Tosh lauded in song

HEADLINERS Bunny Wailer and Ky-Mani Marley were no-shows but that did not stop the great vibe at Thursday's Peter Tosh Celebration Concert at Studio 38 in St Andrew.

The event commemorated Tosh's 68th birthday as well as Monday's posthumous conferrment of the Order of Merit at King's House.

Tosh was gunned down in September 1987 at his St Andrew home. The show's proceeds will go to Peter Tosh charities.

What the absent acts would have brought was made up for by the new generation of artistes, particularly singers Andrew Tosh and his sibling, Tosh 1.

Both artistes, who have a hauntingly similar vocal style to their father, thrilled a packed venue, located on the Pulse complex in New Kingston.

Tosh 1 was the first to grace the stage with his renditions of Vampire, Downpressor Man, Equal Rights, No Sympathy and I Am That I Am. He added an impressive rap element to his set.

Tosh 1 was the first to grace the stage with his renditions of Vampire, Downpressor Man, Equal Rights, No Sympathy and I Am That I Am. He added an impressive rap element to his set.

He was backed by the Tuff Gang Band which featured two of Bunny Wailer's children - Abijah on guitar and Cen-C Love on backing vocals.

Andrew Tosh also evoked memories of his father with his set which comprised some of the Stepping Razor's prized pieces. Opening with Mama Africa his voice roared through the venue.

He would then remove his white 'tam' allowing his locks to fall in the untamed manner reminiscent of the older Tosh. He would follow with Glass House and Maga Dog, before declaring that he did not smell any marijuana. This provided the perfect segue for Legalize It - Tosh's anthem for the decriminalisation of ganja.

This had the audience on its feet and countinued for Johnny B Goode, for which Andrew was joined by Tosh 1 and cousin Edge Michael. He did Trench Town Rock with Fabian Marley, Small Axe, and Get Up Stand Up.

The Tosh siblings's performance aside, there were other noteworthy moments. Bushman, who has one of the better voices in reggae and is often compared to Tosh vocally, delivered his popular Lighthouse and Downtown, much to the audience's delight.

Pinchers threatened to take the show at 11:00 pm when he reeled off a string of his hits from the late-1980s and 1990s. Bandelero, Hold Me, For Your Eyes Only, Borderline, Agony, Denise and Siddung Pon It had the audience dancing.

It would be the same effect for the Mighty Diamonds. The trio converted the audience into a song and dance chorus as they did the standards Right Time, Have Mercy, I Need A Roof and Pass the Kutchie.

The Tamlins, who toured with Tosh for years, also gave a sparkling performance, as did Junior Reid.

(from Jamaica Observer)