Last night I heard the rough mix of the Mento song I wrote, and then recorded with Joseph Whitmore and members of the current Jolly Boys line up. The Jolly Boys are the original kings of Mento, legendary in small part among many because their biggest fan Errol Flynn gave them that name.
The song, ‘Go Tell it To The Mystics’ is a tribute to my experience learning Mento from the masters, young and old, in the hotbed for this Spanish tinged folk music that preceded Reggae.
But I also make Roots FM 96.1 Selecta Ras Isachar a central character in this mythical magic carpet ride through Jamaican time. I debuted the song on Mr. Isachar’s show with just my guitar live on the air last February.
But I heard what producer and Burning Spear bassist Devvon Bradshaw heard when he cut it with me and these Mento greats. He heard a massive hit.
But I hear two versions. The Roots version. But I had a vision of my English squad Bedlam Isle can add percussion to the traditional riddims (rhumba box & bongos) and harmonies, plus Alex Roberts tasteful and understated guitar heroics.
The Bedlam Isle collective we have going in Brighton could be massive, but we need to tell our story. With ‘Big Trouble in Little Brighton’ and other Sherlock Soul tunes, I can tell it and sell it. But Bedlam Isle needs to drink from waters of Mento and do what the English do best…
Craft immortal f☆cking hits. Plus Scott Rowe getting production credit with Devvon Bradshaw is FIRE.
Back to work.
I cut the definitive vocals Wednesday with Queen Mell Dettmer.
My friend Ricardo in Trench Town called ecstatic because he was finally able to watch the ‘Free Your Mind’ video. He predicted it would be a hit and a classic when he blasted it on his block.
When you’re a poor musician one must be cunning, and clever, and plan ahead like a chess match. And support in the toughest, roughest, yet good hearted neighborhoods in the Caribbean definitely helps.
I am going to have Cats like Ricardo in the dancehalls pushing my songs.
When Life is like a movie, grab yourself some popcorn. Intermission is almost over.
I have had some cards up my sleeve I have been waiting to play.
Remember what I sang about “the whites of their eyes”. Some musical weapons only work at close range.
I have to go back to Jamaica with my guitar and set their social media and television sets on fire. I have been there twice to Stomp the Yard. The Yard keeps getting bigger.
Time to re-dedicate myself to harmonica. I was a bit burned out and I wanted to focus energy on being able to really pull of this singer songwriter thing. I wanted to get across that a lot of those Staxx Brothers anthems started of with an acoustic guitar…like most good songs in the orbit of Rock and Soul.
But this is my best weapon. I am rusty. I am going back to basics and starting from scratch. I had a chance to be truly great at this thing. But it takes a lot of work. I can show you pretty quick how to pretend like you can play harp, if you have enough Soul to swing this thing.
But to really sing, to really find your own true voice, to find your own space within pocket and say something. That’s that’s the work I have to do.
It’s been nice studying these Tom Petty songs for the Tribute night Oct 20th at Historic Everett Theatre. I’ll be up there with Ethan Anderson blowing simple straight parts that are lodged in our imagination for a reason. Because they were perfect for anybody to blow as they strummed on an American tune. Tom took the Dylan thing, and stayed right in his lane.
Last night I heard the rough mix of the Mento song I wrote, and then recorded with Joseph Whitmore and members of the current Jolly Boys line up. The Jolly Boys are the original kings of Mento, legendary in small part among many because their biggest fan Errol Flynn gave them that name.
My friend Ricardo in Trench Town called ecstatic because he was finally able to watch the ‘Free Your Mind’ video. He predicted it would be a hit and a classic when he blasted it on his block.
Time to re-dedicate myself to harmonica. I was a bit burned out and I wanted to focus energy on being able to really pull of this singer songwriter thing. I wanted to get across that a lot of those Staxx Brothers anthems started of with an acoustic guitar…like most good songs in the orbit of Rock and Soul.
– Musician and writer Davin Michael Stedman has many ventures, such as the AMAZING blog, 100milesofmusic.com, and is one of the driving forces behind the Staxx Brothers. This past spring he spent weeks networking in and reporting from Kingston, Jamaica. He will return there soon for more recording. His single with British band Sherlock Soul is now available as well.
