Rebelution Rocks Reggae in Hollywood

February 17th, 2012: Rebelution @ The Hollywood Palladium

Hollywood, Calif.


Rebelution brought a fresh plate of reggae rhythms and rhymes, as they rocked the warm winter night on 6215 Sunset Blvd. From the second their music hit the air, they proved why their album is at the top of the Reggae Billboards. As four thousands strong waited anxiously for the doors of the Hollywood Palladuim to open, people were gathered around with shared excitement. 


This was a pivotal concert in Rebelution's debut of their new album “Peace of Mind”, in the Los Angeles area. This three month tour that started in New York, was the first concert closest to their starting point as a band.Together, they’ve manage to gain popularity through iTunes and touring, Rebelution was here to show Hollywood that they are a true player in the reggae world. 


This reggae-rock band, out of Isla Vista, California, met as average college students. Eric Rachmany, lead guitarist/vocals, is the keystone to the band's message. Marley D. Williams, bassist, keeps the focus and allows Rachmany the freedom to relax and belt out improved lyrics. Dallas Westly Finley, drums, keeps the reggae beat as Rory Carey soothes the sound on the keyboard. This is will be known as one of the best artistic collaborations of all-time.
Eager fans awaited, standing in the middle of a line that wraps around three city blocks. Four distinct towers that stood like giants around as cars zoomed down the strip, hot dog vendors, club promoters and general admission. The culture was rich with different people of all kinds. Why? It didn’t matter. Everyone was their to put the daily grind off to the side. Tonight was a night of what Rebelution sings “Good Vibes”.

As the doors open, people are smiling cheer as they pass through security. As you walk in you are greeted by vendors, bartenders, and club promoters. As you file through the controlled chaos, you get through the hall that breaks into the biggest room I’ve ever been in. You’d be surprised to see a 11,000+ sq. ft. dance floor was close to its capacity. You can see the thirty foot tapestry with the jagged-white words: Rebelution. The sold out venue was proof of their legitimate success in the reggae community.

All the sudden, the DJ cuts the music and the lights die down. People snap out of their causal tones to ecstatic screams. The crowd was ready to rock! From the right side of the stage comes out the rapper known as Pep Love enters. Hey give a warm greeting to the crowd introducing what he can do. Debuting his new albums, “Hieroglyphics Imperium”, Pep Love kept the the crowd happily entertained for a fourty-five minute an left us wanting more.

The reggae began to flow as The Green took stage. The crowd's mood picked up as they served a fresh hot plate of Hawaiian reggae mixture that set a calming feeling over all in attendance. They ended their set with fans off their seats and dancing when they sang their hit, “Love and Affection”.

Then the atmosphere drastically changed. Red, green, and yellow laser lights penetrate a cloud of smoke that engulfs the stage. Then, outcomes Rebelution and the crowd goes insane. People start jumping, clapping, smoking, and laughing. Rebelution opens up their show with the very popular “Attention Span”, speeding up and slowing down the song to a very nice mixture. They follow that with the “Sky is the Limit”, the headline song to their new album. After these songs, Eric Rachmany (lead guitar/vocals) mix the new songs with their older music to form a beautiful, congruent set of songs that filled the air. David Meigs, a fan in the crowd, tells the experience:

“I can’t believe how much fun this event is. Listening to these guys (Rebelution) on a iPod has nothing on the way they play live. The message, the vibe if feel, is life changing. You look at the people and they are all gathered here for the same thing. Everyone is united.”

For two straight hours, Rebelution throws down songs like “Good Vibes”, “Safe and Sound”, “Meant to Be”, “So High”, and my favorite “Closer I Get”. As soon as the band exited the stage, fans began to chant their names over and over again: “RE-BEL-U-TION! RE-BEL-U-TION! RE-BEL-U-TION.” No more than 2 minutes of chanting, Rebelution runs back out, happy to appease the crowd with more music. They break down the songs “Feeling Alright”, “Bump”, and end on “Bright Side of Life”. Rebelution rocked Hollywood until 1:00 a.m. 


Zigabid gives a simple, yet wonderfully articulated description of the concert as, "the reggae dub vibes, the smoke filling the air and an audience that hangs on every note. Nothing has changed over the course of the last five years, except the crowd size. The first time I met Marley, the bass player, he embraced me and thanked me for my continued support and love".

Kristofer Althaus, who had never seen Rebelution live, describes the atmosphere as inviting and refreshing. Primarily a hip-hop/rap listener, Althaus had a change of mind about the reggae scene:

“Man, I never really got into reggae until you showed me. I been to big concerts in Portland, but nothing can touch this. The whole venue is packed full, but people are nice to you. No one is trying to fight you, but they definitely wanna smoke down.”

My dad, Michael Rivera Sr., is the biggest Rebelution fan I’ve ever encountered. It was him who originally introduced me to the band. It was nice to find something in common with my old man. He describes the concert as another great success of the band.

“You know I proud of these guys; they worked hard to get to where they are. I’ve seen about five Rebelution concerts, but nothing beats seeing them in the Hollywood Palladium. This is a venue where the greats played. Frank Sinatra, The Rolling Stones, Richard Pryor and so many more. They will make will continue to make their mark; just wait.

To me, the wait is over. Rebelution’s positive message breaks through the clutter of an industry controlled by corporations. They have manage to open their own record label, 87 Music, which allows them to control the way they send their own music. They have invested heavily into their future as band and the “Peace of Mind” tour has proved to be worth it.