26 Entertainment Feature

Reggae Revolution Reggae band Tasman Jude taking Grande Prairie by storm with high-energy positivity By Erika Sherk

a standard interview, there are modern first step to making anything “They’re not going to step on people In questions asked, questions official. to get where they want to go,” Bello answered. In an interview with reggae “I went on there at five p.m. and said, continued. “They’re confident in what band Tasman Jude there is also ‘if we get 100 likes by midnight we’ll they want but not willing to jeopardize spontaneous song, raucous laughter record a teaser track for you guys this friendship or camaraderie.” and barely-restrained enthusiasm for, weekend,” said Peterson. “We’d only just Peterson and Bello joke that they well, everything. played at Howlers, I thought there was knew it was meant to be when they When asked ‘why reggae’? Caleb no way it would actually happen.” realized they both tune their guitars to a ‘Bravehart’ Hart, made up a song on the By midnight 105 people had clicked drop D. spot. “There’s no doubt that I love the ‘like’ button. “Wigs described it the other night as reggae music!” he sang, full-volume. “All of a sudden I had to keep the running through a wheat field toward The 22-year-old then reverted to promise – the one I’d made without each other in slow motion,” laughed speech. “I grew up in the Caribbean and talking to Caleb,” laughed the burly Peterson. “I’ve found him! The other!” there’s no sweeter genre to me than guitar-player. “They keep me around because I can reggae music, it just hits me in the The two duly recorded ‘Whoa’ in a sing,” joked Hart affably. “The minute heart.” friend’s basement. They put the song on they find someone else who can sing “It’s not just the music,” added the Reverb Nation – a site where better, they’re going to ditch me.” band's youngest member. “Ninety per independent musicians can share their It’s a band full of jokes and high-spirits cent of the time the message behind work. but one serious about integrity and the music is inspirational -- more “It went bananas,” said Peterson. “We their mission of spreading positivity. conscious of life, love and family.” were just shell-shocked, it went so Their songs are about things like family, The group’s music seems to have crazy,” said Hart. The song peaked at #2 unity, love. Bello and Hart first met struck an unexpected chord in this in Canada and #79 for the world reggae playing music on mission trips into First northwestern Alberta oil town, playing charts on the website. Nations reserves. 45 shows here in the past eight months. Soon the band was playing two, three Despite the depth, this band is fun Their album has sold nearly 400 copies shows a week and getting a lot of onstage -- a group that can convince in less than four months. attention online. “We thought, ‘we need anyone to dance (including teenage The band has been playing together someone to help harness and manage boys.) since January 2013. Its conception was this momentum while we have it,” said In March they set to recording those an ‘accident.’ Peterson. infectious tunes. Their first album, El Al Peterson, 31 and Caleb Hart, 22 had In February - a month after their Norteño, launched in April 6. Next up is been meeting to talk music for a couple casual debut - they recruited Peterson’s the release of a music video for their of months. They thought it might be fun longtime friend Andrew Jones of song “Take You Away” on August 7. to actually play some together. And why Checkered Owl Music to manage the A mid-sized city in northern Alberta not in front of a live audience? group. might not seem like the obvious place “We didn’t practice anything, we Peterson, who’s from various parts of for a reggae band. didn’t jam, we just went to an open-mic Canada and Hart, who grew up in “We thought, 'well, we’ll probably get night and played,” says Peterson, Trinidad and Tobago, also started hiring to play a few shows and then we’ll have shaking his head at the memory. Wigberto ‘Wigs’ Bello, 44, from Puerto to head out',” said Hart. “Well, we’ve The audience at Howler’s, GPRC’s Rico, to play bass and percussion. played 45 shows in Grande Prairie now. student bar, didn’t seem to notice the By April, Bello was officially in. “He was It’s been the most incredible response. lack of preparation. just as much a part of it as we were,” Actually, tonight is our 66th concert “It was crazy,” said Peterson. “Everyone Peterson says. overall.” just got really quiet. Then all of a sudden Bello said he originally felt he didn’t “You're keeping track?” asked they were singing along and then up have time to join the band but the Peterson. “That's so cute.” dancing.” personalities and musicianship of the “Only because I want to know when The voice (Hart) and the guitar-player two original members swayed him. we play our 100th show. It’s going to (Peterson) swiftly realized they might “Knowing their characters is really a before we're a year old,” Hart said. have stumbled onto a musical big thing for me. They are guys that Several shows, including Victoria and revelation of some kind. have a great perspective and a great Edmonton, are already booked for the “That was the point that we thought, attitude,” he said. “Having done a few next two months. 'we might have something here,' gigs with them I felt that it would be “We’re pretty excited,” said Bello, Peterson said. worth the investment of my time to be a “about where we have been, where we They put together a Facebook page part of this movement.” are and where we’re going.” for their hastily-assembled band – the Photo : JKP Images/Janice Kretzer-Prysunka