Toots and the Maytals

Toots!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What can I say? Comments I heard were: "Amazing experience!”” Pure energy & reviving!" I'm not sure if I can describe it accurately. It was a complex and primarily emotional experience.

A few of us went down to Avalon to see Toots and the Maytals last night. Toot's music transmitted a sense of soul and positive energy of which I have never encountered. He used his musicality and variety of musical styles to manipulate the concert's energy. I was captivated by the music. He would mix rock/funk & reggae to rev us up, slow country & reggae to cool us down and then he ended with a more gospel/reggae mix to leave us with an elevated spirit.

I was lucky enough to hold his hands for a minute. I have never had that opportunity at any concert. It meant more to me to hear his music once I felt that I had a personal connection.

I have not overlooked the fact that most of Toot's audiences in the USA are white. Yet the vibe at the concert last night was such a nonverbal and transcendental experience that I prefer not to bring a critical analysis of race, Jamaican music, American culture etc into my concert blog. If you would like to comment, fine, but I refuse to go there right now.