Wailers Delight Crowd at Peekskill’s Paramount

By Journalist Ms. Jones

PEEKSKILL – “I got goosebumps. I thought I met Bob Marley. I felt like his spirit was above me,” said Joshua Hernandez, who came all the way from Newburgh to see the Wailers perform at the Paramount Hudson Valley Theater in Peekskill on Wednesday, October 18. The Wailers are a reggae band that performed, toured, and recorded with the late Bob Marley from 1973 to 1980.

“They were incredible… I think gifted by God… with voices like that and the energy and the music they created…. It gets into your soul and everybody can relate…. It just moves you. You can’t stop. I could dance all night,” said Camille Goldfinger-Blanco, who actually did dance all night in the aisle as the Wailers performed many of their hits including “Buffalo Soldier,” “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Is This Love,” and “Jammin.” They also performed some new music.

“We’ve been recording for about six months. Ashton Barrett Jr., George Barrett, and myself… we’ve been writing songs for the upcoming album. We hope to get it out by next February the sixth, Bob Marley’s birthday. We don’t have a working title yet, but we do have about half a dozen songs recorded… We did a couple of songs tonight. One called ‘Walk and Talk,’ another one titled ‘It’s Alright,’ and also one titled ‘My Friends,’” said Junior Marvin, Lead Guitarist for the Wailers. “Stand Firm” was also a new song debuted.

The Wailers left the stage to a standing ovation. The crowd whistled and cheered for over five minutes encouraging the Wailers to give an encore. When the Wailers returned, they blessed the stage for forty-five more minutes singing classics “Lively Up Yourself,” “Could You Be Loved,” and “Get Up Stand Up.” The crowd remained standing throughout the encore performance, singing and dancing through the aisles and in front of the stage.

After the concert, the Wailers shook hands, signed autographs, and took photographs with fans.

This is the first time that all of the original members who are still alive have performed together since Bob Marley’s death. The Wailers also have new members.

“I joined the band in 2015… It’s [an] honor to work to work with… the Wailers who worked with Bob and who carried on the struggle… The new generation, as we call it Wailers 2.0, we were inspired by that. It’s an honor, and a privilege, and a great joy to see how this music still impacts people and to see it being introduced to a new generation. It’s a joy to be a part of that,” said Lead Singer Joshua David Barrett who is a true Rastaman by lifestyle and culture.

“We use the music as… chronicles… and also with watching the signs of the times… and still bringing a message to the people… The message is love God and live… We’re not here to convert, but we’re here to correct the abuse… It behooves humanity to move as one… Find out what makes us alike more than what differentiates us and build on that strength.”

For more information about the Wailers, visit www.thewailers.net.

Journalist Ms. Jones on Facebook