Live: The Green, Stranger, Simpkin Project (10-12-11)

Live: The Green, Stranger, Simpkin Project (10-12-11)

Date: Wednesday, October 12th, 2011
Line up: The Green, Stranger & The Simpkin Project
Location: The Belly Up. Solana Beach, CA


The Green from Hawai’i played in Solana Beach, California on Wednesday, October 13th. The island boys are currently on tour in the western part of the U.S. before hitting up the southern states and East Coast. They are promoting their new CD, Ways And Means due out October 25th.

The Simpkin Project from Huntington Beach, CA started grooving the crowd with some roots, progressive-rock, and reggae music. Their first two songs included nice lead guitar, which sounded a bit bluesy; especially against the fast rhythm tempo. The band then played a song about being “everything you want, everything you need,” which was a nice romantic song. The guys picked it up, and slowed it down by playing more reggae which spoke of conscientious living and romantic relationships. Songs that included, “Willing To Change,” “Moonlight Ska,” and “I’ve Got To Go.”

Stranger was next on stage. Known in San Diego for their sweet melody, powerful stage performance, and conscientious music, the Chula Vista boys started with “Under Control” and “Harmonize” from their latest CD, World Underground. They then played “Tomorrow Never Comes,” “Some Kinda Sign,” and “Hand in Hand.” The songs which appeared to pump the crowd the most were “The Only One” and “Royalty.” The band also covered Ready For The World’s “Let Me Love You Down,” and The Beatles, “Come Together,” with introductions and solos included in the latter song.

As occurs frequently at Polynesian Underground events, there was hula dancing girls bringing the “Aloha” to the crowd by dancing to some classic Hawaiian music, leaving the stage, and then coming back to dance to fast drumming beats. It was a great show for the crowd; especially for those whom admire such authentic hula dancing from the Islands!

The Green had a lot of fans in the tavern ready for the band’s sweet reggae music. The guys started with “Love And Affection,” “My Dearest Sylvia,” and “I’m Yours,” with the crowd singing in the latter song, echoing to the band, “I’m Yours.” The crowd then got really excited with the next songs, “Never” and “Alone,” and, who can blame them with those killer lyrics and the use of classic reggae beats, including those of the keys and steady drum play.

The band then played, “Love is Strong” from their new album, and then guest musicians, Travis Walpole of Fortunate Youth and Don Carter from Stranger joined the stage for the next song. The band played the popular, “What Will Be Will Be” next before covering Tarrus Riley’s “Love’s Contagious.” They played more music from their self-titled album, including, “Love I,” “Runaway Train,” and “Alive,” and another song from their upcoming album called “She Was The Best” which is reminiscent of a romance, and uses deep beats and bass play.

The crowd demanded an encore in which The Green gave them “Rootsie Roots.” This was a great choice to send the crowd home with, due to the excitement and sheer joy the song brings! It was a great way to end a phenomenal show!


– Article by: Liz Pimentel
– Photos by: David Norris

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The Green & The Simpkin Project nice enough to take time out to Endorse The Pier w/Norris behind the camera…