Lee "Scratch" Perry @ The Depot 11/15/06:
| It's truly a pleasure and a privilege to be able to see this legendary figure on my birthday and at my new favorite venue. When I first read that THE Lee "Scratch" Perry was coming to the Depot I almost didn't believe it. In fact, right up until I saw him take the stage I was somehow convinced that the show would be canceled at the last minute, just because I wanted to see it so badly! Fortunately that never happened and I indeed saw Lee Perry perform right before my eyes. Lee Perry is one of the greatest living musical influences on the planet. He and Bob Marley collaborated for years in the 1960's and their efforts ultimately resulted in what we now know as "reggae" music. In addition, Lee Perry, along with King Tubby are credited with inventing the "dub" genre of reggae music as well. For all of this however he remains somewhat unknown in the U.S.. He does NOT have this problem in Jamaica, Europe, England, or Japan. So, considering this, along with the fact that he is in his 70's makes the fact that he would come here and play The Depot even that much more special. I had originally hoped that both Brian Thorn and Mike Mendenhall could join me for this show, but in the end Brian couldn't make it. Mike was good to join me despite only really knowing of Lee Perry from what I had told him. Tee was out of town on business and I had to get a babysitter. Mike and I drove down together and stopped into Butterfly, the restaurant on the first floor of the venue for a couple of beers. I had brought with me a couple of my Lee Perry cds along with his biography "People Funny Boy" which I had read last summer in order to hopefully get a chance for him to sign them. As we were having our drinks at Butterfly I approached the security guys at the entrance to the venue and asked them what they suggested as a strategy for obtaining the autographs. Unfortunately they didn't really have any advice, but then stopped a member of the band, the female sax player, who was just entering the venue. She talked to me for a couple of minutes, but also had no advice on how to get Lee's autograph. She said that even the band hardly had any interaction with him (this didn't surprise me knowing of Lee's eccentricities). The security guys did tell me I was welcome to take my small book bag into the venue just in case I was somehow able to approach Mr. Perry inside. Well, it was nice of them to do that, but it unfortunately never led to getting the autograph. Lee's backup band, Dub Is A Weapon, also served as the warm-up band. They seemed an unlikely bunch to be backing Lee Perry. They were all white kids, but for the older rasta guy playing the bongos, who look like they are still in college. They had a nice sound, and sounded even better once joined by Lee Perry. We had to wait a long time for that however. After the warm-up set by Dub Is A Weapon we had to wait about 30 minutes for Lee to take the stage. Mike and I talked and sipped our beers as we waited. While the crowd was fairly big it was a comfortable situation, and we easily made our way to a spot front and center while waiting. I also had brought along my camera and had it ready to go when Lee Perry finally took the stage. A surge of energy went through me when I first saw Lee and I couldn't stop moving to the music for the entire show. He was dressed in a predictably wild get-up, complete with heavily ornamented shoes and hat. He also sported some burning incense stuck into his hat and held an "anti-voodoo" wand for most of the show. He looked good and although he didn't exactly prance around, he did move briskly and skank throughout the show. Both the music and vocals were solid. I was able to take some pretty cool photos, and was lucky enough to watch the bulk of the show only a few feet from Mr. Perry. At about 3/4 through the show Mike and I took a break and headed to the bar at the back for one last beer. We finished up by dancing and drinking our beers in a comfortable spot near the back. The show was fairly short but very satisfying. Considering that Lee Perry has put out a truckload of albums that span his 40+ year career, I was surprised to know so many of the songs he played. After the show I asked one of the musicians for a set-list which he removed from the stage and handed to me. So, here is the official list of songs he played that night: S.D.I., Kiss The Champion, Secret Laboratory, Inspector Gadget, Heathen, Kaya, Purity Rock, Panic In Babylon, Roast Fish and Cornbread, Sun Is Shining, and Devil Dead. Thank you Mr. Perry! |
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