What better way to ring in the New Year than with Steel Pulse's forthcoming album, Mass Manipulation. Steel Pulse strikes a powerful force of righteousness and historical diplomacy with their newest single which took 14 years in the making, “Stop You Coming and Come”. Steel Pulse took advantage of their time away from the studio […]
Category Archives: Top Shelf Reggae
Fortunate Youth at San Diego’s The Observatory North Park | Top Shelf Reggae
The day after Thanksgiving is the perfect time to spread peace, love and unity in the form of a Fortunate Youth concert. Hell, the whole point of Thanksgiving is to feel fortunate and reflect on your life blessings! A traditional stop on the annual Fortunate Youth fall tour is San Diego on Black Friday, this […]
Tash Sultana at The Shrine LA | Top Shelf Reggae
Closing out the North American leg of her Flow State World tour on December 1st, Tash Sultana performed a mesmerizing and energetic set at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, presented by Goldenvoice and with Aussie natives Ocean Alley as direct support. Opening the night with their #2 track titled “The Comedown” off their latest […]
Cali Roots adds more artists to 10th Annual | Top Shelf Reggae
10 years is a big deal. High school reunions happen after 10 years due to the overwhelming amount of change that can occur within a decade. For such a niche reggae-rock scene, one festival has officially proven the test of time by commorating its 10th year at the world-famous Monterey Fairgrounds: the one and only […]
Badfish at The Ranch in Ft. Myers | Top Shelf Reggae
When you head to any 'tribute show', you expect nothing short of closing your eyes and feeling like the ‘real’ band is playing. Let’s be honest: that rarely happens though. This is so easily NOT the case for Badfish: A Sublime Tribute Band and as I sat side stage at The Reef in Ft. Myers for […]
CRSB releases lead single “Vibrations” off forthcoming LP | Top Shelf Reggae
CRSB is ready to give us the summer smash hit of 2019 with their new winter single, “Vibration” released today. This San Francisco duo, known for their island soul-infused pop, gives us a fun new dancehall track that will surely get your feet on the dance floor! You could hardly tell what season we're heading […]
Julian Marley set to release reggae’s next staple album, “As I Am” | Top Shelf Reggae
Julian Marley's much anticipated 4th album, As I Am, is available for pre-order now and is giving fans a delightful taste of the soul-powered production with an immediate download of the track “Straighter Roads” with every purchase. Fans have been patiently waiting an entire decade since the release of Marley’s previous album, Awake, which won ‘Best […]
A spotlight on Tatanka’s winter tour | Top Shelf Reggae
Tatanka’s West Coast Winter Tour kicks off this Wednesday, Dec 5th. The tour will start in Arizona, cruise its way up California and end in Utah. Tatanka toured the west coast earlier this year, providing support for Fortunate Youth’s Wicked Awesome Spring Tour 2018. Tatanka was also part of the insane lineup at this year’s […]
Layne Tadesse “All I Know” EP review | Top Shelf Reggae
Multi-talented reggae artist Layne Tadesse has blessed us once again with his new EP, All I Know, available today. This album reminds us of the African roots of reggae music, as it intertwines the native tongue of Eritrea with traditional African rhythm. Tadesse not only brings us back to our roots, but also adds lyrics […]
Jah Gumby “Humility: The Vibes of Jah G” album review | Top Shelf Reggae
Progressive dub reggae artist and producer Jah Gumby has recently released his brand new installment entitled Humility: The Vibes of Jah G. It’s a great listen with tons of diversity. The album opens up directly with an infectious mood and excellent complexity on “Thirsters Trodding”. The album’s overwhelming instrumental density is revealed with full force […]
Listen to SYNRGY’s new single “Mind Over” | Top Shelf Reggae
Formed just over a decade ago, Southern California’s own SYNRGY blends elements of soul, reggae and rock to create dynamic songs layered in intricate grooves and bright atmosphere. “Mind Over” is their newest single, and one that offers a well-rounded showcase of what it is that they hope to convey as SYNRGY. Exemplifying a world-aware […]
III Points 2019 offers tantalizing lineup & never-ending party | Top Shelf Reggae
III Points Festival, located in the Wynwood neighborhood of Miami, unveiled a killer lineup that highlights diversity in so many realms! Whatever plans you may have had for the 15-17th of February 2019 should be out the window; basically Top Shelf is telling you to ditch your valentine and explore cultures colliding, eating like kings, […]
Kyle Smith interviews after his Tower 12 performance | Top Shelf Reggae
After opening for the likes of The Aggrolites, J Boog, Pato Banton and Tommorows Bad Seeds, reggae-rock singer and songwriter Kyle Smith and his band made a stop at Tower 12 in Hermosa Beach, CA on November 7, 2018. While playing original songs “Jaded”, “True Love” and the just released single “Leave It”, the band also covered […]
One Love Cali Reggae Fest 2019 announced | Top Shelf Reggae
Back in its 4th year and returning to its upgraded spot along the shores of Long Beach at the Queen Mary is One Love Cali Reggae Festival: southern California's fastest and fiercest reggae-rock festival to date. Now stretching three full days February 8th-10th, jumping from one its inaugural year, One Love 2019 has taken shape just […]
Surf City Blitz 2018: Day Two | Top Shelf Reggae
Having one stage for a festival is awesome! This was the case at Surf City Blitz Day Two in Huntington Beach, with a lineup so incredible that it would have been a shame to miss part of a set running between stages trying to catch some of your favorites bands. Thus, one stage to enjoy […]
Music Tastes Good 2018: Day Two | Top Shelf Reggae
The morning of Sunday, September 30th was filled with excitement, as Music Tastes Good attendees gathered once again at the fest's warterfront location in Long Beach. With musical jams to top the savory eats going on inside the Taste Tent, MTG Day Two was off to a great start with a mix of alternative, punk […]
Satsang at LA’s The Moroccan Lounge | Top Shelf Reggae
Living up to the true meaning of 'Satsang', the band started their fall tour inviting along with them Tim Snider and Justin “Chitty” Chittams (of Nahko and Medicine for The People). The band played an intimate show November 2nd at The Moroccan Lounge in Los Angeles to a crowd of fans that were there for […]
QueenTress turns up in “Turn Back Time” track | Top Shelf Reggae
Swedish singer Teresia “QueenTress” Jannson is vibrantly bursting onto the reggae scene with a newly released track “Turn Back Time”, featuring Jah Vinci. The song is one of six off her debut EP, On My Mind, due for full release early 2019. Zojak World Wide dropped the track last week and the artist is sweeping up […]
1st Arizona Roots Festival announced | Top Shelf Reggae
Love Cali Roots? Can't get enough of the reggae-rock festival scene? Well, lucky for you, from the founders of Cali Roots comes the 1st Annual Arizona Roots Music and Arts Festival this February in Chandler, AZ. A suburb of the greater Phoenix area, Chandler offers a diverse atmosphere for music and more with a younger […]
Same Same But Different 2018: Day Two | Top Shelf Reggae
Campers craweled out of their tents to a sunny Sunday and Day Two of the premiere Same Same But Different Fest (SSBD) on the shores of the expansive and serene Lake Perris. Band Of Gringos paved the way to a music-filled day, followed by MDRN HSTRY with one of two festival founders on drums. A heart-warming […]
Taj Weekes & Adowa “To All My Relations” album review | Top Shelf Reggae
Internationally acclaimed roots reggae group, Taj Weekes and Adowa released their 6th album, To All My Relations (TAMR) on October 12th. Recorded and produced by Steel Pulse musician/producer Sidney Mills, TAMR is a vibrant expression of the socio-political climate of America through the eyes of the bandmates. Filling our eardrums with 15 fresh new tracks, […]
Sensi Trails on the rise | Top Shelf Reggae
Sensi Trails is on the rise as band’s frontman, Kyle Rising, relocates to Ocean Beach, San Diego. Originally from Kill Devil Hills, a town on the outer banks of North Carolina, Sensi Trails has shared the stage with The Original Wailers, Pato Banton, E.N Young and Through the Roots. Kyle’s love for music started in […]
Scallywag San Diego 2018 | Top Shelf Reggae
Saturday, October 20th marked the last stop on the travelling tour known as Scallywag Fest (or Ye Scallywag to some). Punk and ska promotion with the classy touch of craft beer, Scallywag cycles around in the fall, hitting cities such as Denver, Auburn and more. San Diego brought up the Scallywag caboose, yet boasted an […]
Catching up with The Expanders | Top Shelf Reggae
Los Angeles-based band The Expanders recently teamed up with renowned EDM artist Walshy Fire (of Major Lazer) to not only put out one rootsy riddim album, but two! With the latest LP release, Give Thanks For Life, now available on all digital outlets, the band took time to comment on their ever-unfolding career, the experience making […]
Music Tastes Good 2018: Day One | Top Shelf Reggae
Day One of the 3rd Annual Music Tastes Good Festival, commemorating the life of the late Josh Fischel in Long Beach, started out Saturday, September 29th with temperate climates, eclectic tunes and sensational cuisine. Chefs from up and down the west coast were represented in the Taste Tent, with samples being consumed by the millisecond. […]
Kash’d Out at I & I Brewing | Top Shelf Reggae
On October 7th, Kash’d Out played at I & I Brewing in Chino, California. I & I is always one of my places to see a show and, add in some Kash’d Out, to have a pretty perfect Sunday. Kash’d Out played an early evening set, making it great by being so small and intimate. […]
KAABOO 2018: Day Three | Top Shelf Reggae
Excited energy flowed throughout the Del Mar Fairgrounds the morning of Day Three KAABOO Del Mar 2018. With two full days of music down, there was still so much to go before KAABOO 4 was over! Arriving slightly past noon meant that early acts of David Francisco, Elise Trouwe, Bay Ledges and Chelsea Cutler were […]
The Temple Rockers reveal “Festival of Lights” holiday album | Top Shelf Reggae
Judaism and Rastafarianism – an unlikely pair one might think – yet, musically and historically, they are a complementary one made for a holy musical matrimony. Reggae bassist, David Gould (formerly of John Brown's Body), with his Ithaca-based band The Temple Rockers, along the likes of Jamaican singers Linval Thompson, Wayne Jarrett and Ansel Meditation, explore […]
Nesbeth announces debut album and supporting tour | Top Shelf Reggae
After captivating the scene four years ago with an EP titled Victory as well as being named one of the “11 Jamaican Reggae Artists That Is Keeping Roots Reggae Alive” by MTV Iggy in 2015, Kingston, Jamaica’s own reggae artist Nesbeth will be presenting his first full-length album entitled A.M.E.N – named after his beloved […]
Stick Figure reveals 420 at Red Rocks party | Top Shelf Reggae
This week, Stick Figure excitedly announced their first headlining show at Red Rocks on Saturday April 20th, 2019! Red Rocks Amphitheater is located in Morrison, Colorado and looms at the top of many a person’s bucket list. What makes it so unique is the way that it is geologically formed between two to three hundred-foot […]
Black Bird Hum broods in “Say You Want” single | Top Shelf Reggae
Australia's Black Bird Hum combines elements of roots reggae, traditional ska and singing the blues in their latest “Say You Want” single off Rebel Sound Records. Normally well-versed in social commentary, BBH dials back their signature call to action to cater to one person specifically. Aimed at the one that got away, the track is […]
A night with Bret Bollinger & Dan Kelly at Harvelle’s | Top Shelf Reggae
On Friday, October 5th, Dan Kelly of Fortunate Youth and Bret Bollinger of Pepper stripped it down for an intimate, acoustic set at Harvelle’s in Long Beach, CA. Dan opened up with a fun set that featured some Fortunate Youth favorites, like “So Rebel” and “Friends and Family”. He played a smooth cover of “(Sittin' […]