CULTURE FEATURING KENYATTA HILL
9 p.m. Stickyz. $10.
Things were bad all over back in 1977, but in Jamaica, the times were especially rough, with the economy in the tank and violence in Kingston rampant. Culture singer Joseph Hill had a vision – based, he claimed, on a prophecy by Marcus Garvey – that July 7 of that year would see even more chaos.
The band had a huge hit with “Two Sevens Clash,” the single inspired by Hill’s intense vision. The album of the same title is easily one of the best reggae LPs ever, up there with Burning Spear’s “Marcus Garvey,” Toots and the Maytals’ “Funky Kingston,” Dr. Alimantado’s “Best Dressed Chicken in Town” and the many other timeless albums recorded on the tiny island.
The band broke up for a few years, but reformed in the mid ’80s, releasing more albums and touring the world. In 2006, Hill died while on tour in Germany. His son, Kenyatta Hill, is leading the current version of the band, which includes founding member Albert Walker. While the elder Hill can never truly be replaced, his son bears a striking resemblance to him, in both voice and visage.