It was an awesome and humbling experience seeing and hearing the legendary Wailers perform at the Oregon Zoo. Watching such giants of music history was incredible, and the sold out audience smiled, swayed, cheered, and was filled with One Love.
We had a chance to interview one of The Wailers, Chico (trumpet), who performed with the great Bob Marley. Chico chatted with us as if we were part of his family. He welcomed us with smiles, warmth, and kindness. Here is what he had to say:
melophobe: The Wailers have been together for a long time now. How did the Wailers stay together and remain so successful all of these years?
Chico: The Wailers have kept their music lyrically centered not only on our own experiences, but on the experiences of the world as a whole. That’s why the lyrics remain relevant. Everyone can relate to these experiences, as well as the music, which is the root.
melophobe: The Wailers are known all over the [world] as being the band that popularized Reggae music. How did that come about, and how did you develop that sound?
Chico: Bob Marley created relevant, powerful lyrics. The music is the root and the rest of the tree grows from that root. Our experiences all stem from the music.
melophobe: You are touring all over the world now. You have done so much for the music world. What is next for the Wailers?
Chico: We’ll keep touring and playing music. A compilation album will be coming out early next year with the Wailers music as well as sounds from Eve and the Dave Mathews Band.
melophobe: Bob Marley is still loved and remembered by millions of fans. Even young children born long after his passing, are huge fans. Why do you think that is?
Chico: The music he wrote is so relevant to every generation. The people and fans are the water that make the root grow. Without the water there would be no leaves, or tree at all.
melophobe: What do you want the public to know about Bob Marley?
Chico: Bob Marley was a very smart man. I was only 21 years old while we were recording. I was so elated to be able to play with him. He would often go outside and play football while we were recording. He was a survivor.
Melephobe: What do you want the public to know about the Wailers?
Chico: The Wailers have been on the road so long. It’s been a pleasure to play all over the world. We’ve played in Thailand and China . . . . We’ve played in places where they don’t even speak English, but they can still understand the music. They relate to the universal bass and beat.
melophobe: When all is said and done, generations from now, how do the Wailers want to be remembered?
Chico: The music. We want them to remember the music. That is the root of everything.
Ugh. Paste’s profile of Free Energy made me kind of hate them. So does your review. It’s this unctuous defense of good-time rock-and-roll ("we’re just here to party, and we’re awesome!") that seems more self-serving than fun-loving.
by beth on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.41 pm from the entry: Foreign Born + Free Energy - The Knitting Factory (Brooklyn, NY; Mar. 12, 2010)
that inescapable feeling you are referring to, is that like when you hear something and you could have sworn you heard it before because of the nostalgic catchy quality? or is is like when you’ve heard a band exactly like said band?
great post by the way!
by paul on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03.15 pm from the entry: The Novel Ideas - "The Sky Is A Field" - Borrow It
Whoa! I had no idea she was enegaged. You would never know with the way she behaves! Wow!
by art on Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 09.48 am from the entry: Nikki Darlin and John McCauley: 1+1=1
This comment stream is so meta. Great review Kelly.
by chris on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 07.50 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
no prob. The whole album is excellent, combining some of the harder sonics of Los Angeles with the meat of his debut and obviously difficult to summarize in only 50 words… 
I’d say it’s on par with the debut, but better than Los Angeles.
by kelly on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.23 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
By the way, I really liked the mp3 posted. Thanks.
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “WHO WROTE THIS...PUKE ! “Picture yourself coasting your bike past space funk palm trees, homeless harpists, vintage video arcades, electronic drum circles, and 60s psychedelic singers who’re waiting for the bus. Cosmogramma is kinda like that if someone suddenly tripped you just as you’re starting to enjoy the ride. But in a good way.””
by Joshua H on Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 06.17 pm from the entry: Flying Lotus - "Cosmogramma" - Buy It
