Reggae Brewhaha

For a town who voted Sol Seed EW’s Next Big Thing 2013, and whose big summer concerts included Slightly Stoopid, Rebelution and Matisyahu, the Passafire–Ballyhoo! double bill Feb. 6 at Cozmic is bound to be a big show.

Passafire leads the charge, riding the buzz wave of Vines, the band’s 2013 album that opened at the number one spot on the Billboard Reggae Chart. Vines settles nicely in the rock-reggae pocket with fat, punchy beats, guitar riffs and lyrics that channel an earnest progressive populism only reggae can pull off without a high cheese factor, e.g., “I don’t want to work for the sake of bringing home a check (bringing home a check)” on the track “All in Our Minds” or “When evil comes knocking at my door I do the right thing (right thing)” on “Right Thing.” Lead singer Ted Bowne anchors these songs with a voice reminiscent of Dispatch’s Chad Urmston.

Joining Passafire for the bands’ joint Winter Brewhaha 2014 tour, the pop-punk reggae Ballyhoo! will round out the night. Shades of Sublime, 311 and Incubus can be heard on the band’s 2013 release, Pineapple Grenade, albeit with angstier vocals.

Bask in the backbeat of Brewhaha.

Passafire and Ballyhoo! play 8 pm Thursday, Feb. 6, at Cozmic; $13 adv., $15 door.

A Note From the Publisher

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