NEW YORK CITY- Six months after a car accident in Jamaica nearly killed
him, Junior Kelly delivered an uplifting concert in lower Manhattan, looking fit and healthy.

Taking the stage at 12:25 a.m., Junior sported traditional Bobo Dread garb: loose fitting white shirt and pants with his dreads tightly wrapped under a white turban.

Performing anthems and hits from the handful of albums and plethora of 7" singles he has released to date, the tall singjay commanded an authoritative stage presence with an intensity approaching that of fellow Bobo artists Sizzla, Anthony B, Capleton and Junior Reid.

Backed by a competent four piece ensemble (bass, drums, guitar and keyboards), as well as two female backup singers, Junior mesmerized the reggae enthusiasts who packed into the small club. New York's large Jamaican population was well represented.

Among the highlights of Junior's one hour and 25 minute show were: "Sunshine"
(during which he strutted around stage waving two Ethiopian flags passed to him
from the dancefloor); "Good Tiding" (on which Junior skillfully rode Glen Brown's
Youthman riddim); "Love in All Races;" "Ethiopia" (on which Junior allowed the
bassie, guitarist and keyboardist to showcase their talents on extended solos);
"Hungry Days;" a cover of Bob Marley's "Rebel Music (3 O'Clock Roadblock);"
"Love So Nice" (Junior's hottest score on the charts so far); and "You Can Make
It" (voiced over an updated cut of Cutlure's mighty Zion Gate riddim.)

About halfway into the set, Junior acknowledged his "big brush with death" in the
late evening hours of November 26, 2001, when a taxi collided with the drivers
side of the Honda Accord he was driving. Kelly suffered several internal injuries
as a result of the accident, including punctured lungs, five broken ribs and a
fractured pelvis. He was hospitalized for several days and then underwent an
intensive rehabilitation program.

"Thanks to the most high Jah Rastafari fi nah leave mi children fatherless," Kelly
said. The encore consisted of "Clean Heart" (from the Love So Nice album); "Juvenile" (which appears on the album of the same name as well as on the Love So Nice release); "Rise" (the title track of Kelly's 2000 release on the Jet Star label); "Black Woman" (also from Love So Nice); and "Push a Fire" (from Junior's latest release, Conscious Voice.) Junior was obviously feeling the spirit during "Juvenile," as his chanting and facial expressions were reminiscent of those of the great Big Youth in concert.

UK based VC opened with a four song, 20 minute set which began with the singer laying down fresh lyrics over Bob Marley's Natural Mystic riddim and was capped with the song synomous with his name, "By His Deeds." New York's Twin Sounds heated up the crowd prior to the stage show with some righteous juggling strikingly punctuated by an array of sound effects including sirens and echoes. Twin Sounds gave heavy play to conscious new roots tunes by the likes of Everton Blendah, Tony Rebel and Sizzla.

SOB's is a classy, smoke friendly venue similiar to Chicago's House of Blues but
about 1/3 the size.

By Steve Serpiente