For those of you who didn’t know, Facebook allows users to write reviews on the pages of musical artists. I once wrote this review on the page of Fortunate Youth:
“Simply put, one of the best reggae bands in the scene today. Amazing song writing and musicianship, even better live performances. I leave every Fortunate Youth show soaked with sweat, stoked with good vibes and completely uplifted. I love this band with all my heart and soul. I hope they keep making amazing reggae music for another 50 years. Blessed!”
That review garnered ten “likes” but there are thousands and thousands of people across the United States who would agree. For close to ten years, this hard-working group of friends from South Bay L.A. has been touring relentlessly throughout the country as well as internationally. At times headlining and other times in direct support of some of the most popular American reggae bands, show after show and festival after festival, they continue to broaden their passionate fanbase.
If you love reggae music but Fortunate Youth has somehow not come across your radar yet, I urge you to give them a listen. On Spotify right now, listeners can choose from four full length studio LPs plus various other EPs and dub collections, and an awesome acoustic session from the MoBoogie Loft in Colorado. If you are one of those people that love to support musicians and artists, you can purchase CD versions of these on their website along with some righteous swag.
As enjoyable as Fortunate Youth’s recorded music is, to truly understand the brilliance of this band, one must participate in one of their dazzling live performances. I use the word “participate” rather than “attend” because, unless you’re a shy wallflower who keeps to themselves along the perimeter of the venue or stays glued to a barstool in the back, you will inevitably find yourself contributing to the event by singing along with the band and fans, rubbing elbows on a packed dancefloor, partaking in (or passing along) a communal spliff after its ignition on stage and/or befriending/taking pictures with the band members after the show.
Rootfire is giving away a pair of tickets to any show on the upcoming “West In Peace” west coast fall tour, which kicks off on Wednesday, November 14th at the Cornerstone in Berkeley, CA. See below for tour dates and details. Clear your calendar, call a friend and set a date with Fortunate Youth!
Win a Pair of Tickets to Fortunate Youth’s Upcoming West In Peace Tour!
Share this:
Over the years, he has interviewed many personalities throughout the reggae world including Ziggy Marley, Burning Spear, Lucky Dube, Bradley Nowell and many artists in the progressive roots scene.
Dave has also written and published a novel, “The Cosmic Burrito,” a tale of two friends who drive across the USA in search of the ultimate burrito. He plays ice hockey weekly for a recreational team he founded and manages, Team Rasta.
Reggae music has filled his life with a richness for which he will forever be grateful, and he gives thanks to musicians far and wide, past and present, whether they perform roots, dub, dancehall, skinhead, rocksteady or ska, whether their tools are analog or digital, as well as the producers, promoters, soundsystems, selectors and the reggae massive at large who comprise the international reggae community.
You can follow Dave on Instagram at @rootsdude and Twitter at @ElCosmicBurrito.