The evening was billed as a Lee Scratch Perry & Black Ark Memorial with his son Omar Perry & ERM Band.
I saw the legendary producer and song writer Lee “scratch” Perry at the Reading Festival in 1998 so was keen to see what his son could create. Omar Perry was born in Kingston Jamaica and at the age of six, Omar and his little sister recorded on some of their father’s production such as “Thanks we get” by Junior Byles and “Ram Goat Liver” by Pluto Shervington.
ERM (Easy Riddim Maker) band are based in France and comprise of Sébastien Kohler (guitar), Nicolas Michel (bass), Michel Latour (keys), and Olivier Gangloff (drums) and were Lee Perry`s backing band and now provide the engine house for Omar. The fellas quietly take to the stage and perform a brief intro jam of tunes that were to follow. Anyone who has ever attended such an event as this, my last being Jimmy Cliff will know the format well. They begin the bars to the opening salvo of `People Funny Boy` as Omar saunters through the crowd, takes to the stage and begins singing this rhythmic opener. A few more Lee “scratch” classic cuts follow with `Big Neck Police`, Roast Fish and Cornbread`, `Throw Some Water in` where a comparison between the maintenance of one’s body and car is made with only the best fuel and care for both and `Stay Red`.
Two things become apparent very quickly which are that this band is really tight and that Omar is blessed with such a rich and melodious voice along with some dance moves which reminded me of Bob Marley in his prime.
There`s a shift into some landmark numbers recorded by “scratch” at his Black Ark studio in Washington Gardens, Kingston, Jamaica beginning with `Police & Thieves` which was by Junior Murvin from 1976 a co-write which was also covered by The Clash. `Beat Down Babylon` by roots reggae singer Junior Byles from 1972 follows along with the wonderful `War Ina Babylon` which Max Romeo gifted us which Omar segs into John Lennon`s `Give Peace a Chance`. We head back to 1970 for a flavour of Bob Marley with the melodious `Soul Rebel` where we are encouraged to sing along before closing this section with 1976`s `When Jah Come` by Devon Irons.
The final segment comes with a few tracks from Omar`s own album from last year called `Channelling Lee `Scratch` Perry`. The dreamy `Magnetic Lights` kicks us off followed by the enticing `Pied Piper` and `Wicked Back Deh`. I thought `Key To Your Heart` was immense before the set was closed with what was I think `Blaze this Ya Fire`. Omar is encouraged to return for a much deserved encore and does so clothed in a Regal cloak and sends this crowd into a frenzy with Max Romeo and The Upsetters` masterpiece `Chase The Devil` from whom electro alt rave dance music stars The Prodigy sampled the track for their fourth single `Out of Space`. Omar and ERM leave us with a final number with `Mr. Music` which blends versions of The Tokens ` The Lion Sleeps Tonight` and Bob Marley`s `Stir It Up` along with well-earned band introductions.
I had some trepidation before this show but I have to admit it surpassed anything I could have ever expected to experience. I grew up listening to Bob Marley, Jimmy Cliff, Third World, Culture, Burning Spear, Toots and the Maytels, Steel Pulse and Black Uhuru and was lucky to see them all live and I can say hand on heart that Omar Perry was up there with them all.
His overriding message tonight was for “Peace, Love and Unity” and he certainly spread an enormous amount of it, I know his Dad would be very proud of him.
