silver streak made its way through the cool western night…
catch up with you all further down the street… thanks for being patient…
jahloveeternal…
Gregory… bassie…
Greetings from Bozeman, Montana… what a day…!! the first snow of the tour… the sun is playing hide and seek with the clouds… it's misty and cool… the guys and crew have busted out the winter gear… Clydie… Spear… the heat pumping something fierce in the bus… Tedo, James, Cecil and Sylvan… in the front lounge… cruising across Montana… with the windows cracked… for a little fresh air… some vintage Spear tapes kicking up the system… 1981… from a live video in Germany… yeah… wicked grooves… check out that Roland Tape Delay on the mix… Virgo shouts…
As we groove… Virgo bangs out chords on a keyboard hooked up to our module… and Micah is banging away with him… headphones… laughs and smiles as we accompany the tape… Tom… his foot pressing down on the gas… making movements… Bozeman… yunno…
Hey… its been a while since the last entry… felt I needed a little space… but let me say… I appreciate all the feedback… the boss does too… and the band members… thanks to all… blessing… yunno…
Last I wrote… we were in Aspen headlining the Jazz festival… it was a nice vibes… Michael Douglas and his wife up in the hotel… Mikey and Stewie vibing with them… I think they came to the gig… but I wasn't looking… smile… that show was one of the magik moments… It threatened rain all afternoon… and it did drizzle a bit…
But as we settled into a penetrating groove… I mean… groove y'all… it was magic… the vibes with the audience… they really had us burning too… smoking… they danced and danced… and even tore down a fence… and danced in the photographers pit… it was something… very earthy vibes… yunno… up above… as we launched into African Postman… two huge rainbows blessed the scene… hanging above the majestic mountains… Cecil nudged me and I noticed it… I tried to get Mikey's attention… but he thought I was pointing to someone in the audience… chuckle…
Spear amazes me more and more… he busted out some new lines to Postman… the jam section… I won't say what it is… that means you got to come out and check it, check it… smile…
From Aspen… we bounce to Salt Lake City… the guys…many of them load up on some fresh gear… leathers… and shoes… and boots and all that…
Me and Cecil bounce to Mars… and load up on guitar gear… drum machines… and other things for our home studios… yeah… what a few days… and the shows… intimate vibes… the Zephyr club… down the road… around the corner… two nights… what a hip scene… don't let anyone tell you Salt Lake doesn't have a vibe… we enjoy it there… tremendously…
Next stop is Truckee… the first taste of some cool, cool weather… I think most of us wore our coats outside by the lake… it was a nice show… I remember the stillness of the evening… the peacefulness…
From the stage… we couldn't see the faces of the audience… but we felt you… we felt your presence… many souls… tuning in…
I have to say something… one thing that we all can relate to… as the Burning Spear band… yunno… about the role of the senses in what we do… some call it vibes… yunno… sensazione… the continual refinement of the senses… it is a magical process… which encompasses more than the five sense… but the inner senses… too… these are the keys that open the doors to the experience… the Burning Experience…
That is what the maestro teaches me… smile… and what we are reminded of… by Stewie… and the other veterans… Tedo… yunno…
Mr. Rodney is a master of sensazione… what is the most beautiful thing you have ever seen? the most sweetest sound to your ears… of nature perhaps…? so many things become ministers to the soul if you tune in… and as you check Mr. Rodney's lyrics… and the timing… the placement… and the gravity of what he is expressing… on top of the groove… the band… and the vibes… the environment… then you know what I'm talking about… sensazione… and you… it teaches us something… yunno… Truckee… and Aspen… meant a great deal… the vibes… the environment…!!
L.A… what a place… as usual we stayed at the Hyatt… and simply had to walk across the street to get to the gig… we love that…
the moment we touched down… we had a bunch a men out on the town… mostly at guitar center… and up and down sunset blvd… soaking in the sunshine… the warmth… and the pace of the place…
House of Blues has a great sound… and we were waiting for it… counting the days… Cecil got a new guitar… a silver bird… he calls it… Mikey got some sticks… I don't know what else the other guys got… but they were kicking it when we hit the stage…
Mr. Rodney had some new shoes on the bus… I think Chris asked if he was planning to were them… he said… "maybe…" and smiled…
the vibes were strong… and we rocked it… nope… no shoes for that night… smile
Next day was San Diego… Buju kept the vibes warm… and we went up in there and played under a canopy of golden orbs in the night sky… nice vibes… nice… after the gig… Mikey and I went looking for juice… and found James in the dressing room… post gig… doing pushups and crunches and things… these guys are no joke… laughs…
A few more dates in southern California… then up to Eugene… for a big city holiday gig… nice vibes… and again under a canopy of stars… it seemed the whole town came out for that one…
Up in Vancouver the next night… sensazione… again… you can't sleep on this stuff… not with Mr. Rodney… the place had an electricity… Mr. Rodney came out in a white suit… locks tied in a bun… and some wicked shoes… those shoes… and he worked them shoes…
We… the band… put are all into keeping them shoes working… dancing… Mr. Rodney lit up the place… and the place lit us up too… vision, sound… the scent of ganja up in the place… and the red hue… and blue hue… embracing the stage in a magical glow… how could you not dance… how?
Clydie… and Micah busted some new moves… check this out… they stepped off the horn riser… and out to the audience… as they blew their solo's… yeah… at Mr. Rodney's encouragement… they stepped up off the riser… as we slammed it hard… and man… it was something… the crowd went crazy… as they soloed… Mr. Rodney laid into some trance inducing conga… wicked… iya…
Victoria… nice cool, cool vibes… nature in its splendor… the cool weather… creeping and creeping in…
Missoula, Montana… Idaho… man… these places embraced us… they did…
Sensazione… the majestic mountains… the warmth of the people we meet… smiling faces… irie vibes…
In Idaho… man they can party there… we got there… about 10:30 or so in the evening and grooved with the d.j. and things… and let me tell you… sistah and brothah were out there dancing up a storm… sweating and things… chuckle… by the time we got up there… they were hitting it hard…
an intimate show… people in front… back… sideways… I stood by the bar… people peeking behind my bass bins… I stood next to Micah… whispered to him… "now I'm in the horn section… how about that - I'm wicked eh?…" he said… "no… you are not in the horn section…" laughs… straight face… then busted out laughing…
Post gig vibes were crazy fun too… on the bus… Tedo had our numbers… calling us out for everything… he was on a roll… so we just shut up and let him go on… so as to avoid him calling our number too…
Mr. Rodney was cool as ever… as the silver streak made its way through the cool western night…
catch up with you all further down the street… thanks for being patient…
jahloveeternal…
Gregory… bassie…
September 04, 2000
Aspen, CO
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Greetings to everyone from Aspen CO… I'm facing the golden sun above the majestic Rockies… this resort is bubbling… and simmering… lock some nice pepper pot… I'm here in the living room area… amongst leather chairs… wooden tables… and a crackling fire… its warm here…
Its been a while, huh… today I'm just going to sketch out a few vibes on the past week…
Athens, GA… a wonderful theatre to play in… a thick fat sound… Cecil dropped his twin reverb to the shop to tighten up his tubes in his amp… sound's phatter now…
Ziggy's in North Carolina… out along a beautiful bay… excited fans… dancing on the speaker cabinets out front… a polaroid of that moment now hangs in our message center… on our bus… the silver streak…
During the early morning ride to Atlanta… a late night session listening to the tapes… discussing ways to deepen our groove for the boss… nice vibe… the rains came down hard… the silver bullet… hurtling down the highway… a good night for rest in the bunk… much cold water… against silver metal… Stewie turns and says… "that lightening… was close… did you see it?"… groggy… we acknowledge… before drifting into sleep…
Atlanta… back into the city… greetings from Mrs. Rodney… and fams… some yard food after soundcheck… Tabernacle… what a place… have you ever been…? a huge hall with a giant pipe organ behind us… we tore the place up… Mikey was happy I think… did you see the size of that drum monitor…?
Cincinnati, OH… pulling up to an old hotel… built during the art deco days… or should I say daze… Me, Cecil… and Stewie in the fitness center… putting in some time… yunno… a solid show again… later… after the gig… sitting on a reggae bus… these guys built… with a sound system on top or something… we took a few pics with them… and then grooved to the distant foggy sounds… as it pulled outta the lot…
Bloomington, Indiana… Mars club… redone brand spanking new… Spear tears up the place… the horns sounded especially phat that night…!!
Columbus, OH… that was a hot one… and I mean… 110 degrees on stage… can't find the water… we put it all out there that night… it was a nice vibe… the people were very into it… the stage was covered with our sweat… we left having spent ourselves… Me… I was happy to run into a good friend from Pittsburgh… yeah…
Louisville KY… in a hotel full of soldiers ready for bootcamp… young bloods hanging by the pay phones… wondering who were were… smile… a nice show… the headliner club… very nice spot… and phat sound… travel day… the hotel phones are burning some serious time huh? I call a man's room and the line is busy… smile… catching up with home I suppose…
The long road to Albuquerque… what an experience… Tedo, Stewart, Virgo, Cecil, and Micah… grooving to some soul tunes… and discussing production methods… "listen for the high hat man… listen for the riddim guits… hear it… its pushing the riddim… listen for this or that…" …nice vibes… singing along… eye's closed… or staring into space… riding along with the lyrics… and memories… a nice vibe… with mi bredren… Mr. Rodney… sharing the morning sunrise… a rest stop… a chance to stretch the legs… the sharing of a few quiet moments… a few laughs…
Gene… passing out pictures of us… but of us asleep… looking… looking rather silly… those pics won't see the light of day… you heard it from bassie…
Albuquerque… the El Rey… niceness… we jammed out extra on African Postman… a bit different then last year… this year… we bring it down to drum and bass… and dub it in and out…
Did you all know that Clydie is the Mayor of Rico CO… yeah… seen him a few minutes after we arrive… driving in a car… full of people… at the restaurant… making sure everyone is happy and taken care of… I just called him Mayor… again a phat show… later… walking home to the Rico Hotel… rustic… and earthy… under a canopy of stars… golden orbs… chilling in the living room with a dozen or so reggae lovers…
So here we are… two miles high… Jimmy Cliff and his band just pulled in… as I write y'all… I send out greetings to the band and crew… in a couple of hours… Hugh Masakela takes stage… down below… at the festival… I want to catch that… Virgo and Chris are down there… last I seen them… they were at catering… Sylvan and Tedo already have the Spear stand ready… Mikey… last I seen him he was on the bus… chilling… no… cleaning out the frig… which has a bit of a fishy vibe going right now… Stewie was down there too… I passed Micah's room on the way here… to write y'all… I heard him running through his lines… yesterday… the horns had a practice session up there… which keeps things right and tight… Cecil… he is across the hall from me… I knocked on his door… he was in the bathroom… his office… doing a voice training… yeah… voice training… running scales and things…
I checked Gene… he and I share a room… he was relaxing… on the phone with fams… CNBC on the box…
Spear asked me to come check him… we spent a moment… and then I came down here… time to end this entry… I have a few minutes still before I catch transport down the hill… going to run up to my room to get a small jacket… yeah…
LA is coming up… House of Blues… watch out… cause the lead guits will bust out his new axe…
till then… guidance and protection… to all Spear lovers…
Bassie
Greetings to everyone from Aspen CO… I'm facing the golden sun above the majestic Rockies… this resort is bubbling… and simmering… lock some nice pepper pot… I'm here in the living room area… amongst leather chairs… wooden tables… and a crackling fire… its warm here…
Its been a while, huh… today I'm just going to sketch out a few vibes on the past week…
Athens, GA… a wonderful theatre to play in… a thick fat sound… Cecil dropped his twin reverb to the shop to tighten up his tubes in his amp… sound's phatter now…
Ziggy's in North Carolina… out along a beautiful bay… excited fans… dancing on the speaker cabinets out front… a polaroid of that moment now hangs in our message center… on our bus… the silver streak…
During the early morning ride to Atlanta… a late night session listening to the tapes… discussing ways to deepen our groove for the boss… nice vibe… the rains came down hard… the silver bullet… hurtling down the highway… a good night for rest in the bunk… much cold water… against silver metal… Stewie turns and says… "that lightening… was close… did you see it?"… groggy… we acknowledge… before drifting into sleep…
Atlanta… back into the city… greetings from Mrs. Rodney… and fams… some yard food after soundcheck… Tabernacle… what a place… have you ever been…? a huge hall with a giant pipe organ behind us… we tore the place up… Mikey was happy I think… did you see the size of that drum monitor…?
Cincinnati, OH… pulling up to an old hotel… built during the art deco days… or should I say daze… Me, Cecil… and Stewie in the fitness center… putting in some time… yunno… a solid show again… later… after the gig… sitting on a reggae bus… these guys built… with a sound system on top or something… we took a few pics with them… and then grooved to the distant foggy sounds… as it pulled outta the lot…
Bloomington, Indiana… Mars club… redone brand spanking new… Spear tears up the place… the horns sounded especially phat that night…!!
Columbus, OH… that was a hot one… and I mean… 110 degrees on stage… can't find the water… we put it all out there that night… it was a nice vibe… the people were very into it… the stage was covered with our sweat… we left having spent ourselves… Me… I was happy to run into a good friend from Pittsburgh… yeah…
Louisville KY… in a hotel full of soldiers ready for bootcamp… young bloods hanging by the pay phones… wondering who were were… smile… a nice show… the headliner club… very nice spot… and phat sound… travel day… the hotel phones are burning some serious time huh? I call a man's room and the line is busy… smile… catching up with home I suppose…
The long road to Albuquerque… what an experience… Tedo, Stewart, Virgo, Cecil, and Micah… grooving to some soul tunes… and discussing production methods… "listen for the high hat man… listen for the riddim guits… hear it… its pushing the riddim… listen for this or that…" …nice vibes… singing along… eye's closed… or staring into space… riding along with the lyrics… and memories… a nice vibe… with mi bredren… Mr. Rodney… sharing the morning sunrise… a rest stop… a chance to stretch the legs… the sharing of a few quiet moments… a few laughs…
Gene… passing out pictures of us… but of us asleep… looking… looking rather silly… those pics won't see the light of day… you heard it from bassie…
Albuquerque… the El Rey… niceness… we jammed out extra on African Postman… a bit different then last year… this year… we bring it down to drum and bass… and dub it in and out…
Did you all know that Clydie is the Mayor of Rico CO… yeah… seen him a few minutes after we arrive… driving in a car… full of people… at the restaurant… making sure everyone is happy and taken care of… I just called him Mayor… again a phat show… later… walking home to the Rico Hotel… rustic… and earthy… under a canopy of stars… golden orbs… chilling in the living room with a dozen or so reggae lovers…
So here we are… two miles high… Jimmy Cliff and his band just pulled in… as I write y'all… I send out greetings to the band and crew… in a couple of hours… Hugh Masakela takes stage… down below… at the festival… I want to catch that… Virgo and Chris are down there… last I seen them… they were at catering… Sylvan and Tedo already have the Spear stand ready… Mikey… last I seen him he was on the bus… chilling… no… cleaning out the frig… which has a bit of a fishy vibe going right now… Stewie was down there too… I passed Micah's room on the way here… to write y'all… I heard him running through his lines… yesterday… the horns had a practice session up there… which keeps things right and tight… Cecil… he is across the hall from me… I knocked on his door… he was in the bathroom… his office… doing a voice training… yeah… voice training… running scales and things…
I checked Gene… he and I share a room… he was relaxing… on the phone with fams… CNBC on the box…
Spear asked me to come check him… we spent a moment… and then I came down here… time to end this entry… I have a few minutes still before I catch transport down the hill… going to run up to my room to get a small jacket… yeah…
LA is coming up… House of Blues… watch out… cause the lead guits will bust out his new axe…
till then… guidance and protection… to all Spear lovers…
Bassie
August 24, 2000
Athens, GA
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Thank you to everyone who has offered so much positive feedback regarding this tour journal… and encouragement… this goes to all the Spear supporters worldwide… and the band members… Adam… Joshua… and Mr. Rodney… Thank you…
So much has happened in the past week since the two gigs at the Pit… in North Carolina… but yunnowhat… today I want to focus this diary in a different direction… just for today… cool with you?
I read somewhere recently that great minds go on asking confounding questions with the same intensity throughout their lives… as I read these words… It was in Charleston, SC… yeah… in a college bookstore with Cecil… a few hours before sound check at the music farm down the street… yeah…
Well anyway… at that moment, I realized that I am witness to this process… within this realm… in the Spear camp… Winston Rodney… and the other members of the crew… the camp…
Mr. Rodney's sense of wonder and curiosity come out in the depth and breadth of his interests… and in his willingness to question some accepted ideas and policies… and behaviours… like trendy this or that… yunno…
His creative curiosity is an example to me… for the prospects and possibilities… the potentiality to remain fresh… while maintaining a sense of focus… this curiosity… is something that doesn't have to cease… as we age… it enhances daily experiences… make this moment more interesting…
Like after a gig… walking through the hotel lobby… 2:00 a.m… "Gregory…" yes Mr. Rodney… "why don't you try my bass on the next gig… see how it sounds…" yunno…
Curiosity… like a snowball rolling down a mountain side… it builds… and picks up things… around it… and grows… movement… could be small… or massive… yunno…
Stewart and I sit in the bus… the members… in their bunks… its a long ride… the Silver Streak… whistling down the road… soothing… bottled water… shoes off… under a canopy of stars…
Stewart leans forward… "you want to try a little more mid in your amp rig?… what do you think it would sound like to you? would it help you?"
Engaging our thoughts… that's what great minds do… and then comes the snowball effect… the snowball effect of positive feelings…
But Stewie… what is the Spear swing man? how can we take it to the next level… sipping some cool drinks… Tedo and Sylvan… heating up another two plates of steamed snapper… listen… hands to their hips…
The questions continues to linger… result… yes… they come…
Norfolk Virginia… Micah Robinson walks into sound check with his new horn… the love horn… bright tone… it really stands out in the horn mix well… it projects… yeah… maybe that is what he said… but what seems to me to matter the most… is the curiosity… fueling… the movement… the action… you see…
The snowball effect…
I forget the stage… the band is cooking and stewing like big pepper pot… Naya Keith… been on our list for a few… yunno… we dig in… serving up big portions of all the good stuff…
Curiosity enters… Mr. Rodney calls out… "drum and bass…"
Wow… ok… we shift gear… but not really… we just… make a stand… yunno… drum and bass… and continue the journey…
And man… it sounded sweet… something we tried out the first time… in that moment…
Curiosity continues… one night… it was in North Carolina… now I'm going back to last year… but check this out… this is a drummy story… Mikey… you listening…? ok… we are hitting the gig… then boom… the snare head bursts… but do we stop… does Mikey stop… what… are you crazy? smile…
Mikey hits the tom… yunno… keeps the riddim with a tom tom hit… as the tech changes the heads… but hey… hear it is… the snowball effect… it sounded so interesting… so good… the colors… it was part of the whole vibes… the "swing" yunno…
Now we use it every night… just check out the last few bars of African Postman if we are hitting it… and you will hear it… now you know the origins of that line…
I can go on… but the rains are coming down hard now… here at the holiday inn express… yeah… thunder too… I can hear it above me… and I'm thinking… hummm… let me wrap this up… and get up to my room cause I may have left the window open… maybe I did…
But here… let me finish this thought…
Think of the best teacher you ever had… what makes them brilliant? hummm?
…the ability to help the student to learn for himself? yeah…
Curiosity… a life long process… as manifest within the works of one Winston Rodney…
For us… the musicians… and you perhaps… is that a yes? smile…
till next time, from the road… guidance and protection as you make your forward movements…
Gregory
Thank you to everyone who has offered so much positive feedback regarding this tour journal… and encouragement… this goes to all the Spear supporters worldwide… and the band members… Adam… Joshua… and Mr. Rodney… Thank you…
So much has happened in the past week since the two gigs at the Pit… in North Carolina… but yunnowhat… today I want to focus this diary in a different direction… just for today… cool with you?
I read somewhere recently that great minds go on asking confounding questions with the same intensity throughout their lives… as I read these words… It was in Charleston, SC… yeah… in a college bookstore with Cecil… a few hours before sound check at the music farm down the street… yeah…
Well anyway… at that moment, I realized that I am witness to this process… within this realm… in the Spear camp… Winston Rodney… and the other members of the crew… the camp…
Mr. Rodney's sense of wonder and curiosity come out in the depth and breadth of his interests… and in his willingness to question some accepted ideas and policies… and behaviours… like trendy this or that… yunno…
His creative curiosity is an example to me… for the prospects and possibilities… the potentiality to remain fresh… while maintaining a sense of focus… this curiosity… is something that doesn't have to cease… as we age… it enhances daily experiences… make this moment more interesting…
Like after a gig… walking through the hotel lobby… 2:00 a.m… "Gregory…" yes Mr. Rodney… "why don't you try my bass on the next gig… see how it sounds…" yunno…
Curiosity… like a snowball rolling down a mountain side… it builds… and picks up things… around it… and grows… movement… could be small… or massive… yunno…
Stewart and I sit in the bus… the members… in their bunks… its a long ride… the Silver Streak… whistling down the road… soothing… bottled water… shoes off… under a canopy of stars…
Stewart leans forward… "you want to try a little more mid in your amp rig?… what do you think it would sound like to you? would it help you?"
Engaging our thoughts… that's what great minds do… and then comes the snowball effect… the snowball effect of positive feelings…
But Stewie… what is the Spear swing man? how can we take it to the next level… sipping some cool drinks… Tedo and Sylvan… heating up another two plates of steamed snapper… listen… hands to their hips…
The questions continues to linger… result… yes… they come…
Norfolk Virginia… Micah Robinson walks into sound check with his new horn… the love horn… bright tone… it really stands out in the horn mix well… it projects… yeah… maybe that is what he said… but what seems to me to matter the most… is the curiosity… fueling… the movement… the action… you see…
The snowball effect…
I forget the stage… the band is cooking and stewing like big pepper pot… Naya Keith… been on our list for a few… yunno… we dig in… serving up big portions of all the good stuff…
Curiosity enters… Mr. Rodney calls out… "drum and bass…"
Wow… ok… we shift gear… but not really… we just… make a stand… yunno… drum and bass… and continue the journey…
And man… it sounded sweet… something we tried out the first time… in that moment…
Curiosity continues… one night… it was in North Carolina… now I'm going back to last year… but check this out… this is a drummy story… Mikey… you listening…? ok… we are hitting the gig… then boom… the snare head bursts… but do we stop… does Mikey stop… what… are you crazy? smile…
Mikey hits the tom… yunno… keeps the riddim with a tom tom hit… as the tech changes the heads… but hey… hear it is… the snowball effect… it sounded so interesting… so good… the colors… it was part of the whole vibes… the "swing" yunno…
Now we use it every night… just check out the last few bars of African Postman if we are hitting it… and you will hear it… now you know the origins of that line…
I can go on… but the rains are coming down hard now… here at the holiday inn express… yeah… thunder too… I can hear it above me… and I'm thinking… hummm… let me wrap this up… and get up to my room cause I may have left the window open… maybe I did…
But here… let me finish this thought…
Think of the best teacher you ever had… what makes them brilliant? hummm?
…the ability to help the student to learn for himself? yeah…
Curiosity… a life long process… as manifest within the works of one Winston Rodney…
For us… the musicians… and you perhaps… is that a yes? smile…
till next time, from the road… guidance and protection as you make your forward movements…
Gregory
August 18, 2000
Kill Devil Hill, NC
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Sorry to take so long to get back to everyone… we are here in North Carolina… you should have seen the looks on our faces to see sunshine… and clear skies… after weeks of cloud cover… it was like coming up above the water… after taking a long long deep dive… into the penetrating waters…
We dozed… as the bus glided down the highway… we call her the silver bullet… and man… when we hit an open stretch… it is so smooth… we just glide…
Usually all of us are sitting up… and chatting about this and that… as we make our blast off from our hotel…
But after Tom hits the open road… we make way for our bunks… usually Tedo is the last one… riding as co-pilot up in the front seat…
Its been a pretty interesting past few days… we did a two day stand in Nantucket… and had a blast…
I enjoy it out there… intimate setting…
I must admit that sometimes days slip by… I recall we played a bubblin set up in New Hampshire… later after the show… many of us walked along the board walk area… Hampton Beach… just gazing in the store windows… me and Cecil bounced into James… and later Micah… all of us on different missions… for us… we sought out some ice cream… but no luck… we got some nice vibes though… just walking slowly… and talking through things… the parts we want to focus on and things like that… the essence of the groove… that sort a stuff…
Earlier that same day… Stewart and I had a nice chat… yeah… I treasure those moments… it was in a little restaurant a few hours prior to show time… just talking about things to do to make that special Spear swing… even stronger… we sat and talked and talked… till the place was empty… time didn't exist… we just went on vibes alone… something timeless… I'm learning a great deal about that… and just letting go… and riding that special kotch… the spear swing… yeah… its about life… really… ssssssshhhh… can you feel it…? somewhere deep inside… its there… Just watch the man… the Spear… watch him free out… tune in… on that frequency… and you will know… smile… I'm not just saying this to be saying it…
Mikey and I are trying something… yeah… I'm anticipating the riddim a bit… building the urgency… yunno… Stewie would say its bad bwoy style… Mikey is riding the hi-hat… yeah… its a special sort a swing… but not with every tune… check out our live set on rocking time… close your eyes… and penetrate that… then come talk to me… smile… chuckle…
Its 3:00 a.m. the a.c. in my room is busted… but Micah's room is cool and peaceful… he is out… just taking a stroll… I'm happy he checked me… I was standing at a soda machine… with Tedo… laughing about this and that…
Earlier today… I got a wicked lesson in mix… just me and Virgo… our house engineer… you see… on stage… its a different mix all together… we got the horns men… Micah, James, and Clyde… yeah… they have there own mix to hear themselves… and Mikey… he gets a lot of attention… cause the drums mix is very very important… same with everybody… Mr. Rodney too… we take our time at sound check… and get all our levels right… Me… I'm hanging with some new gear… and I'm learning how it reacts under certain conditions… sometimes it loves me… other times… I need to be patient… and learn… learn to adjust my levels… yunno…
Today… I got a lesson though… in mix… as the others were in the bunk… our silver bullet whistling down the highways… and byways… Virgo and I chilled out… listening to some c.d.'s on the system… he cut it up… dissected it… and explained a lot of things about what is happening in the mix on the house system… what you all enjoy…
I'm curious… and I feel it is important to know about what is going on… and Virgo was very pleased to share… Cecil… he sat with his feet up… and listening too… asking questions… as we rewind the c.d. and point out things…
My eyes are getting heavier… I wish I could go on… but tomorrow is another work day… I need my rest… maybe I will get together with some of the bredren and go jet skiing… during the day… morning time… when the sun kisses the sky blue… yunno… god spare life… right…
we'll see… time to move into anther space… or as James would say… re-charge the batteries… chuckle…
Man… just before I sign off… I got a picture in my minds eye… of the look on this young woman's face… as she had a few moments near our bus… with Spear… got her poster signed… this is after we had a nice little chat… about how she digs reggae… and how she was hip to it a few years ago… in college… hey… y'all listening… we like hearing from you… thanks for sharing…
Spear had a sparkle in his eye… magic… as he put his ink on the poster… she was in a magic realm… we all shared that experience…
magikal huh?
till next time…
Bassie signing out!!!!!
Sorry to take so long to get back to everyone… we are here in North Carolina… you should have seen the looks on our faces to see sunshine… and clear skies… after weeks of cloud cover… it was like coming up above the water… after taking a long long deep dive… into the penetrating waters…
We dozed… as the bus glided down the highway… we call her the silver bullet… and man… when we hit an open stretch… it is so smooth… we just glide…
Usually all of us are sitting up… and chatting about this and that… as we make our blast off from our hotel…
But after Tom hits the open road… we make way for our bunks… usually Tedo is the last one… riding as co-pilot up in the front seat…
Its been a pretty interesting past few days… we did a two day stand in Nantucket… and had a blast…
I enjoy it out there… intimate setting…
I must admit that sometimes days slip by… I recall we played a bubblin set up in New Hampshire… later after the show… many of us walked along the board walk area… Hampton Beach… just gazing in the store windows… me and Cecil bounced into James… and later Micah… all of us on different missions… for us… we sought out some ice cream… but no luck… we got some nice vibes though… just walking slowly… and talking through things… the parts we want to focus on and things like that… the essence of the groove… that sort a stuff…
Earlier that same day… Stewart and I had a nice chat… yeah… I treasure those moments… it was in a little restaurant a few hours prior to show time… just talking about things to do to make that special Spear swing… even stronger… we sat and talked and talked… till the place was empty… time didn't exist… we just went on vibes alone… something timeless… I'm learning a great deal about that… and just letting go… and riding that special kotch… the spear swing… yeah… its about life… really… ssssssshhhh… can you feel it…? somewhere deep inside… its there… Just watch the man… the Spear… watch him free out… tune in… on that frequency… and you will know… smile… I'm not just saying this to be saying it…
Mikey and I are trying something… yeah… I'm anticipating the riddim a bit… building the urgency… yunno… Stewie would say its bad bwoy style… Mikey is riding the hi-hat… yeah… its a special sort a swing… but not with every tune… check out our live set on rocking time… close your eyes… and penetrate that… then come talk to me… smile… chuckle…
Its 3:00 a.m. the a.c. in my room is busted… but Micah's room is cool and peaceful… he is out… just taking a stroll… I'm happy he checked me… I was standing at a soda machine… with Tedo… laughing about this and that…
Earlier today… I got a wicked lesson in mix… just me and Virgo… our house engineer… you see… on stage… its a different mix all together… we got the horns men… Micah, James, and Clyde… yeah… they have there own mix to hear themselves… and Mikey… he gets a lot of attention… cause the drums mix is very very important… same with everybody… Mr. Rodney too… we take our time at sound check… and get all our levels right… Me… I'm hanging with some new gear… and I'm learning how it reacts under certain conditions… sometimes it loves me… other times… I need to be patient… and learn… learn to adjust my levels… yunno…
Today… I got a lesson though… in mix… as the others were in the bunk… our silver bullet whistling down the highways… and byways… Virgo and I chilled out… listening to some c.d.'s on the system… he cut it up… dissected it… and explained a lot of things about what is happening in the mix on the house system… what you all enjoy…
I'm curious… and I feel it is important to know about what is going on… and Virgo was very pleased to share… Cecil… he sat with his feet up… and listening too… asking questions… as we rewind the c.d. and point out things…
My eyes are getting heavier… I wish I could go on… but tomorrow is another work day… I need my rest… maybe I will get together with some of the bredren and go jet skiing… during the day… morning time… when the sun kisses the sky blue… yunno… god spare life… right…
we'll see… time to move into anther space… or as James would say… re-charge the batteries… chuckle…
Man… just before I sign off… I got a picture in my minds eye… of the look on this young woman's face… as she had a few moments near our bus… with Spear… got her poster signed… this is after we had a nice little chat… about how she digs reggae… and how she was hip to it a few years ago… in college… hey… y'all listening… we like hearing from you… thanks for sharing…
Spear had a sparkle in his eye… magic… as he put his ink on the poster… she was in a magic realm… we all shared that experience…
magikal huh?
till next time…
Bassie signing out!!!!!
August 11, 2000
Martha's Vineyard, MA
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Greetings from Martha's Vineyard… yeah… the Spear tour continues… don't have a lot of time though to write today… been hitting it hard… at the moment its me, Micah… who's machine I'm using… Tom our driver… Gene… riddim guits… and James… Trumpet… sharing a house overlooking water… next to a lazy road… the sound of gravel under car tires… cracking and popping…
James is stretching out… Gene is watching mad about you on the t.v… my clothes are spinning in the dryer downstairs… no… nothing in the fridge… hummm… and where is Micah… I think in his room relaxing…
Past few days we were in Ithaca… hot place… the haunt… no… I'm not joking… it was so hot the power amps in the dressing room felt like a furnace… after our first show… we could have roasted some corn and fed everybody up in that place… laughs…
But I must say the few days out in Great Barrington were sweet… we had a day off… and many of us found things to do… tune into nature…
Steven… celebrated his birthday… I had mine a few days before… and Micah's is coming up soon… bunch of Leos up in this band… smile…
Steven seemed very relaxed… lying in a hammock…
Cecil… who is our shutterbug… took a bunch of nice shots of him… Me… I had a chance to bounce out to the Twin Lakes… and rent a row boat… me and Cecil… I got my workout in… Cecil… well… he gave up after we got tangled in some weeds… laughs… we went back to the dock… and got a power boat… and tore up the lake a bit… later we dozed off on the dock… after having some ice tea… the cool breezes was sweet…
Mr. Rodney… busy as usual… many interviews and things…
And yeah… our last night up there in the woods… Sylvan and Tedo bubbled up some food… nice vibes…
The music… man… it is tight… I tell you… it was a pleasure to play in the intimate environs of the Helsinki club… I could feel Stewart's touch on the keys… and I was right on top of Mikey… on the drums… things got real tight…
Micah's got his horn… and our transport to sound check is in a few minutes… I'm up here in my shorts… and gotta find my pants… so I'm going to jet outta here… I know Chris… and Virgo have hooked up things nice at the club… so I want to get there… and do my thing… yunno…
Till next time… guidance and protection as you make your journeys…
Peace and love… from the road… Gregory "Bassie" Jackson
Greetings from Martha's Vineyard… yeah… the Spear tour continues… don't have a lot of time though to write today… been hitting it hard… at the moment its me, Micah… who's machine I'm using… Tom our driver… Gene… riddim guits… and James… Trumpet… sharing a house overlooking water… next to a lazy road… the sound of gravel under car tires… cracking and popping…
James is stretching out… Gene is watching mad about you on the t.v… my clothes are spinning in the dryer downstairs… no… nothing in the fridge… hummm… and where is Micah… I think in his room relaxing…
Past few days we were in Ithaca… hot place… the haunt… no… I'm not joking… it was so hot the power amps in the dressing room felt like a furnace… after our first show… we could have roasted some corn and fed everybody up in that place… laughs…
But I must say the few days out in Great Barrington were sweet… we had a day off… and many of us found things to do… tune into nature…
Steven… celebrated his birthday… I had mine a few days before… and Micah's is coming up soon… bunch of Leos up in this band… smile…
Steven seemed very relaxed… lying in a hammock…
Cecil… who is our shutterbug… took a bunch of nice shots of him… Me… I had a chance to bounce out to the Twin Lakes… and rent a row boat… me and Cecil… I got my workout in… Cecil… well… he gave up after we got tangled in some weeds… laughs… we went back to the dock… and got a power boat… and tore up the lake a bit… later we dozed off on the dock… after having some ice tea… the cool breezes was sweet…
Mr. Rodney… busy as usual… many interviews and things…
And yeah… our last night up there in the woods… Sylvan and Tedo bubbled up some food… nice vibes…
The music… man… it is tight… I tell you… it was a pleasure to play in the intimate environs of the Helsinki club… I could feel Stewart's touch on the keys… and I was right on top of Mikey… on the drums… things got real tight…
Micah's got his horn… and our transport to sound check is in a few minutes… I'm up here in my shorts… and gotta find my pants… so I'm going to jet outta here… I know Chris… and Virgo have hooked up things nice at the club… so I want to get there… and do my thing… yunno…
Till next time… guidance and protection as you make your journeys…
Peace and love… from the road… Gregory "Bassie" Jackson
August 04, 2000
Winooski, VT
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Sun is playing a game of hide and seek with the clouds… cool air… and relief from the humidity… a nice ride from New Haven… which was a hot show… its nice to have monitors that really work… and kick it… past few days have been exciting… cape cod… a few days out at Kevin's place… the beachcomber… cycling during the afternoon to the salt pond… having a chat with Stewie about the music… listening to some songs on my four track… Stewie giving some feedback and ideas… me and Cecil with our axes in our hands… a cool breeze… the door open…
Watching Virgo riding his bike back to the hotel from the sound check… yard vibes… you should have seen the look on his face… sheer joy huh? we honked as we zipped by… in Kev's van…
Enough of us are really into fitness… most of us work out… Gene runs… most towns he is out with his Gel's… running… I asked him… he use to be all county or something as a distance runner…
Mr. Rodney does the treadmill… so do I… plus i jump rope… Clyde is a weight trainer too… James does workouts after each gig… very disciplined too… Chris works out… mostly with Cecil… doing the hotel gym thing mostly…
I jump rope from time to time… when I can't get to the gym… it helps keeps the vibes up… playing the gig requires a lot of concentration… and a great deal of strength… different demands for all of us… it is our responsibility to keep things together…
And we do it in our own way… our own personal expression…
After the gig… riding to the next venue… man it is a sweet ride when the bus gets to trucking… the air kicking in the bunk… sometimes I pull down my t.v. screen… but mostly I enjoy rapping with everyone… in our living room… Sylvan or Tedo may be firing up some fish in the kitchen… Micah setting the place on fire with some funny jokes and one liners… Stewie in the mix… and Gene too…
Tedo rides shotgun with Tom our driver… Me… I bounce from spot to spot… and the boss is in the back chilling…
Hey… I realized I need to get up to Cecil's room and review something from the gig tape… something I need to focus on… "the swing"… the "spear swing"… is a special kind a groove… it just isn't a one drop… or a rockers… or steppers… it is a type of vibe… of sound… "a swing…" I want to check something from last night…
Micah is hear… chilling in his room… i'm borrowing some time on his lap top again… daag… i gotta get me one of these huh?
He's watching some sports… two hours till we catch transport… time to jet…
One love from Vermont… catch up with you further down the line…
Bassie Jackson
Sun is playing a game of hide and seek with the clouds… cool air… and relief from the humidity… a nice ride from New Haven… which was a hot show… its nice to have monitors that really work… and kick it… past few days have been exciting… cape cod… a few days out at Kevin's place… the beachcomber… cycling during the afternoon to the salt pond… having a chat with Stewie about the music… listening to some songs on my four track… Stewie giving some feedback and ideas… me and Cecil with our axes in our hands… a cool breeze… the door open…
Watching Virgo riding his bike back to the hotel from the sound check… yard vibes… you should have seen the look on his face… sheer joy huh? we honked as we zipped by… in Kev's van…
Enough of us are really into fitness… most of us work out… Gene runs… most towns he is out with his Gel's… running… I asked him… he use to be all county or something as a distance runner…
Mr. Rodney does the treadmill… so do I… plus i jump rope… Clyde is a weight trainer too… James does workouts after each gig… very disciplined too… Chris works out… mostly with Cecil… doing the hotel gym thing mostly…
I jump rope from time to time… when I can't get to the gym… it helps keeps the vibes up… playing the gig requires a lot of concentration… and a great deal of strength… different demands for all of us… it is our responsibility to keep things together…
And we do it in our own way… our own personal expression…
After the gig… riding to the next venue… man it is a sweet ride when the bus gets to trucking… the air kicking in the bunk… sometimes I pull down my t.v. screen… but mostly I enjoy rapping with everyone… in our living room… Sylvan or Tedo may be firing up some fish in the kitchen… Micah setting the place on fire with some funny jokes and one liners… Stewie in the mix… and Gene too…
Tedo rides shotgun with Tom our driver… Me… I bounce from spot to spot… and the boss is in the back chilling…
Hey… I realized I need to get up to Cecil's room and review something from the gig tape… something I need to focus on… "the swing"… the "spear swing"… is a special kind a groove… it just isn't a one drop… or a rockers… or steppers… it is a type of vibe… of sound… "a swing…" I want to check something from last night…
Micah is hear… chilling in his room… i'm borrowing some time on his lap top again… daag… i gotta get me one of these huh?
He's watching some sports… two hours till we catch transport… time to jet…
One love from Vermont… catch up with you further down the line…
Bassie Jackson
July 24, 2000
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Back in Trommy Micah's crib… this time its Montreal, Canada… after a few days in Toronto… kicking up some heavy reggae… Montreal… nice place… a pleasant ride on the tour bus… when we arrived… a great town that reminded many of us of France… the bistro's… and the language… fireworks at night… folks taking it easy… strolling down the streets… nice vibes… everywhere we go… there is something you can take from the experience… its a give and take… vibes… chemistry…
I'm here with Micah Robinson… using his lap top… man… there are some interesting cats in this crew… let me share a bit… I'm sure many are curious, huh? And I gotta hail up everyone… these brothers are great to travel with…
Mr. Rodney… working with him and traveling these great lands… what can I say about a true soldier… its an amazing experience…
Micah is the Trombone man… lives in Jersey when not on tour with Spear… been with the band now for about three tours… got a great knowledge of music… major chops… and some massive groove too… check out his solo's… wicked…!! Professor!!!
Steven Stewart is the keys man… and music director… part of the St. Anne posse… and a great musician… I'm in awe of this guy… he is one of the best producers around today… can play anything he hears… and has a deep soul… this guy is so good… I learn every time we share a few minutes about theory… or new gear… or reggae history… I can go on an on about this cat… Stewie!!!
James Smith… Trumpet… this cat is called big bro… and he is… for all of us… James lives in the big apple when not on tour with Mr. Rodney… and he is brilliant… a brilliant musician… and one of the warmest guys you can ever meet… And man… talk about knowledge of music… and feel… this guy has it… in abundance… I learn so much from this cat too… Big Bro'!!! More than a decade with Mr. Rodney…
Next I will mention is Clyde… Sax… this cat can blow… man… have you heard him on Spears live version of Tumble Down…? Or Rocking Time? if not… where have you been… smile… cause you gotta check this cat out… Clydie… wicked horn man… and a great guy too…
Lead Guits is Cecil… this guy has such a great blues edge to his sound… bringing some bite into the mix… and man… this cat has it in abundance… if you meet Cecil though… he is one of the greatest guys you can meet… he always has me laughing… on the bus… in airports… Cecil plays a fender strat… make his home in Miami… Cecil!!!
Mikey Ramsey is the drummer… and this man is wicked with those drums… foundation man… I feel it when he is hitting them… and man this guy has energy… a great man too… positive minded… and focused… great timing… Mikey is the main man!!! nuff energy
And Riddim Guits is Gene… this guy cuts some riddim too… a Trewlany youth… living up in Jersey now…
Virgo on the Mix… is another person I see as a big big talent… and who i am just in awe of… truly… cause the guy puts some wicked mix on everything… solves any problem we may need to deal with… electronic wise… and in other ways too… And this youth has vibes…!!! big up Virgo… Miami Posse…
Can't forget Chris either… he handles the monitor mix… a youth who makes sure we all can hear ourselves… from small venues… to huge ones… this guy takes care of us real good…
All of you know Tedo, I'm sure… This man takes care of us… let me tell you… Singer Johnny!!! He introduces Mr. Rodney… and gets everything started right… if you need something… c.d.'s… or other good things… check for Tedo… he will take care of you… 17 years with the mighty Spear… yeah!!! St. Anne, Jamaica…
Sylvan… taking care of things too… if you need something… check for the big dread… he won't let you down… we are all a family… I'm telling you… and we all play a role within the Burning Experience…
Me… I'm Gregory… Bassie… I rest up in Jersey when I'm not on the road… in the New York area…
On the road with Spear… is a big honor… which comes with responsibilities… musically… and therwise… both go hand in hand…
Its getting late… going head up to my room… Peace and love from Montreal, Canada… but before I go… I have to big up Mrs. Rodney… she may not be on the stage with us… but her presence is felt… making sure everything is running smooth… Big up Mrs. Rodney…!!!!
There are others involved in the burning experience… many others… this is simply a sip… yunno… to share with you a bit… the stars are out… the city is lit up with lights… a cool breeze from the window…
Till next time then…
Bassie, out…
Back in Trommy Micah's crib… this time its Montreal, Canada… after a few days in Toronto… kicking up some heavy reggae… Montreal… nice place… a pleasant ride on the tour bus… when we arrived… a great town that reminded many of us of France… the bistro's… and the language… fireworks at night… folks taking it easy… strolling down the streets… nice vibes… everywhere we go… there is something you can take from the experience… its a give and take… vibes… chemistry…
I'm here with Micah Robinson… using his lap top… man… there are some interesting cats in this crew… let me share a bit… I'm sure many are curious, huh? And I gotta hail up everyone… these brothers are great to travel with…
Mr. Rodney… working with him and traveling these great lands… what can I say about a true soldier… its an amazing experience…
Micah is the Trombone man… lives in Jersey when not on tour with Spear… been with the band now for about three tours… got a great knowledge of music… major chops… and some massive groove too… check out his solo's… wicked…!! Professor!!!
Steven Stewart is the keys man… and music director… part of the St. Anne posse… and a great musician… I'm in awe of this guy… he is one of the best producers around today… can play anything he hears… and has a deep soul… this guy is so good… I learn every time we share a few minutes about theory… or new gear… or reggae history… I can go on an on about this cat… Stewie!!!
James Smith… Trumpet… this cat is called big bro… and he is… for all of us… James lives in the big apple when not on tour with Mr. Rodney… and he is brilliant… a brilliant musician… and one of the warmest guys you can ever meet… And man… talk about knowledge of music… and feel… this guy has it… in abundance… I learn so much from this cat too… Big Bro'!!! More than a decade with Mr. Rodney…
Next I will mention is Clyde… Sax… this cat can blow… man… have you heard him on Spears live version of Tumble Down…? Or Rocking Time? if not… where have you been… smile… cause you gotta check this cat out… Clydie… wicked horn man… and a great guy too…
Lead Guits is Cecil… this guy has such a great blues edge to his sound… bringing some bite into the mix… and man… this cat has it in abundance… if you meet Cecil though… he is one of the greatest guys you can meet… he always has me laughing… on the bus… in airports… Cecil plays a fender strat… make his home in Miami… Cecil!!!
Mikey Ramsey is the drummer… and this man is wicked with those drums… foundation man… I feel it when he is hitting them… and man this guy has energy… a great man too… positive minded… and focused… great timing… Mikey is the main man!!! nuff energy
And Riddim Guits is Gene… this guy cuts some riddim too… a Trewlany youth… living up in Jersey now…
Virgo on the Mix… is another person I see as a big big talent… and who i am just in awe of… truly… cause the guy puts some wicked mix on everything… solves any problem we may need to deal with… electronic wise… and in other ways too… And this youth has vibes…!!! big up Virgo… Miami Posse…
Can't forget Chris either… he handles the monitor mix… a youth who makes sure we all can hear ourselves… from small venues… to huge ones… this guy takes care of us real good…
All of you know Tedo, I'm sure… This man takes care of us… let me tell you… Singer Johnny!!! He introduces Mr. Rodney… and gets everything started right… if you need something… c.d.'s… or other good things… check for Tedo… he will take care of you… 17 years with the mighty Spear… yeah!!! St. Anne, Jamaica…
Sylvan… taking care of things too… if you need something… check for the big dread… he won't let you down… we are all a family… I'm telling you… and we all play a role within the Burning Experience…
Me… I'm Gregory… Bassie… I rest up in Jersey when I'm not on the road… in the New York area…
On the road with Spear… is a big honor… which comes with responsibilities… musically… and therwise… both go hand in hand…
Its getting late… going head up to my room… Peace and love from Montreal, Canada… but before I go… I have to big up Mrs. Rodney… she may not be on the stage with us… but her presence is felt… making sure everything is running smooth… Big up Mrs. Rodney…!!!!
There are others involved in the burning experience… many others… this is simply a sip… yunno… to share with you a bit… the stars are out… the city is lit up with lights… a cool breeze from the window…
Till next time then…
Bassie, out…
July 15, 2000
Poughkeepsie, NY
by Gregory 'Bassie' Jackson
Greetings… I'm touching base from the Holiday Inn Express out here in Poughkeepsie NY… sound check was wicked… we worked out some tunes from Calling Rastafari… and got our sound levels… spending great care and attention that we had a good mix… with a nice balance…
I'm in Micah's room… the Trombone man… logging in with his Mac…
So far we have had a great start to the tour… and I only expect it to get much much better…
Spear picked some great selections from his massive catalog for this tour… and we are all having a lot of fun digging into them… it is just a pleasure… especially during sound check…
Mr. Rodney is in great form… I witnessed so much energy… and power… it truly is amazing… and inspiring too… I give my best effort every night… as does the rest of the band… to support this vibe… this flow… like a massive river… mighty and powerful…
I create my part… I introduce it… the bass… the foundation…
I'm excited about tonight… why? hummm… I suppose being in this old town… it has a vibe about it… the old homes… with the big verandahs… that I passed… in the taxi… to the sound check…
So many stories huh…
anyway… gotta go… I think Micah is finished in the shower… and its time for me to take mine…
one love from the road…
Greetings… I'm touching base from the Holiday Inn Express out here in Poughkeepsie NY… sound check was wicked… we worked out some tunes from Calling Rastafari… and got our sound levels… spending great care and attention that we had a good mix… with a nice balance…
I'm in Micah's room… the Trombone man… logging in with his Mac…
So far we have had a great start to the tour… and I only expect it to get much much better…
Spear picked some great selections from his massive catalog for this tour… and we are all having a lot of fun digging into them… it is just a pleasure… especially during sound check…
Mr. Rodney is in great form… I witnessed so much energy… and power… it truly is amazing… and inspiring too… I give my best effort every night… as does the rest of the band… to support this vibe… this flow… like a massive river… mighty and powerful…
I create my part… I introduce it… the bass… the foundation…
I'm excited about tonight… why? hummm… I suppose being in this old town… it has a vibe about it… the old homes… with the big verandahs… that I passed… in the taxi… to the sound check…
So many stories huh…
anyway… gotta go… I think Micah is finished in the shower… and its time for me to take mine…
one love from the road…
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