'Talkin' 'bout a revolution'
By Katie Wais
Staff Writer
Ocean City - Revolution will be in the air when Scholars Word comes to Ocean City this week.
"I know that we could have leaders that could lead progressively / Right now they're takin' us down a path of violence I know you see," sings Bryce Creighton on the track "I Know" from Scholars Word 's newest album.
"I know it's gonna, it's gotta, that it could be all right when we learn to unite."
The six-man Florida reggae / dub band sets itself apart from the mass of fusion groups out there today by sticking to the true art of the genre and adding a dash of individual flavor.
"We try to be somewhat purist, somewhat organic with it," said Michael Stauch, bassist. "We are not trying to be reggae-rock. It's not Sublime with a skank."
Lacing their music with social and political themes, Scholars Word manages to both live up to the ideals of reggae and elevate the genre as a platform for getting a message across. The time is right for a dose of revolution, and the guys of Scholars Word aren't about to keep quiet.
"People sat out until about two years ago. It seemed like across the country, (in) what we were being fed media-wise, people weren't speaking out. It was viewed to be unpatriotic," Stauch said. "Hopefully we've turned a corner where people are questioning their government. It's the right of the people to question their government...and we need to make sure the government knows that - that their power comes from the people."
Monday, Scholars Word will be bringing their tunes to Castaway's, where they'll take the stage at 11:30 pm after the close of open mic night, hosted by local singer-songwriter Wes Davis from 8 to 11pm.
But don't expect to hear the usual rash of cover tunes at this show. "We're not opposed to that music-party music or love songs. It just doesn't suit our personalities," Stauch said. "Putting out music that talks about the political landscape and social justice is important to us."
The band has been together about a decade, touring regularly throughout the U.S. and recently returned from a three-week tour of California. With four albums under their belt, Stauch said the band is hoping to get back in the studio this fall and gera up for a European tour in 2008.
Scholars Word combines Stauch on bass with bandmates Creighton on lead vocals and guitar; Chris Kearnes on sax, keyboard and melodica; Josiah on drums; Jahson on vocals, MC and percussion; and Dane Jefferies on guitar and keyboard.
No matter what they do, Scholars Word is going to shake things up and keep their message strong.
"It's time over-due...I think rhythmically people are bored, Stauch said. "We've always had the mindset that we're always continuing to learn and evolve. We're still students-we're not professors, we're still students of the music and students of our culture and our world."
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