Luciano By Andrew Clunis,
Freelance Writer
A NEW day has dawned for reggae's 'Messenger', Luciano. And he's brightening horizons across the United States of America with a 47-city tour to promote his latest album A New Day for VP Records.
On Friday night he performed at Manhattan's Irving Plaza, New York. It was a sold-out affair with scores of people braving the biting cold, desperately seeking tickets.
Luciano, the 'spiritual leader' of this generation's reggae culture, delivered a 'sermon' coloured with brass and strings and when it ended his congregation was truly blessed. He has an exciting new show which features several new songs. The singer performed with great purpose, exhorting life's greater virtues.
Irving Plaza was a cavernous setting and despite the stringent anti-drug rules which prevail in New York City, ganja smoke was everywhere. The singer even took a whiff of the 'sacrament' on stage, while singing Legalise It, a cover of the Peter Tosh pro-marijuana anthem.
He made light of the fact that influential people, including former US President Bill Clinton have had experiences with the weed.
Old-fashioned preacher
Dressed in his famous oriental hat, he began his set with a spiritual ode, No Night In Zion. With congas and haunting voices in the background, the venue became pentecostal as the power was unleashed.
With staff in hand, he mastered his pulpit like an old-fashioned preacher in a country church.
The Fire House band was at the top of its game. Despite guitarist Winston 'Bo Peep' Bowen having lost his guitar effects jack the previous night in Philadelphia, their sound was bountiful and complemented the powerful sounds which emanated from the 'Messenger'.
The crowd was appreciative throughout his performance which ended with the entreating It's Me Again Jah and all the previous performers joined him on stage for a grand finale.
Preceding him was Junior Kelly who distinguished himself. His excellent musical skills put him in good favour with the audience. With great command of the stage and charismatic approach to delivery, the audience was sweet on the artiste who is on his first major tour.
Songs like 'Boom Draw', Sleep Last Night, Hungry Days and the big hit If Love So Nice, did the trick for him.
Mikey General performed before him. His was a restructured set, featuring a number of new songs as well. Opening with Max Romeo's Let The Power Fall On I, he exploded into his own hits like Miss Taylor's Boy and Jah Inna Yu Head.
Dean Fraser opened the show, playing two stirring numbers on his alto sax, one of them being his interpretation of the '23rd Psalm'.
The concert hall featured two huge beaded chandeliers hanging from a ceiling with intriguing architectural designs. The backdrop for the tour has peace as its theme. It features a lion and a lamb resting together, a montage of persons of various races, as well as Emperor Haile Selassie I and the Empress Menen looking on at the utopia.
The tour continued Saturday night in New Rochelle, New York. It ends on May 13.
