Dub Side of the Moon
By his own admission, Ras I Ray doesn’t know a lot about Tasmania. But, then again, there’s probably not too many Tasmanians who know a lot about the dreadlocked bass player from New York dub collective, Easy Star All-Stars.
“Now that you mention it, I would really like to do some research,” he laughed when asked what he knows about our island state. “Right now it feels like a fairytale place to me, you know. To actually imagine that’s where we’re going it never really sunk in.
“We’re going to Tasmania. Wait a minute… I only heard about it like a fairytale land, like once upon a time, you know?”
Ras and the eight other touring members of the All-Stars will be heading south for a star turn at The Falls in Lorne and Marion Bay as well as a string of shows in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, lending their chilled reggae vibe to many New Year celebrations.
Falls patrons are in for a special treat as ESAS play their seminal Dub Side of the Moon album in full. The ‘re-imagined’ Pink Floyd classic is one of a trio of cover albums the collective has released since 2003 (the others being Radiodread and Easy Star’s Lonely Hearts Dub Band).
More than being an underground classic, Dub Side has spent an inordinate amount of time on reggae charts around the globe and was what first prompted the All-Stars to step out of the studio and onto the stage.
“Sometimes I still have to pinch myself,” Ras said of the album’s success. “I never imagined it would become such a hit. When we did it, it was basically a labour of love and it became an underground sensation and the phone started ringing off the hook…
“We didn’t have a touring band and when Dub Side became popular we had to put the touring version together and that was 2003.
“It’s taken us around the world and we’re coming to Australa for the second time and, yeah, I’m enjoying the ride.”
The journey looks set to continue with another cover on the way, but fans have got at least a month to wait before this ‘toppest’ of top reggae secrets is released.
“It is in the production,” Ras admitted. “We’re all working on the next project, cover CD. I’m dying to talk about what it is but they still have us on top secret where we can’t share that information yet.
“Probably by the time January rolls around the label will be ready to release what that project is. Fans will be very surprised when they find out.”
While he was unable to let on what’s coming next, Ras was in no doubt what it would be if it was an Australian band being covered.
“Every time we think of Australia it’s always AC/DC,” he said. “I’m serious, that’s the first one that comes up from the whole band – we want to do AC/DC and you know which one it is.”
Dub In Black? Please be Dub In Black.
“You’re reading our minds. That’s exactly how we interpret it. Dub In Black, you know.”
“We’re always throwing it around. The fans are always requesting what we’re going to do next and that means they’re fully embracing what we’re doing instead of saying ‘why don’t you guys just go away’.”
The All-Stars will be nine strong on stage during the tour – an eight-piece band and a sound guy who ‘brings the dub effect’ – and given the countless festivals and shows they’ve played, expect smooth grooves and a little something Ras likes to call ‘spontaneous combustion’.
“We all have been working with each other on the NYC scene, the reggae scene for years. We were always connected to each other in some form on some project.
“We have a rotating cast that is always there and available. We always have the same core… the core we’re bringing this time is going to put on a very, very special show.
“It keeps it fresh because it rotates so much… it keeps the spontaneous vibe.
“I call it spontaneous combustion and it can happen at any time. It’s just being in the moment and for me that’s the best place to be. Be in the moment, be aware and go where the vibe takes you.
“We like to just be in the moment and be in the vibration of what’s going on at the moment and try to keep it spontaneous.”
While the New Year tour promises to introduce something new to plenty of Australian music lovers, it seems only fair Ras gets the chance to experience something new for himself while he’s here.
Given a day or two between shows, what’s it likely to be?
“Just to experience, if I can, a little of the outback,” he said. “I’m serious. I don’t want to get too far deep into it because I know you can get lost in the outback. But just to get a taste of it.
“I’m blessed to be able to tour the world, every place has its own special vibe, but every time Australia is mentioned the outback comes up or walkabout, you know. Something just dealing with the roots of the place.
“With me being a Rasta man I always look for the cultural, rootsey vibe. If I can take a little vibe and take a stroll in the outback and look up at the stars at night and spend the night in the outback, that would be a great experience being a Rasta man.”
And if the Easy Star All-Stars get the chance to play on a clear night in Lorne or Marion Bay, there’s every chance their very own Rasta man will get the chance to do exactly that.
“I’m going to put a special prayer to Jah to make it clear that night. If it’s a special night and it’s all good I’m going to spend the night out under the stars, I’ll do it.”
First published in Warp – December 2011
