The Goo 1
Scene News MICK HERRITY JAH SHAKA R.I.P. On April
12th 2023 news spread fast on social media that Jah Shaka had passed away. Jah Shaka Soundsystem was in the premier league of Soundsystems alongside Sir Coxone, Fatman and maybe one or two others. When the roots music was being replaced in the dance by a different style of music Shaka held firm. Shaka had no interest with slackness. Songs with swearing; misogynistic, and gun lyrics, Shaka would not sway from his mission. Shaka still played out to small crowds. The tunes he played, militant lyrics about the black liberation struggle and his faith in Rastafari. By the late 80’s there was an increased presence of white people attending Shaka dances alongside the ever faithful followers of the sound. There is no doubt that the way Shaka Sound played out the tunes with screeching sirens brought about a new branch to reggae music called UK Roots/ Dub. Numerous acts like the aptly named Disciples, Alpha and Omega, Dread and Fred and others used the shaka sound as a template for their own productions. This ‘’new’’ sound was warmly accepted in Europe, parts of America, Japan and Africa. In this context a young Paul Fingleton, whilst visiting London in the late 80’s armed with tickets to see Violent Femmes, found out that Shaka was playing and opted to go to the dance, instead of the paid for concert. Inspired by Shaka, Paul went about setting up a club night and Firehouse Skank was born. It was therefore fitting that Firehouse Skank had their first event since pre covid in the Racket, a basement of The George Bernard Shaw in Phibsboro. The influence of Jah Shaka on the early sound system years in Ireland cannot be overstated. Firehouse in Dublin, Rootical in Galway and Revelation in Cork , in that order were the 1st to build custom made sound systems to play out reggae music. All 3 will cite Shaka as the reason for doing so. JAH SHAKA All 3 Firehouse selectors, Paul, Enda and Tuathal each took their turn and paid tribute to the man. Sirens blazed and the bass boomed whilst conscious lyrics permeated the area. Enough Shaka tunes were played from Twinkle Brothers, Vivian Jones and a lot more. The tune of the night for me though was a Delroy Washington tune called ‘Help One Another’. There was a great crowd in the place, old time Parnell Mooney stalwarts and new faces mixing it up. R.I.P. Shaka and big up Firehouse Skank for the tribute night. GIG NEWS News just in that Barry Isaacs and Miss Megoo have been added to the Room In The Sky All Stars for the Boss Sounds Festival coming up in Booleigh, Kildare between 7th and 9th July. Tickets are selling fast now. Check social media to get yours. On Saturday you can check the Boss Sounds selectors playing at Anseo on Camden St. on 26th May. Yours truly will be playing some tunes with the crew. Double Up are in the Thomas House 3rd June. Worries Outernational bring Reggae Fever to Dashi on 28th May. The Bionic Rats will be at The Foggy Dew on the following Sundays, 28th May, 11th June, 2th June. Each night is followed by an acoustic session with Del & Sarah in The Annesley House on North Strand. The Rats also have a gig in The Coast pub in Skerries on 27th May. On Saturday 10th June there is a DJ session upstairs in The Annesley House celebrating 70’s roots music. So expect all the big tunes. Del Bionic is curating this with help from Gary Bongoes, Sé O Brien and yours truly. MISS MEGOO PAGE 38