Mel Cooke, Freelance Writer

Wayne McGregor (left) sings along with Katie Iver and Omar Francis, during Black Zebra 2.0 in Concert, held at RedBones the Blues Café, Bremaer Avenue on Friday night. - Winston Sill / Freelance Photographer

The guitars of Wayne McGregor and Omar Francis cut deep and soared wonderfully, as expected for a rock band, at RedBones the Blues Café on Friday night. And the songs delivered by Black Zebra, from U2s With or Without You to Sting's Message In A Bottle, as well as original cuts Right Now (I Put You Behind Me) and a number that pondered "whatever happened to the girl who lose the wining contest?" were mainly on the rock side.

But there was a touch or two of humour to send the rock down with a chuckle for the small but very appreciative audience ("10,000 party a gwaan an yu come listen to live music," McGregor said), one such coming when McGregor requested before Purple Rain that all the single ladies to "fling dem drawers up on stage right now". A piece of cloth did come sailing up, harmony and occasional lead vocalist Katy Iver laying the green chamois at McGregor's feet.

Then there was a reworking of Night Nurse, nasal intonation and all, for a birthday lady in the house ("she neva badda wear no frock/them blue jeans is looking well, well hot", McGregor sang), but one note from the guitar and a single, stated "happy birthday" for a man who was also having a birthday ("since you are a man I am not going to serenade you") and the laughter went up.

No joke

The music was no joke, though, Iver Knocking on Heaven's Door going up to 10:00 p.m. McGregor, who led on guitar and vocals for most of the near two hours of music, delivered Jimi Hendrix's Red House, a muscular, tattooed arm flicking to the abbreviated brim of his black hat for a quick mid-solo adjustment. It was more from the Hendrix catalogue with Hoochie Koochie Man, McGregor calling on "Mr. Omar Francis" to send the tall guitarist's fingers flying for his solo, the two jamming toe to toe at one point.

Steele Pulse's Rally Round The Flag was ended on a repeated "red, red, red", McGregor commenting "thank you! Thunderous applause!" It was reggae back to back with Marley's Natty Dread, on which Francis sang lead, bass player Jeff Moss-Solomon swaying on splayed legs. McGregor and Iver were co-drivers on the much covered Mustang Sally, Black Zebra coming to the break with the crescendo of Richie Cunningham's drums anchoring the end of Lynrd Skynrd's Freebird.

The birthday song and a fraction and the originals came in the second segment, as did Chuck Berry's Johnny B. Goode. Before delivering Pink Floyd's Another Brick In The Wall McGregor said "this next song is going out to my mother, who is in the audience. She taught me how to break down all barriers. A lot of people said that you can't play rock and roll in Jamaica. Here we are".

The concert ended past midnight with a rousing, extended delivery of the Beatles' 'Come Together', yells for more going unheeded.