Today’s Sound of Reggae By Dave Blaney “It grows. That's why every day people come forward with new songs. Music goes on forever." - Bob Marley (1977) A couple of week’s ago, during ‘guy’s night out’, my friends and I stopped into an Annapolis tavern, ordered a few libations and took a cursory look around. Quickly we realized that this singles-setting was definitely not our cup of tea. Although we are very much middle-aged and very much young at heart; we are also very much married with children. So, while feeling a bit lost amongst a throng of middle-aged-singles and contemplating our next move, my buddies trotted upstairs for a little reconnaissance. Upon their hurried return, they informed me, “Upstairs is the place to be. There’s this guy playing Reggae…” As we bounded – well, actually stumbled - up some old, creaky, beer stained steps I thought, ‘I’m game for a little live entertainment; but, reggae? Does anybody really listen to reggae anymore?’ And then… … after settling in and listening for a few short minutes, we realized… … we were listening to something truly, truly special. ‘This guy’ playing Reggae turned out to be 25 year old Miguel Andros Aubertin; sitting alone on a barstool in front of a small crowd, accompanied by only his microphone, amp, and the most incredible reggae sound this side of Robert Marley. For the next two hours we sat in disbelief as we realized just how fortunate we had been to literally stumble upon this evening with Andros. How much longer will this talent, who goes by his middle name Andros, be accessible in small venues? Probably not long. But, that will ultimately be his choice. How often do you get a chance to go out locally and hear music that can touch your very soul? Not often. But, if and when it happens, you know you’ve experienced something special. And, how many artists immediately come across as truly genuine - somebody you know right away believes in what he or she is doing; for all the right reasons? Not many; not many at all. In this era of fabricated pop where the music sounds just like anything mass produced should, and in a time where ‘progressive’ music can leave you longing for the turning back of time, the sounds that filled the air this particular winter night in Annapolis teased the senses. As my auditory system was intently keen on receiving what it heard; the sounds received seemed more like an amazing breath of fresh air. So, I sat back, taking in the pureness of it all, and wondered: was anybody else inhaling; were their senses crossing boundaries as were mine; did the few people present really understand what they were experiencing? Miguel Andros Aubertin is today’s sound of Reggae. Not since Bob Marley & the Wailers introduced to the world Roots Reggae with their United Kingdom release of Exodus in 1977, has this genre of music sounded so fresh and evocative. Andros does more than recycle the sound of Marley; he exudes the sound through his very being; he is quite simply – the essence of reggae in the 21st Century. This is not mere hyperbole; this is something real; something honest and true. Andros is the very thing that both the pop and progressive music world wants. But, they cannot have. They cannot wrap themselves around it because they cannot control it. The evolution of music happens naturally and without constraint, and reggae’s evolution has taken the form of a young man from the island of St Lucia in the Caribbean, who goes by the name of ‘Andros’; and, although I am not certain where this evolution will take him - I am certain of this… …this charismatic, yet down to earth young man, as he deftly plays out Reggae rhythms on his guitar, stretches his voice to nearly three octaves, and with natural aplomb interacts with the crowd – may not lead you to believe that he is the reincarnation of Bob Marley - but, he will certainly leave you knowing that you have just witnessed the resurrection of Roots Reggae.