Reviews > Shows

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad, Water Street Music Hall, Rochester, NY, 11/25/09

Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad’s recent hometown performance at Water Street Music Hall came a day after the release of the band’s latest release, LIVE UP!. For many in the crowd, it was their first chance to see the band’s new line-up after an unexpected downsize from sextet to quartet. The four-piece took the stage with an even tighter sound and an impressive two-and-a-half-hour long marathon of a set. The outfit served up the same mesh of sound that the band has aggressively worked on for three years and about 500 shows to perfect. It melds classic serene roots-reggae with contemporary and political lyricism, with a concise, repetitious modern dub.

The venue was stacked from front to back with eager ears. Bodies began to sway and groove on the first walk of the bass, with opener, “Easy Way Out.” Frontman James Searl’s vocals were compelling and often the backbone of each song.

Sprinkled throughout the performance were pockets of tight-knit, flawless three-part harmonies, most noticeably with “On the Moon.” The combination of Searl’s timbre fit gracefully between the vocals of drummer Chris O’Brian and multi-instrumentalist, Aaron Lipp.

Diversifying the group’s sound were several esteemed artists from the Rochester scene, including the indie/hip-hop freestylings of Hassaan Mackey and a dynamic, three-piece horn section. Mackey’s charismatic entrance honed in on the energy and accelerated the movement of the crowd—it was a welcomed and unpredictable step outside of the box. The horns, which appeared several times throughout the set, brought spontaneity and a new life to the arrangements, similar to the band’s previous sound as a sextet.

The amount of music played throughout the evening was staggering, and after two-and-a half-hours of straight jams, the place was uncomfortably hot and stir-crazy.