Live: The Green & J Boog (12/27-28/13)

December 31, 2013

Date: Friday/Saturday, December 27th & 28th 2013
Line Up: The Green & J Boog
Venue: House of Blues. San Diego, CA

After a quick break back home on the islands from a successful mainland tour, The Green arrived in San Diego, America’s Finest City, for two sold out shows with J Boog at the House of Blues in San Diego’s historic Gaslamp Quarter. It would seem the Hawaiian heroes travel with the perfect Oahu weather as the sun was shining on San Diegans enjoying the 75-degree winter temperature caused by the desert Santa Ana winds.

It was less than a week since fans elected The Green’s newest album Hawai’i ’13 for Album of the Year for the 2013 Pier Awards. The Green was also close to being voted Artist of the Year before The Dirty Heads barely squeaked by with the title, by a single vote. Nonetheless, the aloha filled reggae artists continue their relentless tour schedule having just played two shows with Common Kings and then a New Year’s Eve celebration at Kaka’ako Waterfront Park on Oahu.

The Green and J Boog arrived in San Diego and made clear they do not take a vacation during the Christmas Break. They wanted to bring a Mele Kalikimaka, or Merry Christmas, to their friends and fans on the mainland. Anticipation for playing was felt surprisingly more back stage. I have never seen groups more excited to please their fans and show them love.

By 6:00pm on Saturday, the line was forming on 6th Street with a crowd ready to hear some mellow melodic reggae sounds of J Boog and The Green. The co-headliners traded off the limelight each night and gave crowds a hint at the creative and energetic flow each artist is experiencing at the time.

The Pier got a chance to interview J Boog before the show Saturday where he opened up his current musical direction while living on the North Shore of Oahu. His new album is set to be released next year. Having spent over a year working on new material with an extremely talented band and supporting artists, J Boog’s newest album is highly anticipated. He seemed excited to show his fans the music he has been creating over the last year and we can definitely say we are excited to experience it.

The stage backdrop that The Green brings with them sets the island tone and atmosphere that people expect to see when the Honolulu natives travel to the mainland. The palm trees accentuated the stage lights as J Boog’s band took the stage and began a rockin’ jam. One would not think so many rock influences create the modern reggae sound that artists like J Boog have brought to the scene. His band is insane! Crazy guitar solos and tight drum beats introduced the audience to the soulful sound of a man that is ready to take the world by storm.

The tiny intimate San Diego House of Blues was already feelin’ irie and dancing to the sounds when the lights went off and the chant, “He Mele No Ku‘u Hawai‘i” from Hawaiian charter school students filled the PA and gave a sense of “aloha” that this band travels with. The five hour flight from Honolulu still fills the jetlag I felt when I came in before Christmas and doesn’t seem to effect The Green as Zion Thompson, Ikaika Antone, Brad Watanabe, JP Kennedy filled the air with island sounds when Caleb Keolanui said “ALOHA” and treated everyone’s ears to his soothing and inviting vocals with “Hold Me Tight” and “Good Vibe Killah”.

One of the reasons why The Green has been showing up on our radar is their diversity when it comes to sound. The band will rock off any sock or serenade each soul, a trait that comes from a group that boasts multiple songwriters who obviously understand each others talents and musical capabilities. For a band that has been on the stage for only a few years, their presence and professionalism with their craft is quite rare, except for bands born to play and tour as much as they have.

The Green’s first single off of Hawai’i ’13, “Take Me On” caused hundreds of real shakas contributing to the aloha spirit, resonating in the San Diego air. The shaka is the Hawaiian symbol for “hang loose”, a sign that transcends any language barrier and creates an understanding between artist and observer. Not a single negative vibe penetrated the atmosphere as The Green went into the songs “Something About It”, “Come In”, and “Alive”.

“Power in the Words” finished the set as The Green left the stage to a crowd that did not budge. Hanahou, meaning “one more” or “encore”, the word The Green has reinvented and redistributed to a mainland crowd, filled the audience. Smiles spread across the faces of the island boys before Caleb Keolanui sang “Chocolates and Roses” to an eager crowd. “Love and Affection” and the latest hit from Hawai’i ’13, “Good One” closed out the 2-night, weekend event.

The Green will now ring in the New Year with a party on their island at Kaka’ako Park, the band is looking to kick off 2014 with more aloha than ever. J Boog will head back into the studio to finish mixing and mastering his new album and then kick it with his fans on the road to spread his pride and melodious joy. Their journey into a chaotic music industry with their positivity, love, and aloha spirit will give credence to the talent and dedication they have shown this year.

If you have not been able to hear or see The Green you will miss out on an opportunity to treat your senses to a refreshing new style of irie island inspiration.

The Green Setlist:
Oli
Intro
Hold Me Tight
Good Vibe Killah
Decisions
What Will Be Will Be
Love I
Rootsie Roots
Take Me On
Something About It
Come In
Alive
Never
Gotta Be
Travlah
Power in the Words
Hanahou (Encore):
Chocolates and Roses
Love & Affection
Good One

The Green Links:
The Green Website
The Green Facebook