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Midnite Brought it to Boulder
Midnite - Boulder Theater, Colorado
March 5, 2010
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On Friday March 5th,
2010 Midnite took
the stage at the
Boulder Theatre in
Colorado at 11:30PM.
Prior to that Jus
Goodie a reggae
group from this
mountain region did
a irie job of
warming up the crowd
with superb vocals
on all original
songs with great
bass lines, and
guitar work on all
songs. During this
Colorado portion of
the tour I was
fortunate enough to
attend three of the
shows, the Denver
show at the Bluebird
Theatre, Boulder
Theater and
thirtytwentysouth in
Breckenridge. All
shows where well
received but, hands
down the Boulder
Show raised the bar
of what Midnite is
capable of, they
brought the 100% St.
Croix roots reggae
message to Boulder
and delivered with
respect.
If you are not
familiar with
Midnite, the band
currently consists
of Vaughn Benjamin
(words & vocals),
Ron Benjamin (bass &
vocals), Sly Molina-Curet
(drums), Edmund
Fieulleteau (rhythm
guitar), Edwin
(Kenny) Byron
(guitar), and Ras L.
(keyboards). The
Benjamin brothers
are the heart and
soul of Midnite with
their current line
up of handpicked
musicians of similar
mind. Midnite as a
band and Vaughn
Benjamin as “the”
Rastafarian roots
soul messenger are
at the top of their
game with Vaughn
having over forty
CD’s to the Midnite
name. For Midnite it
is about delivering
the true
unadulterated
Rastafarian roots
musical message.
Midnite’s music is
raw, yet refined to
the simple elements
that make reggae
roots music the
power of…….. words,
and sound. Vaughn is
in my opinion the
most talented free
forming deliverer of
this message and can
mesmerize those
roots fans that are
willing to accept
Midnite’s music.
For the Boulder show
their songs where
the starting point
for Midnite to craft
them into a fifteen
plus minute vibe
that can drench the
crowd in the moment
of the music. My
attempt at the set
list as follows:
1-Foolish and Wise
(Ras Mek Peace)
2-Rasta Man Still
Stand (Ras Mek
Peace) 3-Speak the
Word (???)
4-Emotions (What
makes a King?)
5-Listen (Rule the
Time) 6-Breathing
Scrolls (Ainshant
Maps) 7-Warrior (??)
8-Jah Bless Her
(What makes a King?)
8-When She Loves
(??) 9-Proceed
(??)10-I Chant (Kayamagan)
11-Is Real (Rule the
Time) 12- Closing
Chant (Ron on
Keyboard)
They preformed a mix
of some of their
first recorded songs
to two of their
newest songs from
the freshly released
CD “What makes at
King?” weaving them
all together for the
righteous one drop
roots reggae that
kept the Boulder-ites
vibing to the music
for three solid
hours. Midnite
performed the song
“Emotion” to a level
that cannot be
captured on the cd,
with Vaughn’s vocals
taking it to a
harmonic place that
only he can deliver
live in person with
the band grooving at
a force to reckon
with. “Jah Bless
Her” also from “What
makes a King?” CD
was another crowd
favorite with its
soothing sound,
lyrics and
additional
harmonizing from Ron
Benjamin, bringing
Midnite to its 2010
sound. This show,
had the perfect
Midnite sound mix,
and much respect
goes to the sound
crew that mixed in
dub reverbs, echoes
taking the music
even higher, with
lights effects to
back it up.
When the raw dose of
bass thumping roots
rattling your soul
ended with “Is
Real”, Ron and
Vaughn delivered one
more chant with Ron
on keyboards and
Vaughn on vocals and
the lights dimmed,
the power of Vaughn
and these two
brothers stood
true………. to the
roots music and the
message.
Midnite fans and
newly transformed
fans …….. accepted
this message that
Midnite brought and
delivered to
Boulder.
Give Thanks
Ranking
Kirk
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