Bob Marley has been an inspiration to musicians and poets alike.
This Friday at Puccini's Golden West Saloon admirers and music-lovers can pay homage to the reggae legend during the Bob Marley Birthday Bash.
"We wouldn't be doing music at all if it wasn't for Bob Marley," said Ben Williams, guitarist and lead vocalist for Crazy Fool, who describes his band's sound as "white-boy reggae."
Crazy Fool will be one of the opening acts for the Marley Bash along with The Glassman, Avid Diva and Morningwood. Sina and the Prophetz of the Nu will be headlining the show.
The bash will celebrate the renowned musician's life, with a tribute mix of acoustic covers and reggae originals. Reggae will be the omnipresent flavor of the night, but punk, ska, soul and roots will spice up the mix as well.
"We've all listened to him," said Matt Goldsarb, drummer for Morningwood.
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"His music is highly influencing in most musicians' lives. I don't know how to describe it. It's the mood of it, how to be open-minded, how to express yourself through music," Sina and the Prophetz of the Nu say they are all about the music. Sina describes their sound as "funk-dified and funky."
"A lot of us are political activists at least socially, and so that's a big influence," Sina said. "Roots, raggae, soul, some of it R&B, some of us come from jazz backgrounds. All original, poetic lyrics. It's about the real, the new generation. We believe we were prophetically ordained as musicians to spread the word."
Sina cites a Marley performance she saw in South Africa, where he united two warring factions and as their hands touched lightening struck the stage behind him.
"It was the largest influence he had made in my life," Sina said.
"He changed my outlook on life, giving me more humanitarian values and a greater awareness for equality," said Dan Gardu§o, also known as the The Glassman. "He's a prophet to me the way anyone would look at Jesus Christ."
Sina said enlightenment is the key to her music.
"We want to reach people on all levels - physically, emotionally, spiritually, to get them moving and dancing to the music. We want them to become more aware in themselves so we can unite, so we can come together in this time of oppression. All of us collectively as humans are destroying the earth, and you can see it in our children, in the violence. Awareness is the key."
All the bands included in this event circle around that same concept - connecting to people, expressing themselves musically and bringing some sort of understanding into the world.
"I love the way it lifts people up, gets them moving and dancing," said Corey Dimond of Crazy Fool. "It's important to see that when you're performing."
Who: The Bob Marley Birthday Bash
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Puccini's Golden West Saloon, 620 Central Ave.
Price: $5
Ticket Info: 242-2353
