Carl Brown and the Solid Gold Reggae Band brought the warm shores of Jamaica to the icy city of Chicago last winter at the iconic Wild Hare bar, with a concert that rocked the house. The reggae veteran performed each song with soulfulness and vibrancy, entertaining a mixed crowd of reggae enthusiasts and newcomers. 

Dressed in a white, linen suit with sunglasses and a Kangol hat, Brown sang a 120-minute set that included reggae classics like “Buffalo Soldier” by Bob Marley and 1983 hit “Please Don’t Make Me Cry” by UB40. The longtime reggae fans in the crowd seemed enamored with his renditions, dancing feverishly and singing along to his smooth vocals.

St. Catherine, Jamaican native and his band have been performing together for nearly 30 years. A 17-year consecutive winner for Best Male Vocalist at the Reggae Awards, it was a privilege to hear his songs live in the Windy City. Brown is quite the performer, dancing energetically and interacting with the crowd throughout his show. 

Brown made sure to acknowledge the diverse crowd during his set, calling out to those who traveled from all the over of the city. “This one is for all my South Side rastas,” he said as he began to sing “Wonderful World, Beautiful People” by reggae legend, Jimmy Cliff. 

Brown sung his original songs with as much clarity and gusto as he gave to the renditions of the classics. “Beeper Business”, an original, number 1 hit in Jamaica and popular around the world, was performed with enthusiasm and clear tone. Brown’s performance was enhanced by his phenomenal band, anchored by strong keyboards and percussion.

The Chicago-based band included a keyboardist, drummer, bass player and background vocals. However, Brown did have a few missteps. The show lagged during the middle of the set with a lengthy and extended version of “No Woman, No Cry” by Bob Marley. Brown also seemed to stumble through a rendition of “Here I Come” by Dennis Brown. 

Regardless of his stumbles, this concert showed that Brown not only knows reggae, but also knows how to sing it in a powerful way. With his quality vocals and strong instrumentals, Brown and the Solid Gold Band have mastered the art of reggae performance.