On February 7, 2025, as a fan of live music and a photographer, I went to the MET for Reggae night.
A small (500 people) intimate nightclub, The Met is a versatile music and entertainment venue booking rock, folk, punk, blues, comedians and more located in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. The atmosphere at the Met was just perfect for an exciting night of music! The sounds, the lights, the bar, everything was well coordinated by the organizers. Four amazing bands were scheduled to come on stage; and the enthusiastic crowd was excited to see the artists.
At 7:15 p.m. the first group, Aqua Cherry, an exciting Reggae band from Long Island, NY, hit the stage. The group was phenomenal. Their music provides sweet, uplifting, booty-shakin' reggae grooves infused with some Rock and Roll. They were fantastic and true to their Reggae roots. The audience was jiving and shaking their booties to the Reggae beat.
At The Met, Aqua Cherry with a group of talented musicians such as Josey Fyah - Vocals, Mel Funk - Percussions and backing vocals, Rodrigo Rodriguez - Barri and Alto Sax, Greg Bucking - Guitar, Colin Turner - Keyboards, Stu-Suchitt - Bass, Matthew DeTrinis - Drums, spread positivity and love for life through their captivating performances.
The second group that came on stage was Dale and the ZDubs. Inspired by Dale’s 2017 and 2020 incarceration for a non-violent drug crime, Dale and the ZDubs is a fresh rock reggae band out of Washington DC. The band’s songs are about relationships, dreams, failures and people that have inspired or slept with them. The band has been known for their high energy live shows featuring hip-hop collaborations, multi-part vocal harmonies, and radical solos from bass, guitar, drums, keyboards, and harmonica.
They have opened for such artists as Badfish, Eric Hutchinson, and many more. DZD’s most recent full length, “Off the Rip,” dropped in mid-2024, blend groovy reggae influences with a hard hitting rock style. The group is unique by telling raw, ridiculous, and vulnerable stories while thrilling audiences across the United States. As Snail describes the genre-bending quartet, “We are storytellers. And when we tell these stories, there are no click tracks, no vocal processing, and no backing tracks. WE PLAY LIVE!”
The third group was Joey Harkum. Through deep, poignant lyrics which tell stories of happiness, love, loss and sadness, Joey Harkum has been traveling and playing his heartfelt songs for over a decade. As a fan of live music, I just love the music of singer songwriter Joey Harkum. In my opinion, he is one of the best out there. His music comes from the heart, and it is unique. He combines slow acoustic and then slides into Rock and Roll. His bass player is amazing, and the combination flows beautifully. It is just terrific music, different and soulful.
The last group that came on stage to end the night was Joe Samba. The New England-born singer, songwriter, guitar master, and general musical phenomenon was exceptional. By building musical common ground on a foundation of honest emotion, Joe has the power to speak to any generation.
“It doesn’t matter who you are I hope you feel what I’m saying,” he said. “Right now, I have everything I need. The universe dumped it all into my lap.” Here’s the family, here’s the career, here’s the team, and here’s the vision.” I’m just jumping on the train like, “Let’s do it.”
Joe Samba has toured with artists such as Fortunate Youth, Pepper, Passafire and the Hip Abduction.
In the context of “World Music” Samba offers a powerful fusion rhythm, dance and spectacle and, beyond its popularity on record and in performance, Samba has become a staple popular music for parades, processions and even protest marches around the globe.
Samba formally introduced himself as an artist via The Wrong Impression in 2019. His independent debut topped the Billboard Reggae Albums Chart, debuting at #1 and gathering millions of streams. He leveled up on his 2022 sophomore album Far From Forever (Law Records), with the album’s singles “Create Something,” “Boomer Economy” and “Beef” also amassing millions of streams.
