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Music is life to Everton Blender

Cassie Pence
Special to the DailyEverton Blender, Saturday night at 8150.
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VAIL ” Everton Blender unites roots reggae with dancehall, touching more people with his blend of positive music than he might with just one of the reggae genres.

Blender, an appropriate moniker, is famous for bridging this gap between styles. Dancehall is a type of reggae with an upbeat tempo, intentionly inspiring people to dance and step double time. Lyrics are usually chanted over the fast rhythms.

Artists like Bob Marley, Peter Tosh and Burning Spear are famous for creating roots reggae, where the music’s emphasis is on socially conscious lyrics set to an easy, uplifting groove.



“I like the fact that Everton Blender is a modern day artist, and he’ll dip into dancehall long enough to make the people who want to hear that sound happy. But he’s a roots reggae artist at the core,” said the Weezle, aka Scott Peterson, who hosts “One Love Music,” a reggae radio program that airs every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Sunday at 10 p.m. on KZYR, The Zephyr, 97.7 FM.

Blender’s conscious dancehall comes with a message. A devout Rastafarian, Blender has always been spiritual and sings from the heart. He doesn’t sing about revenge or about who has wronged him, but he speaks of letting people be and not to judge.

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“Reggae music always has a message. Reggae music expose the Babylon system. We chant reality of life to you, and if you don’t like it, you can bite it,” said Blender over the phone on his way to Vail to play 8150 Saturday at 10.

Humble Blender focuses on the positive and truly lives the part he writes about.

“He has a big message to the youth about being passionate. He tells the youth to be passionate about whatever you’re going to be passionate about, but follow your dream,” said the Weezle, who has interviewed Blender on his show.

Blender is touring with his 21-year-old daughter, Isha, who has a record releasing soon. It’s the first time they have toured together, and Blender said the trip is going well.

“Music is life. Positive vibrations instead of destruction, so we sing the good songs. Music can make you be a man or a woman, whatever you want to be in life,” said Blender.

The artist, who performs with the musically tight Blend Dem band, is larger than life on stage. His heart and soul travels through his music and everyone in the audience can feel it.

“Everton Blender is one of the more inspiring reggae musicians I have ever seen. With some artists you can just see it. He’s got that kind of energy I would imagine seeing in Peter Tosh or Bob Marley.

His music just puts me in real nice mood and I forget about everything and just dance,” said DJ Jah Stone, who spins reggae every Sunday at the Sandbar in West Vail. He will spin before the opening band, the Reggae Angels, Saturday at 9.

The Reggae Angels hail from California and perform traditional roots reggae. The Weez said they are some of the hardest working guys out there, “reggae soldiers,” and they shouldn’t be missed.

Arts and Entertainment Editor Cassie Pence can be reached at 949-0555, ext. 618, or cpence@vaildaily.com

Vail, Colorado


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