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Next up was the Red Eyes, who are absolutely fantastic. I’ve been going to reggae and ska shows for about 8 years now, and I think it’s safe to say that the Red Eyes are the best proponents of this genre that Australia has to offer. Sporting a slightly different line up, with their regular trombone and trumpet player attending a wedding, they still put on one hell of a show. Their vocalist has an excellent stage presence, and the ever busy King Charlie working the sound desk puts in the reverb effects at all the right times. Playing live reggae is by no means an easy feat, but done well it can be great. The Red Eyes, coming off the end of a reasonably long tour, do it very well.
Once again heading downstairs for cheap beer, I missed the majority of the DJ who played in between the Red Eyes and Rastawookie. I was quite surprised by Rastawookie. The last time I saw them was about 2 years ago, and at that time the reggae influence was obvious. This time however, they seemed to be playing pretty much straight up South American kind of music. It appears that the line up has also changed quite drastically since I last saw them – I counted 4 (out of about 10) original members? Particularly conspicuous by his absence was the straw hat wearing trumpet player, whose presence used to give them a bit of character. It’s interesting that they still call themselves Rastawookie, given that they aren’t particularly rasta and that the line up is so different.
Their music wasn’t bad, and a lot of people were definitely getting into it, but it wasn’t what I was expecting, and I, for one, preferred their old stuff. It may also have been a bit of a mistake to play so late, especially in that they were following the Red Eyes. The crowd definitely thinned a bit towards the end and for me the highlight of the night was definitely the support act.
- In The Mix
Discography
'RUDEWORLD' debut LP Rudeworld #7 Radio Toronto charts
'PROLIFIC/MY KINGDOM' EP
'HIGH PLACE' EP playlisted on JJJ
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Bio
Considered by fans & music critics alike as one of the few authentic sounding Dub/Reggae groups to come out of Australia, THE RED-EYES are an 11-piece monster band that has been shaking foundations around the country with their heavyweight bass & mind-altering Dub sound. Led by fiery singer El Witeri who draws on his Maori heritage for inspiration, THE RED-EYES live show is nothing short of incendiary. The pressure builds with melodic slow-burners and spaced out dub and erupts with fist-in-the-air militant reggae.
Since their inception in 2002 THE RED-EYES have played killer shows including festivals such as Meredith, Bellingen Global Carnival, Earthcore, Pyramid Rock (’04 and ’06), Peats Ridge (’05 and ’06), Great Escape and Woodford Folk Festival, and numerous national tours. THE RED-EYES have supported the likes of The Mad Professor, Dub Syndicate, Salmonella Dub, Black Seeds, Cornerstone Roots, Concord Dawn, Sola Rosa, Pitch Black & The Resin Dogs to name a few. These shows have received glowing reviews, often claiming that THE RED-EYES explosive live show has eclipsed the main act.
With the help of funding from the JB Seed grant, THE RED-EYES have recorded two EPs, ‘HIGH PLACE’ and ‘PROLIFIC/MY KINGDOM’ – ‘sheer brilliance...’ (Beat Magazine); ‘musically rich & beautifully produced...’ (In The Mix). These two milestones in Australian music have enjoyed solid airplay in Australia, New Zealand, Asia, the Pacific Islands and Canada having collectively sold over 6000 copies invading venues, homes and DJ record bags.
Now, after much anticipation the debut album ‘RUDE WORLD’ is to be released later this year on the independent label Echofoxtrot. The album has its roots firmly planted in traditional reggae
rhythms whilst launching into intergalactic dubs and kamikaze stunt effects. RUDE WORLD leaves no stone unturned, from the haunting soulful opening track “The Power” to the riotous, politically driven steppers groove “Arms Over Jordan” (featured on Rolling Stone Magazine’s compilation CD, April ’07). Two years in the making, the album combines masterfully produced beats, soulful lyrics and grooves, with shake the house dub rhythms that are set to explode onto the scene and set a benchmark for Australian Dub/Reggae.
For more info on The Red-Eyes check the website at: www.thered-eyes.com
Or: www.myspace.com/themightyredeyes
CONTACT: DAMIEN CHARLES 0409 516 365
Kingcharlie1@hotmail.com
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