Rebelution at the Palladium in Hollywood, CA

Friday night, Rebelution took the stage for a sold-out crowd at the Palladium in Hollywood. Eager fans were lined up around the block prior to the show, and the areas surrounding the venue were covered in fans decked out in Rebelution t-shirts. You could feel the energy long before doors were even open; people couldn’t wait to see the popular reggae band perform live.

I was obviously excited as well. Calling myself a Rebelution fan is a bit of an understatement. I’ve seen them six times since their first full album release back in 2007. I still remember my first show: the reggae dub vibes, the smoke filling the air and an audience that hangs on every note. Nothing has changed over the course of the last five years, except the crowd size. The first time I met Marley, the bass player, he embraced me and thanked me for my continued support and love, which I’m sure tons of fans are jealous of.

The show began around 9pm, with openers Pep Love and The Green. As a diehard underground hip-hop fan, I was eager to see Pep Love perform. If you’re “in the know,” you’d recognize his moniker from legendary Oakland-based group, Hieroglyphics. Seeing a legend I’d listened to since my preteen years perform right before my own eyes had me awestruck through the next performer’s set. The Green took the stage to amp up the crowd for Rebelution. Though people vibed with Pep Love’s set, The Green’s reggae-rock sound drew more fans in and got the crowd moving.

The stage was adorned in, ahem, plants, strewn across the stage with smoke and lasers beaming across the 4,000 person crowd. By 11p.m., Eric, Rory, Wesley and Marley took the stage as the deafening crowd cheered. Rebelution opened up with two of their classics, “Attention Span” and “Safe and Sound.” The audience sung along with every word. The atmosphere was “irie” as fans danced and enjoyed both new and old songs alike. Marley was adorned in his typical concert attire – a jersey and cargo shorts, while the rest of the guys looked equally as relaxed.

My favorite part about shows is that they bring together fans – new and old – to share a common love of the music. Rebelution’s show was no different. Singer and guitar player, Eric, played an acoustic version of “Feelin’ Alright,” which encourages fans to “look around and meet somebody new.”

The band ended their set with an encore of “Outta Control” and “Lazy Afternoon,” two hits off of their Bright Side of Life album. Fans poured into the parking lot and surrounding blocks after the show, glowing about Rebelution’s outstanding performance and thankful that the band played most of their classic hits, as well as their newer singles.

All in all, I had a amazing time. While I will always cherish the more intimate shows I’ve seen them do, I had a great time at the Palladium. My only wish is that I could see them perform every weekend, but we all know that’s a bit far-fetched.

If you’ve never seen them live, you’re sincerely missing out. You need to look on the “Bright Side of Life,” buy Rebelution tickets on Zigabid and find a little “Peace of Mind.”  You won’t regret it.

Find Rebelution tickets at Zigabid.