The Black Seeds Photo: Supplied
Here's a band from Wellington who need little introduction - The Black Seeds
Titles: 'Cool Me Down', 'Better Days', 'The Answer', 'Rotten Apple', 'Fire', 'Coming Back Home', 'Dust and Dirt', 'Turn It Around', 'Pippy Pip', 'Sometimes Enough', 'Everybody Knows', 'Take Your Chances', 'The Prince', 'So True'.
This highly competent group have been delivering their smooth rock-steady sound for two decades now and their confidence and back-catalogue of songs shone as they performed before a massive crowd at WOMAD 2019.
Described by Rolling Stone magazine as 'The Best Reggae band in the world right now', The Black Seeds infuse their live shows with smooth well-paced energy and good vibes.
However The Black Seeds are far more than a reggae band – their sound layers funk, soul and even elements of Afrobeat over tasteful beds of dub and reggae.
With their performance coming the day after the mosque shootings in Christchurch, The Black Seeds opened their WOMAD set with the message “This goes out to our Muslim brothers and sisters around the world.” Then they launched into their polished set of material drawing from six studio albums - music that was obviously very familiar to the audience.
Barnaby Weir centre Photo: Supplied
These seasoned musicians have a collective wealth of experience that sees them absorbing their influences naturally and polishing them in a way that makes for their own sound. Especially notable are the solid foundation of insistent bass lines and the melodic vocals of Barnaby Weir.
The Black Seeds know their audience and have travelled enough miles, both here in Aotearoa and internationally, to know what works! Their set perfectly complemented the warm weather and sunny disposition of the massive crowd they attracted.
The Black Seeds and audience Photo: Supplied
The Black Seeds performed on the TSB Bowl stage, New Plymouth on Sat 16 March 2019.
Recorded live and produced by Darryl Stack for RNZ Music.
