A Friday the 13th with the legendary Lee "Scratch" Perry

Lee Scratch Perry & Subatomic Sound System, Club Soda, Montreal on Friday the 13th, May 2016 as part of his 40th anniversary of 1976 release "Super Ape" on Scratch's own Upsetter label.

There he was, hologram pin-covered hat, fuchsia beard, naval-captain black-suit jacket, African wax pants, Rasta kicks and a suitcase. Mr Rainford Hugh Perry, born on March 20th, 1936, The Upsetter himself, celebrating his 80th year on planet Earth, Lee "Scratch" Perry. Holding on to his makeshift gold-framed-sunglasses microphone, Scratch was singing and rhyming over one of Max Romeo's biggest hits, "I Chase the Devil" from the album 'War Ina Babylon' (1976), produced by Scratch in his own Black Ark Studio and home in Kingston, Jamaica.

It was two weeks before his Montreal show. Friend and CJLO alumni, Emily Brass points to a Lee Scratch Perry advertisement and says "We should go!" Record producer, songwriter, poet, painter, and Rastaman, Lee Scratch Perry is a fascinating man with a fascinating life. He produced works for Bob Marley and the Wailers, Paul McCartney, The Clash, Junior Byles, Junior Murvin, Max Romeo, Mighty Diamonds, The Heptones and many more. His innovated effects and remixing techniques added new levels to already existing reggae tracks. Alongside Ruddy Redwood, King Tubby, and Jah Shaka, Lee Scratch Perry is an important name in dub music, recognized as a pioneer in his genre.

When producing, Lee Scratch Perry balances drum and bass and then balances all other instruments to start recording. Riddim and then lyrics. As Scratch describes it "Riddim from the ghetto, lyrics from the streets" (Beats of the Heart - Reggae Documentary 1977).  However, Scratch was neither accompanied by drum nor bass.  Rather, Scratch was accompanied by the immensely talented Subatomic Sound System.

Spearheaded by Emch (producer/dj) and "brought to life by family local and worldwide" with a young gentleman playing the saxophone spectacularly and a silver dread show-stopper gentleman on the congas.

Subatominc Sound System played classic Lee Scratch Perry riddims. The saxophone and congas perfectly embellished the sound system. It was airy and ethereal. Without trying, they brought you to another dimension. Somewhere in the future perhaps.  He touched the crowd and the crowd soaked it all in. It was hard not to. You were in awe of this man and his impromptu word poetry. Don't bother trying to follow his brain when he is 10 steps ahead of you.  "Outta time. Outter space", Lee Scratch Perry would say on the microphone as he shared his wine and spliff with the audience.

Courtesy of Serge Lévesque

At the show, Emily and I met up with guitarist Claude Lemay and bassist Serge Lévesque from Montreal band, Les Têtes Ailleurs. Dressed to impress, these cats were cool and down to earth. Stoked about reading my concert review they urge everyone to watch The Upsetter: The Life and Music of Lee Scratch Perry (2008)

Also in audience were the beautiful rock n roll, Yaffa "Rare Rebel", Ethiopian reggae artist, Empress Deeqa, poet Master Zibz "the Black Current" of Kalmunity Tuesdays, and of course, the first smile to meet & greet me at the media table, our very own DShade of Something For the Radio.

The night opened with amazing performances by The Beatdown, Poirier, & Ghostbeard, and Jah Cutta. Not only did these opening acts kill it, they were also all Montreal artists. Claude and I were thrilled of this fact and agreed Montreal concert producers need to continue putting our local talent in the forefront.

We stepped out for some air and izm before Lee Scratch Perry's performance and discover an exposition near le Quartier de Spectacle.  Simple in theory and in presentation yet this "poetic" homage to log drying on the St Maurice river cost $65,000. Click here for more info.

Logs lying dead on the ground, says our friend of Les Têtes Ailleurs. Others say, "Why cut trees when you can smoke them".  It is time to head back to Scratch.

Courtesy of Serge Lévesque

"I'm a Zulu. I'm a Vodou. Who are you? I got new boots. Look at my boots. I'm a Zulu" are some sentences Lee Scratch Perry verbalized in his word association technique as he pointed to his boots.  Interestingly enough words associated to describe dub music may include synonyms like "laboratory" and "science".  Furthermore, "scientist" is a reference to Obeah, Jamaican term for Voodoo (Dub Stories). So what is Lee Scratch Perry really telling us?  

Courtesy of Serge Lévesque

Lee Scratch Perry once said, "Dub is seeing, smelling, hearing, tasting, and feelings. Feeling something you love" (Dub Stories). "So I'm telling you the power of the black man. Song, words, and power, conquer all. 72 Nation was born to reggae music, rocksteady music, ska music, calypso music, merengue music, jazz music. Don't care what the music might be, but music is the only comforter. I'm telling you the truth man, from my computer room. Room of truth. The Ark of the covenant" (The Upsetter).

Do re mi fa so la ti do.

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Kelly Belfo is CJLO's World Music Director, and is also the founder of the longtime World Music program Beat The World hosted by Neil Lalla, every Saturday afternoons from noon to 2pm. She would like to thank Magazine Editor Stephanie D for setting up the media assignment, and Additional Content Editor Saturn De Los Angeles (Shibuya Crossing) for web and editing assistance, Emily for the idea of attending the show, and a huge merci beaucoup to Serge Lévesque for sharing your pictures with us!