Yellowman

Moes Alley presents the original dancehall superstar King Yellowman with Boom Draw plus DJ Spleece!Thursday, May 9thDoors: 7pm / Show: 8pm$30 in advance / $35 day of the show21+KING YELLOWMANJamaicas first dancehall superstar, Yellowman ushered in a new era in reggae music following Bob Marleys death. His early-80s success brought the popularity of toasting -- the reggae equivalent of rapping -- to a whole new level, and helped establish dancehall as the wave of the future. For better or for worse, he also epitomized dancehalls penchant for slack lyrics -- that is, casual violence, sexism, homophobia, and general rudeness. Graphic sexuality was his particular forte, reaching levels of explicitness previously unheard in Jamaica. It brought him numerous detractors, but it was also a big reason for his early popularity. There was more to it than that, though; Yellowman was one of the most verbally nimble toasters of his time, with a loose, easy flow, a talent for improvisation, and a definite wit in his wordplay. Plus, all the boasting about his prowess on the mic or in the bedroom had to be over the top to be convincing: true to his stage name, Yellowman is an albino, which carries a tremendous social stigma in Jamaica. His rise to stardom was unlikely enough, but his transformation from untouchable outcast into sex symbol was staggering -- and may not even have taken place without his trademark lewdness. Shocking though it could be, it affirmed him as a sexual being just like his listeners, and was delivered with enough humor to let the audience know that he didnt take himself too seriously. Bouts with cancer pushed him into more thoughtful, socially conscious territory in the 1990s, but his initial style remains the most influential, paving the way for countless dancehall toasters to follow. He remained quiet through most of the 2000s before mounting a comeback with 2019s No More War.BOOM DRAWBOOM DRAW is a 6-piece reggae band specializing in the sweet and soulful sounds of foundation-era rocksteady music. Hailing from Santa Cruz, they feature an all-star, multi-generational lineup of dedicated singers and players known for backing countless Jamaican reggae artists on tour and in the studio. Locally, BOOM DRAWs ranks include members of Santa Cruz and Bay Area reggae institutions like Pure Roots, Dub Congress, Inka Inka, Root Awakening, the Rastafarians, the Sugarbeats, and more. Their mission: to rock a dancefloor near you with boom draws strictly classic songs drawn from reggaes early years, when the vibes were crucial and the rhythm was king.