LIGHT WARRIORS LIVE @ THE BIJOU THEATRE
My wife and i were very pleased to catch the Light Warriors‘ amazing set at the newly renovated Bijou Theatre in Bridgeport, Ct. The Bijou’s staff and Executive Director, Gary Peterson were quite accommodating and friendly. The whole ambiance of the venue was spectacular and will be a welcome addition to the Ct. music scene. There will be a separate piece in AMP on the Bijou as this space deserves its own forum.
The Light Warriors are a seven piece ensemble that blends rock, reggae, funk and jazz into a delectable stew. Their sound is a jambalaya of celestial harmonies that transports the listener to heavenly altitudes. The band is comprised of Erik Rabasca (Guitar/Vocals), Kris Brewer (Saxophones/ Melodica), Steven Jean Baptiste (Drums), Jamarr Jabari (Djembe/Percussions), Herm Meyer (Keyboards), Angel Sanchez (Bass) and Markus Schwartz (Tanbou/Percussions). Originally formed as a solo project by Rabasca in 2016, the group has organically grown to its present size.
Not only is the Light Warriors‘ music transcendental, it delivers a powerful punch of positivity. Their songs are uplifting and upbeat. Like New York’s Root Shock they want to enlighten the world and reduce the negative tension encompassing our current state of affairs. According to the band the music is “inspired by a survival of joy within the current onslaught of negativity“.
Light Warriors channels the subtle realms in every note, raising their collective frequencies and bringing love into action through an ancient-to-future synthesis of tonality in order to create a sound uniquely its own. Their music is both familiar and boundaryless, transmuting an energy that invokes uplift from the hopeless mundane, peace within and deep connection to our global human family.
The show was sponsored by The Bijou and the audio visual livestreaming company, Musae with portions of the gate going to fight world hunger. From the very first note you could feel the band’s excitement. You could tell they loved being on that stage. Even though they haven’t played in front of an audience for over a year due to Covid, they were extremely tight. Every note rang true. The Light Warriors‘ music was lush and spectacularly textured. Each player filled the musical soundscape firmly with smooth dexterity.
They opened the set with “Everything”. from their ambitious 2017 album, Raise The Frequency. The song was full of subtle nuances creating a warm and comforting aura. The groove was velvety. The Light Warriors transitioned into the lofty “Third Eye Sees”. The audience began to feel the exalted vibe the band was laying down. Rabasca’s voice was emotive and Brewer’s sax was prime. When the band kicked into “Raise The Frequency” the crowd swayed to the stellar beat. The song showcased their addictive reggae tinged accent. It had a cool Jason Mraz feel. The song was definitely a fan favorite.
The second half of the set contained some killer tunes. “Rise Above’ and “No More Division” lit up the audience. Both songs spotlighted the exotic rhythms the Light Warriors exuberantly exhibit. On “No More Division the percussion unit was dynamic and enticing. “New Breed” and the divine Bob Marley medley were a huge success. Everyone was digging the sleek and sublime cadence. The Light Warriors were killing it.
The real high spot for the band was their new single, “One”. It’s a song of unity and togetherness. The Light Warriors went in high gear and the fans ate it up. Rabasca was fired up and the whole group triumphed. The song is special as the Light Warriors released it as an extended single with several versions featuring different artists from around the world on each mix. It’s a wonderful song and a stimulating concept.
On a whole, the entire evening was spectacular. Both the music and the venue were perfect. A good start for the return of live music.
To learn more about Light Warriors, check out their Website
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