Steel Pulse performing at The Fremont Theater 3/31/19.
Roots Reggae Steel Pulse raises the vibrations of San Luis Obispo
—The Central Coast once again was graced by the iconic and awesomely powerful presence of Steel Pulse on March 31, 2019. Headed by singer David Hinds on vocals and guitar, the band performed an electric evening of classic reggae hits during their visit to The Fremont Theater. Throughout the 40 year career of Steel Pulse, the band’s socially conscious recordings consistently and actively speak out against racism, oppression, and injustice. Their popular mainstream hits include Out of My System, Ku Klux Klan, Steppin’ Out and Chant A Psalm.
The Rastafarians who make up Steel Pulse originally hail from the UK, forming in 1975, becoming one of the first Roots Reggae bands not out of Jamaica to win a Grammy Award. Steel Pulse’s members were witnesses to the hard lives of the British working class during the 1970s, when political upheaval and racial tensions were a part of everyday life. Over the years, Steel Pulse has been embraced by a wide audience, playing upbeat and exciting music with a strong political stance- exploring freedom from oppression, and embracing truth and love. Their message of a united world and recognition of malevolent forces and control are always present in their music over the years, and recently a new album was announced, the first in 15 years, Mass Manipulation which will dive deep into the band’s belief system.
“Watching police brutality, harassment, and racism and reacting to it artistically gives exposure to subjects which most people skim over in daily life. Nobody is going to stop talking about the injustices we are facing on a global scale, not just in the UK. Steel Pulse continues to march on, exposing situations, beliefs, and preaching for positive vibes.”-A fan at the show.
Fans have some new music from Steel Pulse to look out for. May 17 the Rootfire Cooperative will release Steel Pulse’s Mass Manipulation album, which has been called “a meditative rocker with deftly placed horns, guitars, and strings bubbling up above the song’s thumping groove,” by Rolling Stone magazine. Their upcoming album comes on the heels of various successful collaborations and tours with several California roots reggae bands, Ziggy Marley, and the two bands lately have been acting as ambassadors of reggae in the United States.
According to the band’s website, “Excitement abounds with news of David Hinds’ forthcoming Steel Pulse studio album, Mass Manipulation. The announcement also marks a new partnership with Rootfire Cooperative. Rootfire is the only independent record label that affords the artist 100% of revenue and ownership from their music through the entire production and marketing process. Hinds promises the new album will take the listener on a journey through our past, while navigating the political transformation of the present and deliver a vision of a “New Nation” that could be, now and into the future. ”
The album is comprised of 15 all-new songs written by lead vocalist David Hinds and co-produced by bandmates Sidney Mills and David Elecciri. This is Steel Pulse’s twelfth studio album. The band is set to tour widely through the United States in support of Mass Manipulation.
Steel Pulse Tour Dates
March 30-The Warfield-San Francisco, CA
March 31-Fremont Theater-San Luis Obispo, CA
April 2-Mateel Community Center-Redway, CA
April 3-Revolution Hall-Portland, OR
April 5-McDonald Theatre-Eugene, OR
April 6-Knitting Factory-Spokane, WA
April 7-Vogue Theatre-Vancouver, BC
April 9-Showbox SoDo-Seattle, WA
April 11-The Wilma-Missoula, MT
April 12-Pink Garter Theatre-Jackson, WY
April 13-Spring Back to Vail-Vail, CO
April 14-The Depot-Salt Lake City, UT
April 16-Rialto Theatre-Tucson, AZ
April 17-Brooklyn Bowl-Las Vegas, NV
April 19-Belly Up Aspen-Aspen, CO
April 20-Red Rocks Amphitheatre-Morrison, CO
May 2-Belly Up Tavern-Solana Beach, CA
May 3-Beach Life Festival-Redondo Beach, CA
May 24-California Roots Music & Arts Festival-Monterey, CA
July 14-Levitate Music and Arts Festival-Marshfield, MA
August 25-LOCKN’ Festival-Arrington, VA
August 30-Dry Diggings Festival-Placerville, CA
September 1-Dry Diggings Festival-Placerville, CA
