Thursday, July 21st, 2011 I received my Midnite healing message …….just 71 days since I last saw Midnite at The Coach House in San Juan Capistrano May 11th, 2011 and in the meantime Midnite has released two CD’s. Most notably the July 18th release of Anthology a Ron Benjamin produced CD with 14 tracks of Midnite’s pure reggae.

If you are not familiar with Midnite, the band consists of Vaughn Benjamin (words & vocals), Ron Benjamin (bass & vocals), Christian Molina (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 provides the platform for Vaughn Benjamin as the supreme Rastafarian roots soul messenger.

Matt Masih & The Messengers opened the show with some high energy funk, soul and reggae vibes, including some heavy horns. Santa Cruz turned out for Midnite took when they took the stage at 10:50PM. My best attempt to name the songs played include: Love Jah (??), High Places of Anu (What makes a King), Proceed (Live 94117), Listen (Rule the Time), To Mene (To Mene), Great Zimbabwe Walls (Jubilees of Zion), Jubilees of Zion (Jubilees of Zion), Batter Ram Sound (Jubliees of Zion), Ainshant Maps (Ainshant Maps), Steadfast (Anthology), Due Reward (Unpolished), Love the Live You Live (Unpolished), White Collar Criminal (Jubilees of Zion), and Pagan, Pay Gone (Ras Mek Peace). I know I could have missed some of the songs, because Midnite styles these songs into a fifteen plus minute vibe blending songs from one to another at times. To Mene was a short vibe at the end of Listen but a heavy transition with Vaughn chanting strong. They featured Steadfast from their new CD Anthology with some great energy, bass line and vocals.

Midnite delivered two hours and fifteen minutes of heavy bass roots reggae to the Catalyst to eager fans, and when the lights came up the crowd still wanted more…….. 

Give Thanks

Rankingkirk

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Rankingkirk is a Journalist, musician, and music researcher. Writing about  the music industry since the 80’s with articles and reviews published from the English Beat to the Rolling Stones. Rankingkirk is a follower of the Midnite roots message from over 30 live performances.