St. Patrick’s Day green was rounded out with rasta red and yellow as the band Barefoot Truth infused the holiday with reggae rhythms for its concert at the Cla-Zel.
The anticipation was thick in the venue Wednesday night for the one-hour layover between the conclusion of the St. Patrick’s Day event’s opener and the onset of its headliner. When the band did take the stage around 11 p.m., the crowd reacted.
The band stepped down hard on its opening song “Eagle Front,” layering heavy reggae vibes into the room with true Barefoot authority. “We got love, love for music” danced up and down on attendees’ ears with the cadence often inherent of the enduring island genre Bob Marley put a face to years ago. If an Irish jig could weave with a Jamaican twist, it would resemble the scene that followed.
Dangling green beads jingled and swung from the necks of their owners as the dancing desire took over. Drummer and lead singer Will Evans’ sharp drum strikes to both traditional set and percussion drums kept the rhythms fresh on the audience’s feet. Jay Driscoll’s speed-noted guitar solos and John Waynelovich’s respective piano displays put speed in the dancers’ toes. Harmonica solos bellowed across the walls with the hanging feeling the instrument instills; all meshed and adhered with Andy Wrba’s steady bass riffs.
“I loved them,” said freshman Madeline Verchio. “They were probably the best band I have seen at Cla-Zel, and I loved the fact I could dance to them.”
Unsure of the acceptance they would receive, Evans said there was some anxiety in the hearts of the band prior to taking the stage.
“We were a little worried before we started playing and they were playing club music,” he said. “We were like ‘Oh man, they are going to hate us for ruining the [mood].’ People were really respectful, and we threw in some covers to make them feel like they knew some of the songs.”
The band’s cover choices added extra shades of fun and humor to the show. The theme song from the popular show “The Office” shot out unexpectedly from the stage, catching the room off guard while eliciting smiles all around. The band also covered John Mayer’s “Waiting On The World To Change.” Supplemented by a twang-inflectioned rendition of a popular dance song very much outside the band’s usual repertoire, this song was sent out to the concert’s female attendees.
“Their cover of ‘Single Ladies’ was great,” sophomore Sarah Gluckin said, “And just in general the reggae feel to contemporary songs was awesome and pretty unique.”
A hint of Irish orneriness, too, shined through in the uncharacteristic mustaches the band’s members wore proudly for the show.
“We did that just for the Cla-Zel here in Bowling Green.” Waynelovich said, laughing.
Driscoll’s mustach proved less than convincing to one concert-goer.
“One older man pulled my mustache and asked if it was real,” Driscoll’s said.
The band pulled on many styles and influences to create the sound they brought to Bowling Green that night. The swirling of jazz into the reggae root structure of their music was an aspect senior Brad Bishheimer most admired.
“I think they are awesome,” he said. “The way they like, blend the jazz into the reggae is so unique. It’s really unlike any other band I’ve ever heard.”
Driscoll, too, prided himself on the melting-pot nature of the songs they assemble.
“One of the questions we ask people is ‘What is your favorite song?'” he said. “Everybody has their own flavor to what is their favorite song. We kind of strive to make everyone happy in their different ways.”
The band as a group said they wish to return to Bowling Green, hopefully having built a fan base here that will receive them again. Audience approval was abundant. A man handling booking for a club in Columbus was in attendance and inquired about hiring the band. Barefoot Truth left its footprint — no soles, all foot palms and toes.
