:: Salmonella Dub - Metro Theatre, Sydney - November 2009

By: Carla Caruso

Friday nights are inductive to letting down your hair and getting into the party spirit. And, the tropical sounds of reggae can be an ideal way to do it, as I discovered on a recent trip to the Metro Theatre in Sydney. Reggae, particularly fused with hip hop, has been taken to the mainstream, thanks to acts like Sean Kingston and Shaggy. Closer to home, New Zealand reggae band Salmonella Dub, who began in 1992, has kept the tropical vibe going, with their unique blend of the genre with dub, drum ‘n’ bass, hip hop and rock.

The band returned to Aussie stages in November (also including stops in Melbourne, Adelaide and Brisbane), performing tracks from their latest studio album, Freak Controller. The act showed they still have the same energy and fan following today - though it is a diverse fan-base, with the mixed crowd ranging from the dreadlocked to Pacific Islanders and blonde backpackers. Instruments played on stage included everything from saxophone to trumpet, bongo drums, guitar, bass, drums, keyboard and even a whistle – a true musical feast.