Iration w/ Proteje
Showbox SoDo, Seattle, WA
01.27.17
Roots reggae has made a major imprint on today’s pop music landscape, and Iration is certainly at the forefront with their California style and relaxed vibe. They came together with heralded Proteje for the first night of a double-header stint at Seattle’s Showbox SoDo, and they packed the house with a crowd that loved their laid back mantra and danced the night away.
Along with his band, The Indiggnation, Jamaica’s Proteje opened the show with his socially conscious reggae for the adoring crowd. His sound paid tribute to the original reggae greats with their heavy bass lines and intense rhythms. Proteje had such a contagious energy that stoked the crowd with each passing song. As he navigated through his originals, he threw in some clever covers of “California Love” and a tribute to Seattle with “Smells Like Teen Spirit” during a fantastic jam where you could not discern between the end of one song and the beginning of another.
Coming out through a thick layer of fog and intense purple light, Iration took to the stage to amidst the sonic backdrop of adoring fans cheering loudly. Modern roots groups have taken on many various influences to make their sounds distinctive. Iration, for their part, has a decidedly rock edge which is very apparent on songs like “Reelin” and “Time Bomb.”
The three men up front had energy like the porridge from Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Micah Brown (guitar/back up vocals) was subdued like the first bowl, lead singer Micah Pueschel (lead vocals/guitar) was just right, flowing with the smooth vibe; finally, Adam Taylor (bass) was the hype man of the band, getting the crowd energized every moment he was not slapping the bass.
Iration showed their veteran guile with tight arrangements, captivating solos, and the effortless way they cut through their set list. About a week from Bob Marley’s birthday, it was a candid moment between band and fans when they went quiet and engaged in a sing-along to “No Woman No Cry.” With an acoustic album as their latest release, the crowd did not object that the majority of their set was electric, in more ways than one.
Review and photos by Phillip Johnson
Iration
Proteje
