No fuss, no dramas, The Black Seeds walked on stage as though they owned it. There wasn’t the usual glamour or glitz that some of the big bands have, or feel that they need to have. This was totally pure, and totally refreshing.
The close compact nature of the James Cabaret venue and the quality of the sound had all the makings of a great gig and the crowd were pumped and ready to go.
Guess what? They didn’t disappoint.
Only a few weeks ago in Wellington did I have the pleasure of watching Fat Freddy’s Drop who are of a similar genre, but to be honest I preferred the Black Seeds. They really looked like they were enjoying the moment, and the music speaks for itself.
Barnaby Weir doesn’t even look like your typical front man and it feels like he’s one of your mates down at the pub after a quick pint.
A good mix of songs from their studio albums including my favourite Dust and Dirt thudded across the floor. The bass was pumping through my veins and the brass section were so sharp and energised it makes for a world class section.
This is Kiwi music at its best. If you ever get chance to get to see them just do it.
Originating from Wellington, The Black Seeds have carved out their reputation through platinum selling albums, a masterful live show, and a sound that fuses infectious grooves and melodies with undiluted roots music. With numerous European festival tours behind them, and a successful 2009 North American album release, their following continues to spread quickly around the globe.
Led by the vocals of Barnaby Weir and Daniel Weetman, at its core The Black Seeds music is a boundary-crossing sound fusion of big-beat funk, dub, soul, mixed with vintage roots-reggae.
Described by Clash Magazine as "one of the best reggae acts on the planet", their legendary 8-piece live show brings the raw energy and good vibes wherever it goes. They have countless sell-out New Zealand and Australasian tours behind them, and regularly perform at many of Europe and North America’s biggest festivals.