All bark and bite

Canine throw us a bone, plus the many voices of One People

by Joe Longone

For the past 30 years, the wild green vines of Jah reggae have spread all about the globe. This rhythmic, infectious music still takes on slightly different forms depending on where it takes root. In 1981, One People formed out of Boston's quirky rock scene. Founding members Mark Jayaprasanna (guitar) and Ras Gregory (keyboards) along with later additions Marc E. Daddy (lead guitar), Malcolm Stuckley (bass), and Fumio Ishizaka (drums) play a lively, uptempo reggae that borrows freely from pop, funk, and jazz.

Continually traveling around the country playing festivals, colleges, and clubs, this group expound a more accessible, alternative reggae that promotes a one-world philosophy. "All you have to do is take a look at our band to see what we mean by One People. Black, white, Oriental, Indian -- we are proof positive that people of all racial backgrounds can work together," says Daddy.

This quintet are still riding high off their critically acclaimed debut recording, One People (One Records). Released in '96, the 11-song disc featured the reggae hit "Coal Mine" (No. eight on the Gavin chart). This reworking of Allen Toussaint's "Working in a Coal Mine" mixes in the refrain of Simon and Garfunkel's "Cecilia" -- somehow they pull it off without a snag. The rest of the cuts, which include two alternative mixes, offers traditional bits of toasting, Dub, and dancehall sound. But all these elements are presented in a sharp and energetic fashion that are made to be attractive to crossover rock audiences.

"Kids are fickle today," Daddy says. "If you don't come out with some high energy you're dead. If you come out with the right power vibe, even the youngest in the audience will dig the old stuff."

There will be two opportunities to see One People in the area. They will be at the Plantation Club this Sunday (July 20), and you can catch them at Sir Morgan's Cove on July 26.

Something to bark about

With just about every rag east of Route 495 calling them the next big thing, Canine are the latest Boston buzz band. Not bad for a band who have been together for 10 months.

"I'm sick and tired of all these sneaker-staring, self-pitying outfits," says guitarist Dan Bernal. "We get on stage, and we have a ball."

Bernal was part of the outfit Doobious Leghorn before joining ex-Moss/Iration drummer Rick Roccapriore in a reincarnation of the popular group Canine Guru. Singer Fil Pacino and bassist Jason Redi shortened their band's name to Canine after several members left.

Already headlining weekend gigs at the Middle East (downstairs), Mama Kin's, and the Rat, the four are planning to go into the studio later this summer with producer Chris Lannon (Peter Wolf, Dirt Merchants, Ben Orr, etc.). "We're looking for just the right label to work with us. We're not interested in being signed just to be dropped."

The four have got a unique blend of rock, funk, Latin, and reggae influences. Pacino's singing style has been compared to that of Eddie Vedder's for its depth and power. Canine appear on July 26 with One People; this could be a chance to see superstars of the future in an intimate setting.

Ralph's report

It's no secret that Ralph's doesn't draw crowds the way it used to. And it may be easy to direct the blame at the club's owners, Ralph and Carol Moberly. They've done little to promote their featured entertainers. But that can't explain why for most of the '80s, and the beginning of the '90s, the place was packed every weekend. It wasn't too long ago that if you didn't get through the door by 10 o'clock, you didn't get in. It was by word of mouth that people found out that Living Colour or Hüsker Dü were on the bill, and everyone went.

So it must be a sad state of affairs in the local music scene that prompted the Moberlys to cancel all of Ralph's upcoming weekend shows rather than lose their shirts bringing in great out-of-town bands.

According Carol Moberly, "We can't afford to lose anymore money. As of now, we've canceled the rest of the weekend shows in July. We may start booking again in August, but if we do, it will be with local bands that have some sort of support."

The club still plans to have live bands on Thursday nights.

Ralph's may have to start promoting itself just to stay in business, but locals should appreciate that the Moberlys have created one of the hippest adult playpens this country has to offer. If the Chadwick Square Diner and its Blue Moon Cafe ever close, we all lose.

Cable guys

Congratulations to local funk/rap/rockers Chillum. Their song "Short Burst Attention" was spotted last week on MTV's Real World casting special.