My concert review of the Mad Professor show at Mighty in San Francisco is looooong overdue. Things have been crazy at my “day job” so the reviews were the first thing to get put on the back burner. So, enjoy these photos from the concert on March 15, 2008 and this short review:

Click on photo to start the slideshow:

Mad Professor Drove Us DUB CRAZY In SF

The show was SO dark, they didn’t use any fancy lighting at all. So it was a challenge to get even these photos. The dancefloor was spacious and the speakers were MASSIVE! There are a few photos at the end of the slide show that show the speaker stacks with my friend standing in for proportion. It’s basically bass in the face and from the ground up. The mids and highs were over our heads. It was perfect for going DUB CRAZY! And that’s just what Mad Professor did - he drove us all Dub Crazy! It was a fabulous show!
Mad Professor was accompanied by a handsome young MC, whom I haven’t identified yet, but I think it may be his son. (The Prof acted somewhat protective of the boy when I passed them a phattie, like a father on tour with his boy would.)
Nonetheless, they made a great team and kept things heavy and irie all night. They both stayed for quite a while after the show and greeted some of the VIP fans who were allowed to go behind the velvet ropes and get autographs and pictures and the like. The MC was charming and sweet, I wish I could have sat with both of them longer.

I Feel Honored To Know Reggae’s Roots & Culture

Oh - and I scored a real treat at this show! About halfway through his set, Mad P announced that he would give away his new CD to the first person who knew the name of his studio. My first reaction to these things is to look around for the winner. When no one at all reacted, I said the name, but not loudly and the people around me encouraged me to jump in there. I shouted the name of the studio - ARIWA! - until the boy announced me the winner and gave me the CD. I was so excited, but more stunned. Partly because I don’t usually try to win things, so I was flustered. But I truly couldn’t believe that anyone else hesitated because both Mad Professor and the MC were wearing T-shirts with the studio’s name emblazoned across the front! You can see it quite clearly in the photos above. I was almost embarrassed for SF to be so oblivious to one of the most respected and influential studios in all of England, not to mention dub history! Well, hopefully I redeemed our city and the CD I won is fantastic. I absolutely love it! If I ever have time, I will review it here.

Mad Professor Made Such Beautifully Mad Sounds

Overall, Mad Professor puts on one of the best live shows around. He doesn’t gush joy and energy the way Pato Banton does on stage, but his music does. He played plenty of classic hits mashed in with new sounds. He even played one tune from his collaborations with Pato Banton, though without the vocals. He also had beautiful sounding effects, sirens, etc. that he spun round the room in a way that had me staring into space, wondering if the soundsystem was actually rigged for surround sound or if Mad Professor is really an audio magician who can make it seem that way.

A wonderful time was had by all. I sure hope the Prof. enjoyed the ‘Cisco County phattie that night….

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