Steven Jacobo of Tribal Seeds performing at The Fillmore in San Francisco, CA. February 8, 2018. Photo Credit: Jared Stossel

Tribal Seeds
w/ The Original Wailers, The Expanders
The Fillmore
San Francisco, CA
February 8, 2018

Photos and review by Jared Stossel.

As far as sub-genres of rock music go, roots reggae is one that I'm probably the second least familiar with (country/western being the first). However, I've grown up in the Bay Area, and I've witnessed reggae show after reggae show come through cities like Santa Cruz and San Francisco, even having worked for artists like Sublime With Rome and Dirty Heads in Santa Rosa for the annual 'Cannabis Cup', where the clouds of pot smoke are so thick you could get a contact high just by stepping into the parking lot. While it's not my scene, it's a genre that I enjoy watching live because of its "chill-out" attitude and stunning musicianship between players on stage. Tribal Seeds are a perfect representation of what fans should expect out of a roots-reggae band, showcasing their incredible talent when they took the stage at San Francisco's legendary Fillmore last Tuesday.

The band is touring in support of their most recent effort, Roots Party, which allowed them to bring forth a set that is highly reflective of their style: laidback reggae music with elements of rock and psychedelia that thrilled a packed venue well into the night. The six-piece act made their way through a rather large set list, with very few pauses in between tracks. That's an element of roots reggae that I've noticed in particular when it comes to their shows: there are very few breaks; most songs just lead straight into the next with maybe only a brief pause in between. It keeps the vibe and the energy up, without wasting any precious set time.

I've been having a harder time than usual trying to bring this article to fruition because reggae music is a genre that I've discovered is harder to write about (at least for me). I've racked my brain trying to understand why, and I feel that it's because reggae music and acts like Tribal Seeds produce a feeling and a state of mind that you can only fully understand when you see it in person or hear it on a record. It's relaxing while still upholding a mild sense of chaos, uplifting and emotional. Roots Party is an extension of this feeling, and the band have provided an outlet for themselves and their fans to connect even more with this current tour. As I said before, you can only experience it for yourself in order to understand what it means to be truly connected with this kind of music. There's a ticket link on the band's website, and one more week of dates left on this tour. You know what to do.