Puffs of smoke floated above the audience at the Collie Buddz show Friday as the crowd bumped along to all their favorite songs. Although many enjoyed themselves, the overall vibe of the night wasn’t giving off the feeling of great success.
Collie Buddz has entertained Boulder more than once. Friday was his second time performing at the Fox Theatre. Since his last show in Boulder, in April 2011, he has traveled all around the globe, including the Middle East and Europe.
New Kingston performs before Collie Buddz Friday night at the Fox Theatre. (Leala King/CU Independent)
Three bands warmed up the crowd, each with very distinct styles. Pacific Dub was along the lines of punk rock, however their MySpace page uses “Alternative/Reggae/Rock” to describe their style. Las Rakas, two cousins throwing down Spanish rap, followed. The audience responded to their more hip hop-like style by bumping fists and waving their arms all around. New Kingston was the last act before Collie Buddz. The group consists of three brothers and their father.
The self-described “Reggae Crossover” style was the perfect set up for Collie Buddz. The openers even remained on stage to be Collie Buddz’s back up. Drummer Courtney M. Panton played the whole show with his shirt off, Stephen Suckarie bounced around the stage with his guitar, and Thair Panton lit up the keyboard for the majority of the night.
Collie Buddz was the most formal performer of the night, dressed in a blazer and dark jeans. He brought his Bermudan accent to the stage, talking to the audience as if they were all old friends. He would occasionally bring members from the opening bands back on stage to dance or drop a beat and reenergize the crowd.
The performance circled around his more recent work. He was most excited about his newest release “Live Life,” which he debuted last Wednesday. Collie Buddz waited until the end to play his more popular songs. The audience was momentarily confused by the staged encore, in which Collie Buddz left the stage for maybe thirty seconds before returning to play his most popular songs. “Sensimillia,” “Blind to You” and “Come Around,” some of his most well-known songs, were all received with endless whoops and hollers.
The overwhelming amount of men in the crowd mostly kept it casual in flannels and beanies, matching the stage’s laid back atmosphere. That’s not to say, though, they would to hold back when their favorite songs came on. Also, at every mention of marijuana, ganja or weed, a wave or excitement lit the place up. Every person on stage, whether a DJ, dancer, singer, guitarist or some random guy with the band, always gave a shout out to weed. Amendment 64 also got its fair share of praise.
Overall, the night was full of smoke clouds and a random variety of genres. The few times that the microphone made an awful high-pitched noise was enough to make me leave twenty minutes before the show ended. However, for the most part people seemed happy to jam out with their pals and enjoy Collie Buddz personal twist on reggae style.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Leala King at Leala.king@colorado.edu.
