The Time of My Life: My Mini Groundation Tour

"Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails."~Proverbs 19:21

We make many plans in life and sometimes they don't turn out the way we want, sometimes they turn out better than we could ever imagine.

My handsome brothers Hossein and Harrison:The real Royal Family

The Set Up

Those of you who have been reading know that Groundation is my favorite group. I made plans a few months ago to follow most of the California portion of their U.S. tour. I saved, made a  timeline for preparations, and asked for the time off. In the meantime, on one of those social networking sites I friended a brother who I thought I had met before. It turns out that he wasn't who I thought he was, but he was very cool. A few weeks later, I realize that he is the tour manager for Groundation. I promise you I didn't know this at first. This was Jah putting His plans into motion.

This star, Hossein Attar (or Hossein AStar as I call him) is actually one of the people I had mentioned in an April post entitled "Friends, How Many of us Have Them?" whom I wanted to become friends with in my new area. Serendipity. I felt like I had known his spirit for a long time. We reasoned, and connected as brother and sister. When I told him my intentions of going to the concerts, I did so in hopes of having an opportunity to finally meet him. This is when he offered to get me into the concerts for free. Mind you, the amount of money I am willing pay to see Groundation live would knock some of you off of your feet, unless, of course, you have seen them live. I felt a little guilty for taking money out of their pockets, but Jah knows they'll get it back from me as long as they keep making music. This was a huge and kind gesture, so I wanted to do something for him to thank him. I knew that in order for it to be as special as I  needed it to be, I had to make it.

Now, things  I can make include: an excellent friend, great vegan food, good conversation, and  a decent poem. I decided I wanted to make him a necklace. I had never done that before, but how hard could it be? Well, figuring out how to put a clasp on was impossible on my own, so I took a class. Once I figured that out, I knew I had to make Harrison Stafford (the lead singer) one too. I needed these pieces to be special, and cultural. I won't go into detail about the grand search for authentic African beads and pendants , but after several weeks, I finally found what I wanted. The beads and pendants came directly from Africa. I was proud of the pieces, and very nervous about them liking them.

 

The Moment of Truth

After many weeks of anticipation and anxiety, the time had come. I rented a car and drove to Santa Cruz. When I got to the venue and finally met my new friend and brother, what happened after that was greater than anything my mind could imagine. (And I have a HUGE imagination). The love this king showed me filled my heart. He introduced me to the band, and everyone else, as his dear friend. He constantly checked and doted on me, and he treated me like royalty. Ladies, this is the kind of brotha you want to date. If you date him though, you'd better be good to him or you'll have to answer to ME. But I digress. He loved the necklace, and it looked good on him. I asked him to make sure Harrison got his.

 

Later that evening, I was hanging on the side of the stage listening to Bamboo Station (another good reggae band) when through the door walks Harrison Stafford. To my surprise, he recognized me as one of his followers on Twitter! That caught me off guard and I was like a deer caught in the headlights. But what a charming burst of light this king is. His energy wrapped around me like a warm hug. Minutes later it was time for Groundation to take the stage and I made my way to the front. As the band came out, I noticed Harrison was wearing the necklace! I was worried it might be too substantial a piece, but he looked royal in it! I felt like a child who's dad wore the tie she made for him to work. The concert was amazing. The next day, still high on the music, I drove to L.A., and I caught myself smiling a few times. Nothing could top this, or so I thought.

 

Love Overflowing

Stephanie Mills sang a song from The Wiz called "Home," and the first line is "When I think of home, I think of a place where there's love overflowing." I hadn't seen my mom since May, and my brother and nephew since March. I was able to get some auntie time in with my phenomenal nephew who I missed terribly. My mom seemed excited for me and my great adventure. Concert number 2 for me was the day after I arrived in L.A. at the El Rey. It's a nice venue that was just intimate enough to get cozy with the band and the music. The next day, at the Galaxy in Orange County, was another cozy venue. One of the best things I learned about Groundation is how down to earth, kind, and just lovely the members of the band are. They not only remembered me (ok, it was only a day ago that we met, but you know what I mean) but they seemed happy to see me. I received so much love from them. I hope they felt the love I have for them. I love that they play music for the love of music. They see themselves as musicians devoted to their craft. What they may not realize is that they are actually messengers carrying out a message of love, unity, equality, and peace. Sound hokey? Well "hokey" is what the world needs right now. The passion and energy these artists put into their art is evident and contagious.

 

 The Shows

Let me introduce you to the band. There's Kelsey Howard on trombone. He's quiet and unassuming, until he blasts you with his jazzy addition to the roots reggae sound. He and David Chachere (on trumpet) add a unique sound, a fullness to Groundation's music that is rarely found in reggae, especially roots reggae today. Few groups these days use a full live band, let alone one with horns. I like to say they are the Earth, Wind, and Fire of reggae. When you see them blowing, particularly on solos, you find yourself praying a vein doesn't burst in their heads or necks. Te Kanawa Haereiti keeps the rhythm on drums. Sitting in the back, one might forget about him, but don't underestimate his importance. He listens to the sound of the band and holds them together like the heart pumping blood through the veins. Most importantly, he remembered my name after meeting him once! Impressive (I know, again, it was only a day later). Ryan Newman plays a soulful bass. There's something about the bass that music just can't seem to do without. It's sultry and Ryan makes it speak like Barry White or Isaac Hayes serenading the ladies. Marcus Urani sets fire to the keyboards. The piano is my favorite instrument, and then the drums. I've always wanted to learn to play. When Marcus plays, it seems like a crime, almost sinister. The look on his face and the sound he creates is like he's channeled Thelonious Monk, Fats Waller, and even Mozart! I half expect the keyboards to catch fire. I asked him to teach me to play when he retires, but it was really just a way to compliment him. Please don't ever retire Marcus.

Mingo Lewis Jr., or Mingo Star as I have decided to call him, son of Carlos Santana's percussionist Mingo Lewis, is Groundation's percussionist. He plays with such power, it's as if he was calling Queen Nyahbingi herself*. In fact, the smile on his face is as if he knows something we don't. Perhaps it's the joy of playing great music well, or maybe he does call the Queen's spirit. Whatever it is, he's filling the audience with that same spirit. Kim Pommell and Kerry Ann Morgan have the angelic voices bringing soulful feminine vibration to this roots gathering. The ladies accent Harrison's decidedly masculine voice perfectly, and their moves, well they aren't Motown choreographed doo wap moves. They are free, spirited, tribal, and rhythmic.

Finally, and with great trepidation that I won't do him justice, I introduce you to Harrison Stafford, the lead singer and driving force behind the band. He is slight and unassuming in appearance, much like His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, but make no mistake, much like His Majesty, this man possesses power and strength in his character, conviction, devotion to music, Rastafari, and humanity, and most especially his musical abilities. He writes all of the lyrics and with complete trust and faith in his band they compose and play the music together as though they were one. He, much like the rest of the group, seems to become possessed with the spirits of a million rastamen, Juden, sufferers, and Jah. It's no wonder he stays slim because the energy he expels on stage can fill a stadium. He'll give thanks to the audience for giving him the energy, but it really comes from him. His lyrics are conscious, thoughtful, poetic, resounding, and powerful. Hmmm, I'm a little in love with him. Actually, I'm a little in love with the whole band. He performs as though he gets paid by how well he does. They of course don't get paid nearly enough, but that's another blog. Offstage, he is kind, friendly, and giving to all of his fans. That's the best part of this experience; learning that the group I admire onstage, is just as wonderful off stage.


I fancy myself a writer, but these small words could hardly do Groundation or my experience justice. The only way to know what I'm feeling is to see them live yourself. If they are touring within at least 400 miles of you, I suggest that you make the trip to see them. It will be well worth the journey. I blogged recently on the power of music and I know now that I didn't even come close to expressing how powerful it is. No one leaves a Groundation concert without wanting to be, without being a better person. I will be giving thanks to the Most High for years to come for the gift of Groundation and Harrison Stafford, and Hossein Attar (my new brother) to me and the world. Love, Light, and Music.




http://www.groundation.com/live Coming to a city near you!

 

 

*In Rastafari, Nyahbingi is the mystical power of the Most High to mete justice throughout the universe. Although the genuine origin of the word that means “she possesses many things” is Ugandan, as a concept and theology, Nyahbingi has come down to the Rastaman to signify “death to the oppressors, both black and white”. Therefore, it is through prayer, music and biblical reasonings that the Rastaman chants bingi, calling on the forces of nature to destroy the powers of wickedness. (named for African warrior Queen Nyahbingi)

http://www.rhythmweb.com/jamaica/nyabinghi.htm