I was lucky enough to catch your last set when you played in Kalamazoo and
really appreciated what you guys were doing.  After the show I spoke with
Brett, who said he was out of practice, and almost as an afterthought I
bought your CD.  I'll be honest, I thought I would listen to it a couple of
times, grow bored with it and put it away for a decade or two; was I
mistaken.  This CD has totally taken over my CD player at work and at home.
Each of your songs bring a new and varied list of possible influences; but
you have married them all with such honesty and integrity that they all ring
true.  Excellent job, and please keep practicing because I want to hear you
for a while to come.
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I've grown a bit disappointed with myself, to be quite honest. Three good reviews in a row is not in my character, but Rise Up by Roots of Creation makes the third straight solid album I've received for review. And these white boys make for convincing Rastafarians, were it not for the lack of pigment.

Roots of Creation is a damn good reggae band making damn good reggae music in an era where the genre has more or less fallen off the map. Bob Marley's Legend has sold upwards of twelve million copies, and novelties such as Matisyahu are generating interest, but for the real roots we here in America are left wanting. ROC play with a true heritage and yet are still adventurous; they are everything reggae should be and elude predictability. Everything flows smoother than water and, even if you're a dipshit conservative who hates the idea of human freedom, the music is simply appealing to the ear of man. I found myself getting lost in the balance and fluidity of these grooves more often than not; "Babylon" feels considerably less than five minutes in length with its sonic peaks and valleys.

The lyrics are equally strong. Although reggae and dub are simply not themselves without songs of innocence and carefree love, the politics are very subtle and sensible. The constant drone of "Babylon will fall" brings a smile to my anarchist face, and it's all politics with a small "p." Nothing is forced or ambiguous in dynamic, and everything is seen from the angle of the populace en masse. It's the sort of riotous feeling that stirs up one's soul, causing people to pump their fists worldwide and shouting "Hell yeah!" That's right, the Sixties are back, seventy-two minutes at a time. I especially liked the operetta of "Peace, Love and Music," an accurate retelling of Woodstock and its whorishly commercialized reincarnations of '94 and '99, in addition to the packaging and profiteering of revolutionary momentum everywhere. Such is reggae, such is music, such is life.

Some key tracks include "Rise up," "Babylon," "Peace, Love, and Music," and "Legalize and Tax It." Roots of Creation are: Brett Wilson (Vox/Guitar), Tal Pearson (Keyboards/Melodica), Mike Chadinha (Drums/Percussion/Vox), and Jey Felitto (Bass/Vox).
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Nightlights
Upholding freedom through song
By Dave Madeloni, Special to The Eagle
Thursday, October 05
The roots of Roots Of Creation began growing seven years ago into the musical soil of southern New Hampshire when guitarist/vocalist Brett Wilson was still in high school. "I was into the jamband scene but saw a void in good songwriting that actually had something to say" he recalled in a recent email exchange. "Then I went to Franklin Pierce College where I met keyboardist Tal Pearson and drummer Mike Chadinha. The connection was obvious and instant."
That musical chemistry took the reggae/rock band — who just released "Rise Up," their second studio effort, last month and will be hosting a CD release party at La Cocina on Saturday night — to a new level. Wilson recalled a

Root of Creation
show from an unusual venue that exemplified the reformed group's ability to connect with an audience. "We played at an infamous trailer called Trailer No. 9. We would pack in 120-plus people into this trailer made for four people to live in. It would sway and shake to the rhythm of the music. There were girls dancing on tables drinking boxes of wine and we felt like rock stars!"
After graduating two years ago, the band decided to make a determined go of it, starting their own label, buying a van, and taking their ever-evolving, improvisational blend of reggae, funk, dub, jazz, rock, hip-hop and spiritual socially-conscious lyrics on the road, touring the south and playing more than 150 gigs last year alone.
"Rise Up" documents and expands on the foursome's sound, with guest turns from Gordon Stone, formerly of Phish, who adds pedal steel to "Made For Me," Soulive's Sam Kininger laying down some soulful sax on Otis Redding's "That's How Strong My Love Is," C-Money of John Brown's Body adds some trumpet flourishes while Jamaican Dub poet Ras Howard Henry contributes some of his wordplay to the record.
Wilson talked about those contributions and his vision for the new CD. "All the special guests we have on our record we met on the road. I have been fans of all of them before playing with them and it was great honor to make music together with all of them.
"I have been planning this record for a long time and knew I wanted people I respected and who could bring a fresh original flavor that would make this album special and make it something that our fans would want."
For the most part, it has been Roots of Creation's synergetic live shows that brought those fans into the fold. "Musically, we're much tighter," said drummer Mike Chadinha. "In the last year we've learned how to read each other on stage much better then before. We're able sit in the pocket better and really lock in."
Tal Pearson, whose keyboards bring depth and color to ROC's sound added, "We try to deliver a solid rock 'n' roll show and take it to places, chang it up every show and make people move. Mike brings some thunder with precision and Brett the overall musical shape and mold. Jay gives us the deep end ... and vast knowledge."
Pearson was referring to their newest member, bassist Jay Felitto, who added, "The opportunity to give people something positive and have it make their life better in some way even if just for a couple of moments is the greatest part."
Wilson agreed, citing ROC's socially conscious approach. "We all have a responsibility to our society to help uphold our freedoms, justice, the pursuit of happiness, the creation of new ideas and the ability to express yourself to show people that they are not alone in the trials and tribulations of the human condition."
La Cocina is located at 140 Wahconah St., Pittsfield. 
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RASTA RECALIBRATION
by Casey Rea

	Boston-Based ROOTS OF CREATION are the latest in the long line of bands to combine elements of reggae and improvisational rock. Their new CD, RISE UP, features both guitar crunch and skank-friendly rhythms. The band makes an appearance at Nectar's on Saturday, Sept. 30th, with Riding Shotgun.
	With his white-soul croon and confident machismo, front man Brett Wilson bears some similarities to deceased Sublime chief Bradley Nowell. Bassist Jay Felitto has a great tone, a chest rumbling, dub style splat. The band delivers a solid, that will no doubt satisfy those looking for deftly played progressive reggae.
	Oh, yeah, Vermont's own Gordon Stone makes an appearance on the record. Whaddya bet he's at the show?
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