STEEL PULSE UPLIFTS THE WORLD WITH THEIR POSITIVE MESSAGE!

On Friday, August 20, 2004, Steel Pulse performed at Ntelos in Portsmouth, Virginia. The show began with Eek-e-mouse warming up the crowd.  About 10pm., the lights went down and the patrons began to scream with excitement.  They waited anxiously for Steel Pulse and the time finally came.  Steel Pulse entered the stage as the music began.  The music started with an intro of melodies, which included "chant a psalm", "bad man", and "prodigal son".  And as the lights came up Steel Pulse began to play and David the lead singer sang, "Rally Round".  The patrons began singing the song before David could open his mouth.  This reaction brought a smile to his face and you could see his joy as he was greeted so graciously. He sung a series of songs that he explained represented the status of the world after 911.  The songs were "Make us a nation", "Tight rope", and " No more weapons".  David Dread talked to the audience through songs, he sung a medley of his most popular hits.  The people danced and went wild as he sung "soldiers", "taxi driver", and "reggae fever". 

Photos!

Steel Pulse has a new album called African Holocaust and told the patrons a little about it.  He sung us a few of the tunes like, "Tyrant".  He expressed how it felt when he wrote the song "Door of no return", which describes their feeling of the past and present and how it affected them.  Door of no return is a song that describes how in the old days of slavery, the slaves would pass through the door from Africa and never would see their homeland again. A very touching and sad song.  The crowd started shouting out David's name as he continued to amaze them with his talents. The fans were filled with energy and could not stay still.  As David sang and the band played, the keyboard player, Selwyn who has been with the band since 1976, rapped lyrics in between some songs.  The crowd jump up and down as they danced to the spiritual reggae vibes.  The vibrations of the reggae sounds echoed throughout the venue. Their uplifting beats kept everyone including myself close and tight.  Only a few outburst occurred that were easily taken care of by security.  Everyone was jumping up and chanting "no time to quit".  David gave shout outs to Portsmouth, Norfolk and Virginia Beach.  Tracey of Richmond was celebrating her birthday.  As he sung "Harassment" he talked about the system quickly rephrased as the "shitstem" and how the system was always trying to keep us under their feet. And that we must continue to try regardless the situations.  After he sung "Global warming" the band left the stage only to come back and do an encore.  But before that Alvin, the bass player, played the patron some of his sultry tunes.  So as the chanted Steel Pulse,  the band was making their way back to the stage.  The sang a few more selections which really pleased the crowd.  One of the last song was "Emotional prisoner". 

Photos!

Steep pulse spread joy to the patrons as they have been doing all over the world for the last couple of years. I myself remember them when I was a younger girl and can remember a lot of the older songs.  Their funky reggae beats sets them apart form other bands and listening to them was like greeting an old friend.  Even their new album brings awareness to social problems and reminds us to remember our past as well as our present.  As they sang the lyrics "life without music" the patrons could really feel them and interacted with them and that made David and the band really happy. 

Now a little information about Steel Pulse that you may know or not.  Steel Pulse have been playing since 1976.  The band members consist of the following: David Hinds who is the lead vocal singer, Selwyn Brown on keyboard and vocal singer, Conrad Kelly who plays drums, Moonie (Clifford Pusey) who plays the guitar, Alvin Ewen on bass guitar, Sidney Mills on keyboard, and can't forget those energetic back-up singer; Melanie and Traciana.  They have made more than 19 albums.  David's son, Baruch was on tour with his father working as a drum tech.  It is truly another family affair.

The band's international success has granted them a Grammy Award for their Babylon the bandit album.  They have been nominated at least four times and were featured in Spike Lee's  "Do the right thing" movie for a sound track that David composed (Can't stand it).  They were the first reggae band invited to play in the inaugural festivities in Wash DC in 1993.  Their music represent the fight for injustice and is always uplifting. 

The show was wicked and off the hook.  I experience old memories from high school.  The patrons as well felt and experienced spiritual and exhilarating joy to witness such a great show.  Can't wait to see Steel pulse again.  Good luck and blessing for a job well done.

Nuff Respect!!!!