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Logan Fringe Arts Space: Trinidad Theatre
Tonight at 9:30 p.m. (free admission)
Phoebe’s Take: The genre of rocksteady, love child of the refreshing island sounds of Caribbean calypso and the soul of American jazz and R&B, makes the body sway, sway, sway. (It’s in the name, you see).
Hailing from Fredericksburg, The Transmitters spread their ballads of light and love via sound waves. A combo of groovadelic keys, bouncy drums, intricate basslines, and dreamy guitar riffs, their lo-fi sound mirrors their super chill vibe. Tunes like “Sleepwalk” feel like a captivating dream or a walk on a tropical beach, or both. It’s no wonder these Virginia rockers have worked with reggae legends like The Wailers and Toots and the Maytals.
Meanwhile, D.C.’s The Fuss — a Fort Reno opener this summer — bring their own style of ska-rocksteady buoyancy. Lead singer Andi Leo’s crooning vocals commingle in musical conversation with her bandmates’ symphony of sounds. With powerful percussion, a spirited horn section of trumpet, trombone, and sax, and solos aplenty, there ain’t no fuss with this melodic medley. High-energy and completely danceable, they frolic in that sweet spot between the romance of rocksteady and the upbeat, get-off-your-feet energy of ska.
Manning the DJ, from D.C. and Lima, Peru, the León City Sounds collective spins all vintage and vinyl records. With a love for roots reggae, dub, ska, cumbia, and chicha, the duo mixes soulful sets for your listening (and body-moving) pleasure.
Rocksteady or rock hard, because tonight is all about summer, music, and love.
Handout photo by John Shinkle