SOJA & Rebelution @ 930 Club
Arlington, VA natives SOJA, one of the best reggae bands from the DC-area played a homecoming show at 930 Club a few weeks back much to the delight of the hometown, sold-out crowd. SOJA never fails to put on an amazing show and stepped up their game on this particular evening. The band seemed pumped to be back in DC at the 930 Club, as their last couple DC shows have been over at the State Theatre in Falls Church. An internationally regarded reggae group, SOJA always take pride in their Arlington/DC roots. On this night they owned the atmosphere, playing the old school bangers and trying out some very tight new jams on the crowd. Lead singer Jacob Hemphill, bassist Bob Jefferson, keyboardist Patrick O’Shea, percussionist Ken Brownell and drummer Ryan Berty deserve much props for an all out rager of a show. They were also joined by two spastic horn players that rocked it (apparently SOJA recruited them from Puerto Rico). Hemphill told the crowd during the set that they chose not to tour abroad but to stay home and record and play local shows – the place erupted as they broke into song. For an encore, the brought go-go legend Chuck Brown who in his signature style added a bit more DC flavor. California reggae band Rebelutution impressed the crowd as an opener, putting on a great show with their Sublime/Slightly Stoopid/Expendables style reggae dub rock. Definitely worth checking out.
