Lest we make this next event all about the honoree, we wanted to add a few words about our featured performers:  The Ark Band.

The Ark Band - Live

In a career that has spanned decades (the band formed in 1987), these guys have seriously been everywhere, from their homeland on the Caribbean island of St. Lucia, to their adopted home of Columbus, OH and all points in between, The Ark Band has brought its infectious combination of roots reggae, calypso and soca (“soul calypso”) music to stages across the US, Canada and the Caribbean.  Terry Bobb, drummer, vocalist, and co-founder of the band, recently provided some insight into the band, its longevity and what inspires them to continue making the music they love.

Breaking it down into its base elements, Terry describes the band’s philosophy as “designed to enlighten, educate and entertain all types of people.”  Their music is inspired by at least one major influence — Bob Marley (which conveniently falls right in line with Saturday’s celebration) — but also music of their formative early years.  The soca style, in particular, gets audiences on the dance floor, with its unique combination of Caribbean and Indian (yes, you read that right) rhythms.  In addition, Terry reminds me that “they grew up listening to rock and roll”,  so the music reflects that approach in many ways as well.

“I am an optimist, and I believe that a smile is a very valuable asset.” – Terry Bobb

Although Columbus may seem like an odd base of operations for a reggae band, Terry and his brother Eustace (bass, vocals) relocated there from New York to help another brother who was already established in a band.  I guess it stuck, since The Ark Band is still gigging regularly across the Midwest in 2010.  Regarding the longevity of the band, Terry provides some trademark humor and shrugs.  “We wouldn’t know what else to do at our age,” he explains.  “The three older guys in the band range from 45 to 61.  Go figure.”

Over the course of its career, the band has been honored to share the stage with some of the top names in the reggae world, including Alpha Blondy and Burning Spear.  They have even appeared with The Beach Boys, so they are no stranger to the big show.  Terry points out that the name of the band is inspired by “Noah’s Ark, transporting the music to the people”.  There is no doubt that the people of Chicago will have the music transported to them this Saturday — both the band and The Barn look forward to an amazing show.

I wanted to write a little something for the blog that explored the connection between Bob Marley and the great city of Chicago.  A man of the world, Bob did some seriously globe trotting in his years and spent time living in Europe and touring the world over.  I was curious if there was any particular connection to our city.

I did some googling around looking for ideas and I kept coming across reference to a bootleg, recorded in Chicago on June 10th, 1975, and fairly widely circulated as “Jah Joys and Rainbows”, “Live In Chicago” and “Downtown Trenchtown”.

A Cover For the Live In Chicago Bootleg

Apparently, this gig was recorded as an XRT Sunday Night Concert  at The Quiet Knight Cub.  There are some samples of the tracks included below.  Its still not clear what Marley had with the city, but he certainly put on a hell of a show here!  A friendly bootleg-liberator uploaded the the entire show here; it is much higher quality than the samples provided here and is definitely worth a listen.

Natty Dread:  

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Trenchtown Rock:  

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The lineup on this night featured:

Bob Marley - Lead Vocal
Al Anderson - Lead Guitar
Aston "Family Man" Barrett - Bass
Carlton Barrett - Drums
Tyrone Downie - Keyboards
Alvin "Seeco" Patterson - Percussion
Lee Jaffe -  harmonica
The "I Threes":
Judy Mowatt - Backup Vocals
Marcia Griffiths - Backup Vocals
Rita Marley - Backup Vocals

I had never heard of The Quiet Knight before, but a little more research and I found that this was a 60’s and 70’s era folk and jazz club owned by Richard Harding that originated on North Wells and moved briefly to West Belmont toward the end of its run.  Many superstars got their start here including Bruce Springsteen (as opening act for the Persuasions).  Blues legend Muddy Waters even had a weekly gig at the club.

It is only fitting that the biggest reggae legend in the world also took the stage here.  We are lucky to have the recording to enjoy 25 years later.  Enjoy the tunes and hope to see you on Saturday!

Looking for a pace to dine before Saturday’s show?  We’ve got a word of advice from ABC7’s very own Hungry Hound, Steve Dolinsky.  He suggests that La Grange is well worth the drive for these three restaurants:  Kama Bistro, Q Barbecue, and Prasino.  If he only new about The Ark Band and The Barn’s Bob Marley Birthday Celebration, he’d have another reason!

No matter what your pre-show plans are, don’t miss this next event!  By all accounts, La Grange will be the place to be on Saturday night.

As one of the most recognizable popular music icons and the first superstar from the third world, there are certain things that virtually every informed music fan knows about Bob Marley.  We celebrate him as the rare individual who could represent the disadvantaged and downtrodden while still communicating a message of empowerment and positivity, wrapped in art that is both accessible and transcendent.  That said, I thought it’d be interesting to share ten things that you may not have known, things that help to put his career into perspective and help us understand the impact of his work on the music we listen to and the world we live in.

“My music will go on forever. Maybe it’s a fool say that, but when me know facts me can say facts. My music will go on forever.” – Bob Marley

1. Everybody knows Marley was a champion for African culture and identity, but did you know that his father was a white British naval captain?   He passed away when Bob was 10, but Norval Marley did support Bob and his mother financially.  Regrettably, he may have also given a gift that was not so welcome (see #10).

2.  The name Bob Marley has become iconic and synonymous with reggae music, but did you know this was not his given name?  Apparently, Norval Marley insisted on the first name of “Nesta”, but the origin of this moniker remains unknown.  His original middle name Robert, was adopted as his first name when a Jamaican immigration official suggested that “Nesta” sounded too much like a girl’s name.

3.  Everybody knows that Marley was a much honored and beloved the world over, but did you know that despite sellout world tours and multi-platinum albums, he never won a Grammy while alive?  Of course, this was rectified with a posthumous lifetime achievement award in 2001.  Even more impressive, Time magazine named Exodus the album of the century.  In life, Marley was bestowed with the UN Peace Medal of The Third World and Jamaica’s third highest honor, the Jamaican Order of Merit.

Marley - A Most Honored Citizen of the World

4.  Everybody knows Bob was a man of integrity and honor, but did you know he performed a free concert for 80,000 attendees in Jamaica days after a politically motivated attempt on his life?  In December 1976, Marley survived an armed assassination in his own home, bearing minor injuries in his chest and arm, and leaving others in the attack (his wife Rita and manager Don Taylor) with serious injuries.  While the rest of The Wailers remained in hiding, Bob took the stage with an apolitical backup band and proclaimed:  “the people who are trying to make this world worse aren’t taking a day off.  How can I?”

5. Everybody understands Bob as a cultural ambassador for Jamaica, but did you know he spent some time in the US before his music career took off?  At the age of 21 he lived with his mother in Delaware for seven months.  The song “Night Shift” was based on his experience working at a Chrysler plant, and he was even employed as a laboratory assistant for DuPont Chemical.  I’m sure his infamous work ethic was much appreciated at these jobs –  in later years, he often led his band through rehearsals in marathon sessions that lasted all night and into the next day.

“America is pure deviltry, dem t’ings dat go on there. Dem just work with force and brutality. Dem lock out the punk thing because they see something happening. So the oppressors bring another man to blind the youth to the truth, and dem call him-John Tra-vol-ta.” – Bob Marley

6.  Everybody knows that Bob was a devoted Rastafarian, but did you know that the roots of the religion are based on devotion to the Old Testament, and its most prominent features are taken from its text?  The distinctive dreadlocked look of Rastas is a reference to Leviticus 21:5: “They shall not make baldness upon their head.”  Their notorious celebration and promotion of ganja is sourced from Psalm 104:14, that says: “He causeth . . . herb [to be grown] for the service of man . . . .”  Rastafarians even keep kosher.

7.  Everybody knows that Bob was no nonsense and tough, but did you know exactly how he backed up his image in action?  Pity his manager Don Taylor, who found out for himself… the hard way.  Never one for the material rewards of success (Marley claimed the only reason he owned a BMW was that the acronym also doubled for Bob Marley and the Wailers), it was a while before it was revealed that Taylor had entered into some unsavory deals and had embezzled a good sum of tour revenues.  Legend has it that, despite taking a bullet for Bob (see #4), Taylor suffered quite a beating as retribution and even “renegotiated” the terms of their arrangement at gunpoint, before actually being fired.

8.  Everybody knows that Marley was an electric performer, but did you know the type of jealousy his dynamic stage show incited in his fellow artists? In July 1973, the band opened a week of gigs for Bruce Springsteen. A legend in his own right, Sly Stone invited the band along with them on a 17 city tour as a follow up later that year.  Unfortunately, four shows into the tour, Sly dismissed them.  The reason:  they were too good and crowds went away talking too much about the opening act.

9  Everybody knows Bob had exceptional talents as a musician, but did you know that music was only a part of his elite talent? Bob was so good at soccer he probably could have played professionally.  Rumor has it that his table tennis skill was world class, as well.

10. Everybody knows Bob was taken from this world way before his time, but did you know the circumstance of his death and burial?  He suffered from a form of skin cancer called “acral lentiginous melanoma”, a form of cancer that is very uncommon within black people — but remember, Marley was of mixed race.  Diagnosed in 1977, he continued to write, record and perform until his death on May 11, 1981.  In one day, 40,000 people filed past his coffin as his body lay in state in Jamaica’s National Arena.  Marley was buried in a crypt with a guitar, a soccer ball, a cannabis bud, and a Bible.

Happy birthday, Bob! Thanks for an incredible life and legacy.  The Barn is proud to be hosting a celebration on Saturday, February 6th featuring The Ark Band; we’ll be toasting to Bob with reggae and positivity.  Hope to see those that love and respect Bob Marley, his music and his message on hand for the celebration.

Nobody was exactly sure what to expect from The Barn’s inaugural production on December 12. One thing that was clear by showtime was that a vein was tapped directly into the beating heart of La Grange, the buzz was palpable and the crowd was pumped. A genuine live music, concert experience had arrived in town!

With thanks to Little Big Fat and Mr. Blotto, the eager crowd was entertained well into the night, with plenty of smiles, hugs and handshakes to bolster the room and raise the energy levels to previously unseen heights (for La Grange, that is). Drinks were flowing, the folks were dancing, and the bands were in top form.

When LBF stepped up to christen the stage at the Mambo Room, the official journey of The Barn had begun.  Opening with the original tune The Man From Bakersfield, LBF tore through a number of tunes that will be featured on their forthcoming debut album and a crowd pleasing, improv-heavy take on The Pretenders’ My City Was Gone.  This set also featured the debut of Royal Chair, a mellow and soulful tune that evokes My Morning Jacket and a hint of R&B. By the time the band had closed their set with the one-two punch of the jammed out Monroe and a wicked cover of Zeppelin’s The Lemon Song, crowd was fully primed and ready for the forthcoming Blotto throwdown.

Following a rousing introduction from WDRV/The Drive’s Carla Leonardo, Blotto went old-school with with the opening strands of Sail Away Virginia which brought many in the crowd back to their days of Blotto shows past.  True to its Grateful Dead inspiration, Blotto cranked out three tunes in The Dead’s repertoire (Hey Pocky Way, Estimated Prophet and Fire on the Mountain), delighting the Heads in the crowd, and even featuring a bit of reggae freestyle during FOTM (perhaps a psychic nod to The Barn’s upcoming Bob Marley birthday celebration?).  Ending the first set with a scintillating Kiss Me In The Morning segued beautifully into an upbeat and fun rendition of Widespread Panic’s Tallboy, we went into the set break eager for what was to come.

The second set featured some sweet performances of Blotto original material, culminating in a frantic, fevered 13 minute take on Movie Star, with Paul and Mark weaving guitar lines in and around each other in the tune’s long instrumental passage.  Most of the late night crowd would agree, the set peaked with an incredible run of Talking Heads’ Psycho Killer sandwiching an improvised, Blottofied take on The Twelve Days of Christmas (“…three pizza pies, two pints of Harp and a Guinness in my tree”).

And so, the crowd went home happy into the cool, misting night. From the perspective of The Barn, this was an incredible concert to host.  It felt great doing this for the community and as a showcase for others to see what our town has to offer.

We know a lot more about what to expect for future Barn events: these are certainly fun, the crowd brings an incredible amount of energy, and they are popular! Regrettably, we had to turn a few unlucky folks away after we had reached our capacity. We apologize for any inconvenience, but I guess we know something else, too… buy your tickets early for future events. We are ready for another go!

Lots of new stuff from The Barn these days…

We are happy to introduce some changes to our website to keep you informed, up-to-date and engaged with The Barn and its community.  By combining aspects of our blog with the information from our main site, we hope to offer a dynamic, multimedia web experience that allows our fans to relive our past events and get pumped for the next gig.  Visit soon to read a summary, view photos and listen or download the music from Mr. Blotto and Little Big Fat on December 12 and check back often for more news and views.  Of course, you’re welcome to join in the conversation with suggestions or views of your own in our comments sections.

In addition, The Barn has a new ticketing partner:  Brown Paper Tickets.  Let me assure you, TicketMaster it ain’t!  Just like us, they are inspired by their own experiences as consumers of tickets and attendees of events, and they’re trying to do it organically and personally, unbound by the demands of shareholders or venture capitalists.  They even have a Ticketing Bill of Rights and donate 5% of their profits to charitable organizations involved with human rights, children, animals, and the environment — and that makes us smile.

But would any of this matter if we didn’t have a new show to promote?  We’re gearing up to throw a rip roaring birthday party for one of the most universally beloved music icons:  Bob Marley.  On Saturday, February 6th, with help from the Midwest’’s finest reggae band, The Ark Band, The Barn will offer a memorable night of music to celebrate the life and enduring legacy of a true game changer and musical force.  On a mid-winter night, let The Ark Band bring you far away:  to the sunshine and decidedly different pace of the Caribbean.  We’ll have plenty of the Red Stripe on hand, some hot Marley tunes courtesy of the band, and at great crowd ready to keep the party going well into the night.  Bring your smile and your dancing shoes and we’ll see you in February.

Check out the scoop in this week’s edition of the La Grange Doings.  Under the auspicious headline of ‘Locals want to make La Grange a music destination‘, The Barn is featured in the Entertainment section.

The article effectively serves as a show preview and provides some insight into our operations and future plans.   Glad they didn’t employ gotcha journalism or serve up a hatchet piece.  The media gets it right!

I wanted to share this video from friend of Blotto and new friend of The Barn, Jim Quattrocki.  Jim is a filmmaker who is based in our neck of the woods and shares our passion for live music.  You can check out more of his work at his website.

He put this video together about Blottopia IX.  I love how it channels the energy of the festival atmosphere and comes from a true place of understanding about Blotto and their fans.

He’ll have his camera with him this Saturday night, so we expect great things from Jim in the future!

For many people, myself included, Mr. Blotto was the right band at the right time during the nineties.  With copious amounts of free time, a relatively robust entertainment budget, and residence near the beating heart of Chicago’s bar and club scene, we gravitated to Blotto to fulfill our insatiable desire for live music.  They were, in the most complementary sense of the word, a fixture; an endearing, reliable and stable part of our Chicago area scene.  They were the default when we weren’t on the road following our band of choice or catching a tour as it breezed through town.  When you had to get your live fix, Blotto was there.

In that spirit, and in anticipation of The Barn’s upcoming Blotto show, I present my top five Mr. Blotto moments from the mid-nineties.

1.  Street Festival Repartee

Mr Blotto is the unquestioned king of the Chicago street festival bands.  They got so many of these gigs in the nineties, I was convinced they had dirt on somebody from Daley’s Office of Special Events.  On some mid-summer nights, I was pretty sure I could catch them at two festivals along different stretches of Lincoln Avenue on the same night… at the same time.  This particular memory comes during one of Paul’s trademark raps during the Taste of the Lower West Lakeview (or some such event).  I vividly remember him rapping at the people hanging out on an apartment balcony overlooking the event, getting a reaction out of them, which included lewd and suggestive gestures.  This, in turn, changed the direction of his stream of consciousness rap, getting progressively randier and funnier.  This practice of involving the audience, and using it so visibly to shape the direction of the music was such a refreshing and engaging counterpoint to your typical level of crowd interaction at a festival.  The rapport was baked right into the improvisation and brought a unique experience to an otherwise very boilerplate event.

2.  The Two Night Stand at the Cubby Bear

Don’t get me wrong, I love the words “Cubby” and “Bear”, but putting them together sometimes makes be bristle.  The Cubby Bear is a decent club in a prime location, but that location can often bring out the “tourists” and “amateurs” looking to spend a night at this iconic venue across from an even more iconic ballpark.  But when Blotto scheduled the two night stand, one night all Blotto and and one night all Dead, exceptions needed to be issued.  It takes a special kind of band to be not only able, but willing, to offer two separate shows at the same venue on consecutive nights, one focusing on its original catalog and one interpreting another band’s oeuvre.  There is a certain respect afforded to a band, not only committed to cultivating original music, but also paying tribute to the music they love and, as a byproduct, delighting their crowds.  The linkage between Blotto and the Dead, cemented in later years through collaboration with John Perry Barlow, has always been a special one.  Blotto is a band who knows where they come from, with enough room under their tent for all comers and an unabashed admiration for their influences.

3.  Blotto at the Vic.

Blotto always had the best sound of any bands that regularly played the clubs.  So, it pleased everybody to see them get the opportunity to take it to the big room.  Vic Theater is the official big time for bands working up the chain, a graduation from clubs to theaters, a jump made recently by Phish and Widespread Panic.  Scheduled on a perfect night (more…)