Arts & Culture
Pato Banton at the Afterdark
Grammy nominated artist plays at the Afterdark
The Pointer
dneck184@uwsp.edu
International reggae artist Pato Banton and his Now Generation Band performed at the Afterdark coffee shop in Stevens Point last Sunday to perform with the Madison-based band Taki Allstars. The multi-Grammy nominated singer played an energetic 90-minute set with an eight-piece band. His songs covered political, social and spiritual topics. The bands delivered a dynamic show of original music for a small but enthusiastic audience.
“I think the crowd’s reaction was perfect,” said Banton. “Everybody in the room was into it and dancing and the energy was there.” Greg Hartman, a University of Wisconsin Stevens Point student who attended, said that he thought the audience enjoyed the show.
“Everyone loved it, and I think it was great that the band came back to Stevens Point,” he said. Banton says performing in the Midwest can be a challenge due to the fans’ limited exposure to reggae.
“It’s a challenge because reggae music isn’t as strong as it is on the coastal areas or in the bigger cities,” he said. The audience at the show seemed to receive his music very well.
“In the Midwest, the reggae fans that come out are always very appreciative when an artist goes out of their way to come to a place where there isn’t enough of this music,” he said. Born as Patrick Murray, Banton began performing as a youth in Birmingham, England, under the wing of his stepfather, a DJ from Jamaica. His nickname, which means heavyweight MC, was given to him when he began winning competitions around England. He began to break-through in the 1980s, collaborating with Ranking Roger and the English Beat, and later went on to release “Never Give In,” his most popular album. His single “Baby Come Back,” with fellow British reggae band UB40 reached number one on the UK Singles Chart in 1994. Banton has continued to collaborate with other artists throughout the last decade: working with Sting, Steel Pulse, Mad Professor and Tippa Irie, who he said was one of his favorite artists to work with. Banton said that what makes him stand out among other reggae acts are his live performances, along with his background.
“First of all, I am not from Jamaica, like the majority of reggae acts,” he said. “I am also more of an MC than a singer, unlike most reggae bands from the UK. A lot of what they sing about is Rastafari, where as that is not necessarily my religious focus. When you combine all of those things, those attributes, you start to get a picture of what makes me different.” The singer says his plans for the future include more touring, adding that his current tour has reached 46 states, and will be covering all 50 by its completion. He also confirmed the possibility of recording new material. He will continue touring in support of his latest release, “Positive Vibrations.”
